49ers' Franklin excelling, two plays at a time

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — When 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin is replaced on third downs, it's a sure sign the man is doing something right.</p><p>If Franklin succeeds, his reward is to hustle to the sideline after a job well done. Ray McDonald takes Franklin's place along the 49ers' defensive line in passing situations.</p><p>It's the anomaly of Franklin's position. If he falters, he remains on the field. If he's doing his job perfectly, he is often replaced after only two snaps.</p><p>“You can say that,” said Franklin, who has been doing his dirty-work job with aplomb and was perhaps the 49ers' most vital defensive performer through the first four games of the season.</p><p>Franklin will have to be at the top of his game again today when the 49ers face the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park. He will line up across from Falcons center Todd McClure, who has gone more than seven full NFL seasons without missing a start.</p><p>After doing a good job controlling the line of scrimmage against two of the league's top running backs, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and St. Louis' Steven Jackson, the 49ers' run defense faces another test.</p><p>Atlanta running back Michael Turner, who gained 1,699 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns a year ago, is today's target.</p><p>“The competition is always good,” Franklin said. “We take it as a challenge to try to hold guys under 100 yards. We try to get in those third-and-long situations.</p><p>“If we can hold them running and get in third-and-long situations, we have a pretty good chance to get off the field.”</p><p>Thanks, in part, to Franklin's play, the 49ers' defense has been successful. In fact, San Francisco ranks second in the league in first-down defense, surrendering just 4.07 yards on that down.</p><p>The New York Jets lead the league with a 3.92 average on first downs. It's probably no coincidence that the Jets have 350-pound nose tackle Kris Jenkins in the middle of their line.</p><p>Franklin ranks seventh on the 49ers with 19 tackles, including 3½ for loss, according to the coaches' review of game film. He also has one sack, matching a career high he attained two previous times in his seven-year career.</p><p>No, Franklin is not exactly a sack artist, and that helps explain why he exits the field on third down. His value to the 49ers is not measured in individual numbers — except for his importance in assisting inside linebackers Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes as they stack up tackles.</p><p>Perhaps the biggest role Franklin has on offense is to hold his ground in the middle of the line and tie up the center, and even an occasional guard — to prevent them from making blocks on the 49ers' linebackers.</p><p>“He's playing very well,” 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said of Franklin. “The last four weeks he's played very well. He's considered, to me, to be one of the better nose tackles in the league.”</p><p>Franklin is listed at 317 pounds, which is not considered big for a person who lines up over the center in a 3-4 defense. Franklin's strengths are his use of technique and quickness.</p><p>It's no coincidence Franklin's play dramatically improved in the second half of last season after the 49ers focused on using a three-man defensive front on first and second downs.</p><p>“I don't think he was a weak link,” Manusky said. “There were certain situations where we were subbing and all that kind of stuff. Now, we're just playing our base stuff and rolling with it. And he's feeling comfortable with it and doing a great job.”</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco via e-mail at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p>