Filling His Shoes: Man in the Middle
8/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2010
FILLING HIS SHOES: With this report, we begin a five-part series called, "Filling His Shoes." I will take a look at five key players the Bears lost - middle linebacker Joe Pawelek, free safety Jordan Lake, defensive end/tackle Jason Lamb, center J.D. Walton and wide receiver David Gettis - and the players that will try to replace them.
By JERRY HILL
Baylor Bear Insider
Joe Pawelek never would have stood a chance in a foot race with either Chris Francis or Chris McAllister.
But what kept Pawelek on the field for four years as Baylor's starting middle linebacker and turned him into an All-American were his unparalleled work ethic, intelligence and instincts for the game.
"Of course, JoePaw's a unique person and player here at Baylor for many reasons," head coach Art Briles said. "But he's doing well at Seattle (with the NFL Seahawks), and we're very proud of him."
And now it's Chris's turn - Francis and McAllister.
"Chris (Francis), of course, has a little more of an experience factor, playing some and being around a little bit longer," Briles said. "And he really plays with a lot of energy, a lot of effort and a tremendous attitude. Young Chris (McAllister) has worlds of potential. And he's a guy that once he understands that the light's on in the room and it's OK to move around fast, then his game will improve, because he's extremely talented."
Potential is a word you would describe both players. The problem is that Chris Francis is running out of time. A former all-state linebacker for 2006 5A state champion Cedar Hill, the 6-foot, 235-pound Francis has made 87 career tackles in 35 games with two interceptions, two pass breakups, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.
"It's not intimidating, not at all," Francis said of trying to fill Pawelek's shoes. "At the end of the day, I'm going to be who I am. I'm going to be the Chris Francis who I think I am. To tell you the truth, I just try to go out there and play. I'm not thinking about Joe P. or C-Mac. Chris, I've got make sure he's ready, because we're playing the same position. But at the end of the day, I'm just worried about this defense getting better."
A back-up at middle and outside linebacker, Francis said the thing that he learned from Pawelek was "just being a student of the game.'
"Joe P. made sure he came out here every day and made sure that everything was going right," Francis said. "He watched a lot of film and just made sure that everybody on defense was where they were supposed to be. And now I'm basically doing the same things that Joe P. did, getting everybody together and making sure everybody's running the right coverage and everybody's in the right spot."
Francis certainly has the bloodlines. His father, James Francis, is a former All-American and Butkus Award finalist who played 10 years in the NFL after being drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1990. Ron Francis, Chris's uncle, was a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in '87 and played four years in the NFL.
"I was a little in awe as a freshman," said Chris, when asked about seeing his dad's rather large image as one of the legend posters draped on the outside of Floyd Casey Stadium. "But now, I'm used to it. I'm just ready to go out there and play."
Watching his dad's game tape from his Baylor days and playing with the Bengals, Chris said, "He was just bigger than everybody. It looked like he was a man among boys out there."
In his best season to date, Francis ranked fourth among linebackers and seventh overall with 45 tackles last year. But he has a long way to go to come close to Pawelek, who finished as the school's No. 2 all-time leading tackler with 422.
"You have to be (a leader)," Briles said of the middle linebacker. "Our guys know (Francis), they trust him, they know how he works and how he prepares. So that equals people listening a little bit. And now what he's got to do is produce on the field and make plays, and then his leadership ability will increase."
Like Francis, McAllister's been labeled with the dangerous "potential" label.
"He's really a gifted player, and he's got a great future," Briles said of McAllister, a two-time All-Area pick by the San Antonio Express-News and the District 27-5A MVP as a senior at Converse-Judson, when he had 112 tackles, six tackles for losses, two sacks and three fumble recoveries. "His future just needs to be now."
"I think I have to live up to it, but I try not to think about stuff like that," said McAllister, who's listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Francis. "I know that potential is just something that could happen. I realize that I have to go out here and work hard and go through all the struggles before I can reach all the potential that's out there."
McAllister said he brings a lot of athleticism and speed to the position, but "Chris has more knowledge of the defense, so I get with him."
"We both talk about schemes and coverages and things like that," he said. "But I think I just bring athleticism and maybe a little different look to the team when I play."
After taking a day off on Sunday, the Bears went through a two-hour practice on Monday, starting in blistering 106-degree heat and finishing in the Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Practice Facility after a brief summer rain shower.
Three NFL scouts were on hand for Monday's practice, including former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene. Also represented were the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.
Senior free safety Tim Atchison is still wearing a black non-contact jersey, but he did participate in some of the team sessions for the first time in over a week.
Asked about his evaluation of Saturday's "Meet the Bears" scrimmage, Briles said that "It's never quite as good as you want or as bad as you think."
"There are certainly a lot of areas that we can improve on, both sides of the ball, and that's why you practice," he said. "That's why you kick it up a notch, and gives you a little higher intensity level, so things will show out a little more. That part of it is good, because we've still got a little more time to learn before we get to the first game."
The Bears are scheduled to work out at 9:30 Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon at a time to be determined.
