Exclusive Q&A: Rookie CB Stanley Franks

SDBoltReport.com's Michael Kranzler grabs some one-on-one time with Chargers rookie cornerback Stanley Franks. The former Idaho Vandal talks about learning the defense, playing some offense and overcoming an injury during his senior season. Find out what else he has to say in this exclusive Q&A.

Click here for the "Insiders Only" portion of this interview, where Franks talks about being compared to Chad Johnson, being pulled aside by Chargers SS Clinton Hart and being discounted because of his smaller stature.

Michael Kranzler: What made you choose to play at community college before transferring to Idaho?

Stanley Franks: My former high school coach used to play for Long Beach City through his JuCo years, so he had a good relationship with the coaches. I was born in Long Beach, so it wasn’t too far from where I was living.

MK: When you got a chance to play receiver, you came through in a big way [54-yard touchdown catch against Fresno State]. Why didn’t your coaches use you more on offense?

SF: Well, my senior year I sprained my ACL, so that probably had a lot to do with it at the end of the season, so they didn’t depend on me too much at wide receiver because they needed me on defense. That had a lot to do with it my senior year.

MK: In 2006, you led the nation in interceptions with nine. This past year, you only had one. Was it just a matter of quarterbacks no longer testing your side, or were there other factors at play?

SF: Oh yeah, that had a lot to do with it. I would have had five, but I dropped a couple and offenses were attacking me a little differently, so I wasn’t getting as many opportunities.

MK: What was it like facing Hawaii’s high-powered offense every year?

SF: It was fun. You knew you were going to get a chance to see a lot of balls, and you knew that when you went down there their crowd was going to be into it. It’s a beautiful place and the fans support them really well. They just go straight out there and throw the ball and do what they do no matter what. You’ve also got Colt Brennan, he had all the Heisman hype around him at the beginning of the year, so it was pretty cool.

MK: What do you need to improve on most in order to make this team?

SF: Just learning the defense, I think that’s going to be the biggest part. I need to know my assignment on every coverage and not bust the coverage. There’s nothing worse than busting a coverage and giving up a deep ball or something like that. That’s going to be the thing I need to improve on most, just learning the coverages and, of course, while I’m out there I need to make plays and open up the coaches’ eyes.

Click here for the "Insiders Only" portion of this interview, where Franks talks about being compared to Chad Johnson, being pulled aside by Chargers SS Clinton Hart and being discounted because of his smaller stature.