Packers Robert Francois: 2012 Player Evaluation and Report Card

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Robert Francois
Robert Francois

1) Introduction: Since being picked up by the Packers in 2009, the most action ILB Robert Francois has seen was in 2011. He filled in as the right-side starter for three games when both A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop were out with injuries. His performance was admirable, snatching a couple interceptions in athletic fashion, but he hasn’t done much since.

2) Profile:

Robert Joseph Francois

  • Age: 27
  • Born: 05/14/1985, in Highlands, TX
  • Height: 6’2″
  • Weight: 250
  • College: Boston College
  • Rookie Year: 2009
  • NFL Experience: 3 years

Career Stats and more

3) Expectations coming into the season: Despite the sudden influx of talent at the inside linebacker position, some fans were holding out hope that Robert Francois would be able to build on the limited success from 2011. No one pegged him as starting material, but he could serve as a solid backup in emergency situations and fulfill the needs of the special teams units.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: None to speak of, really. His only noticeable low-light was a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty during the Seattle Seahawks game.

5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Robert Francois was a core special teams player this season, which is better than nothing for professional athlete. He didn’t see a single snap on defense, but he did have the second most special teams snaps of all Packers players with 348. (Ryan Taylor led the team with 377.) Francois recorded 13 combined tackles on the season.

6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Nothing of note outside of his normal special teams duties.

 

Season Report Card:

(C-) Level of expectations met during the season

(D+) Contributions to team’s overall success.

(D+) Contributions to team during the playoffs

Overall Grade: D+

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Chad Toporski, a Wisconsin native and current Pittsburgh resident, is a writer for AllGreenBayPackers.com. You can follow Chad on twitter at @ChadToporski

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7 thoughts on “Packers Robert Francois: 2012 Player Evaluation and Report Card

  1. Yet another under-talented LB. Will do in a pinch as a backup, but can’t be relied on to play as the starter.

  2. Agree with Ron. Francois has shown flashes, but hasn’t demonstrated starter ability.

    The “next man up” approach is great in theory, but the wake-up call we had this year (and the end of last year) is that we need more talent.

    Capers has taken heat for lack of adjustments (rightly so), but I’m not convinced we have enough talent right now to be a SB contender.

  3. Francois hasn’t had a chance to show much cuz he’s been Hawks backup. The weak ILB is where Bishop, Smith and Jones reside. Francois came to GB as an OLB and his size at 6’3 250 and athletic ability will give him a chance to become a starter if Hawk is released. The best scenario would be to move Bishop to Hawks position and start Manning at weak ILB where Bishop used to play. That would give us 2 playmaking, physical ILB. Francois can grab a starting job if he cab beat out Manning.

    I agree Smith is nothing more than a decent backup.

    1. I’m not ready to say Manning is a starter at this point. All we have to go on is his pre/post-draft hype, since he was mostly ill during training camp.

      I really need to see something from Manning before making him a consideration.

      1. I’m basing it on my scouting him last year. I think he’s the perfect compliment to Bishop if they release Hawk. Manning is similar to Bishop but a better athlete. He plays a physical game like Bishop but a little more athletic. Obviously its a projection based on studying him last year. But I think he’s absolutely starter material. He probably would have been a 3rd round pick if not for some minor injury concerns, at least a 4th at the latest.

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