James Franklin speaks post-practice: Watch, read, everything the Penn State coach said before Maryland

James Franklin held his final media availability of the week on Wednesday before Penn State visits Maryland.

The leader of the Nittany Lions discussed a number of topics with reporters inside Holuba Hall. Franklin’s ties to Maryland, the team’s philosophy on offense, a pair of young defensive tackles, and more were covered during the nearly 14-minute session with reporters.

Below, you can read the full transcript; bold subheads explain the question and Franklin’s answer follows. You can also watch the full interview for yourself via the embedded YouTube player, as well.

Penn State-Maryland is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in College Park. FOX Sports One will televise the contest.

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On the role now for Coziah Izzard and D’von Ellies

James Franklin: “‘[With Coziah], thought he was going to be more in a backup rotational role this year, and felt like he was going to really grow as the season went on. Obviously, he’s been forced into a different scenario now. I thought he’s playing pretty well. So did the defensive coaches. As he continues to gain more experience and more confidence; he’s a twitchy guy that’s got the size that really you want at that position. It’s hard to find. We’ve been really pleased with him.

“D’von, obviously a year older, has obviously been in the program a little bit longer, has got a little bit better understanding of how and why we do things, but another really talented guy. Both out of Maryland, McDonogh [Ellies] High School and DeMatha [Izzard]. I think both of them have a bright future. Obviously, the scenario [has] changed from the beginning of the year to now, what their role and our expectations are going to be of them.”

James Franklin on his background at and in the state of Maryland

JF: “For us, obviously, the region is really important, and whether you’re hiring coaches that have connections in a region, whether it may be New Jersey, or whether it’s Maryland, or Virginia, like [Anthony Poindexter], those things are important, because relationships, right? A bunch of high school coaches that I’ve known for a long time.

[Arnold Ebiketie] is a perfect example. I’ve known his high school coach for 20 years. [Dwight Galt] has known his high school coach for 20 years. There’s trust there. I think it’s like anything else, right? You send your kid there, and he’s treated well, and fairly, gets a great education, and gets better football, then it’s a win-win for everybody.

“Obviously, spending eight years in that state, and, when I was in that state, I recruited good portions of the state. I got good familiarity. That goes a long ways, and then even, kind of, when I was in other places, we still kept kind of going back there to recruit. So, a lot of good friendships, a lot of good relationships, and those things are important on the recruiting trail.”

Insight on linebacker Curtis Jacobs‘ present and future

JF: “I think he’s been on a very similar path that a lot of our guys have gone through. They start out to the field, maybe as a freshman, as a backup and you’re kind of rotating it. Then, take that as a starting job. Then, depending on how your body transforms, possibly moving into the WILL linebacker or moving into the MIKE linebacker dependent on your control of the defense and understanding of the scheme. I think he’s got the flexibility to do that.

“I think in a perfect world, that’s what you’d like to recruit, kind of three field backers that grow into guys that can play in that box from an experience and from a confidence standpoint. With the way that people are running offenses right now, with spread scheme and all the speed on the field, a lot of people are only playing with two linebackers. We’re one of the few programs that are playing with three linebackers on the field.”

James Franklin on his ties to Maryland coach Mike Locksley and the university

JF: “Well, you think about it, [Oklahoma State head coach] Mike Gundy was on that staff, too. A lot of guys came out of that staff. I was fortunate to be there, learned a ton from [former Maryland athletic director] Debbie Yow. She’s been like a mentor to me throughout my career, somebody I call when I have questions. Obviously, Ralph Friedgen, learned a ton from my time with him and the success we had.

“We had a bunch of success there. I think the time that I spent there, on and off for eight years, as a receivers coach, as kind of my first big-time job, and then as the recruiting coordinator, and then coming back as the offensive coordinator; a lot of time there.

“My one daughter was born there, still have a lot of friends and relationships. My wife worked on campus and in the admissions office. So, that was a big growth time in my career, both personally and professionally, so very appreciative of the time that we had there. Went to a BCS Orange Bowl, did a bunch of cool stuff.”

James Franklin on his memories of coaching with Mike Gundy

JF: “I used to go jogging with Mike, at like, lunchtime, and Mike used to tell me he’s going to be the next head coach at Oklahoma State, and before you know it, he was, and has been there for a long time. They’ve been very successful.

“Then, obviously, [Mike] Yurcich’s connections there as well. Mike [Gundy]’s done a really good job, is an interesting guy, got a great background, and has done a really nice job at Oklahoma State. I love to see him every year when I go to the convention.”

Why does James Franklin preach a 1-0 mentality?

JF: “Obviously, you know, for consistency, is something that’s been good to us over my career, all the way back to Vanderbilt and now at Penn State. That’s the challenge, right, is getting young people, or people in general, to be as consistent as you possibly can. You’re constantly hearing voices, and noise, from the outside about this game is bigger than this game, and I think that’s where you have to be careful. You get on an emotional roller coaster.

“So, we try to keep it as consistent as we can. It’s always about us, and then try to make sure that we do everything we possibly can through our week, and our process of getting ready in terms of how we game plan and how we practice from an installation standpoint, so that we’re peaking at the right time, both physically and emotionally.

“But, that’s the challenge. It’s no different on the football field. Everybody out here can play. Some guys can make the play one out of five times. The other guys can make it three out of five times. And, hopefully, your best players can do it four out of five times. That’s what you’re trying to do, is trying to create as much consistency throughout your program as you possibly can.”

On utilizing the screen game and whether it impacts quarterback Sean Clifford’s workload

JF: “I would say those aren’t major workloads. I mean, it’s pretty much numbers. Like, if we got three guys out there and they got two, throw. My psychology degree from East Stroudsburg,  I can do that one. I don’t think those are overly challenging.

“Obviously, there’s a bunch of other stuff on his plate, as well, that he has to manage specifically from a protection standpoint, and then obviously recognizing coverage, whether it’s two high, one high, whether it’s man or zone, whatever it may be. That’s also where the motions help.

“There are some people that are motioning, and then playing zone coverage, but that’s a huge man-zone indicator for you. It’s challenging, but I do think the perimeter screens are [an] important part of our offense, whether it’s bubbles or whether it’s smoke screens or whatever it may be.”

How does James Franklin decide what information to make public versus keep private?

JF: “I think that’s the challenge, and it’s the challenge for me, because I’m a person that wants to be as transparent as possible. But, then you’re constantly thinking about, if I say this, and it comes off the wrong way, is that going to upset a kid in the locker room? Sometimes [the media] will ask me a question about how a player played, and I want to answer your question, but I also want to be respectful of the kid, his parents, and those types of things. It may be other tough questions that [the media is] asking me, and I try to make sure that I’m saying it in a way that’s going to represent the university and the administration the right way, how they want information presented. I think that’s the hard part. When you’re in this position, you want to be as truthful and transparent as you possibly can, but you also want to be respectful of all these groups that you work with and for. I think that’s the challenge, right?

“It’s funny, because people will say, ‘Well, you become the head football coach at Penn State, you’re the boss.’ Well, you’re not really the boss, you just work for different people now, right? That’s the challenge, and you guys do a great job, and you’re smart, and you ask tough questions, but, constantly trying to balance all those things in my mind.” 

On if the current College Football system is fair, and how James Franklin would change it if not.

“No, it’s not fair. Life is not fair. I’ve brought up some things in the past that I believe in.  I think the first thing you have to do if you’re not going to have a true playoff system, the first thing you have to do is make sure everybody is playing under the same model.

“How can you have some conferences that play FCS opponents and other conferences that don’t? How can you have some conferences that are playing nine conference games and others playing eight? It’s very, very challenging in terms of, if you get a bunch of people in the room, and we all have biases, right?

“Try to get a bunch of people in the room, and they’re trying to decide, who are the best players? Some of it is data, but some of it is just your personal preference, right?

“How can you do that when not everybody’s playing the same number of games, or in a similar situation? I think that’s the first thing [they] need to do. Everybody needs to play eight [conference] games, everybody needs to play nine conference game, everybody plays 10 games. Whatever it is, just make it consistent across the board. I think that’s one of the first things you have to do. And then the same thing. Standardize.

“We’re either all playing an FCS opponent, or no one is. It just needs to be consistent. I think that’s the first thing you need to do to allow people to sit in a room and decide who are the best football teams in college football. If not, there’s always going to be a complaint. But I also say, like in basketball, I mean, what are we at, 64 teams in the tournament, and still, at that point who complains? Sixty-five, 66, 67. So, there’s always going to be complaints, but I do think that has to happen for it to even make any sense for people.”

How does a team handle when its envisioned identity doesn’t match what it can do on the field?

JF: “I don’t think in any situation you have this vision of what you want to be before the year starts, in any walk of life, let alone football, and it turns out exactly as that picture as you thought it would be. You have to adjust, and you have to navigate, and you have to be flexible. Whether that is scheme, or whether that is personnel, at the end of the day, no one cares. You just got to find a way to get it done, and you got to adjust, and you have to plan for some of these things.

“That’s the challenge. There are a bunch of moving parts.  I think that’s where it starts. You can’t sit here and say, ‘OK, I got this vision, and it better fit this vision exactly how I saw it, and if not, it’s not going to work.’ You constantly have to be adjusting, and making changes, and being flexible, and willing to change.”