James Franklin: Penn State coach weekly press conference updates

Penn State head coach James Franklin is set to meet with the media ahead of his No. 6-ranked Nittany Lions’ trip to face Ohio State.

Follow our live updates from the press conference, here or in The Lions Den.

James Franklin press conference updates

(Press conference is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. Page does not refresh automatically.)

Press conference has ended

Questions in the room:

On Drew’s poise and Purdue and seeing him in the fire:

Most guys you recruit, they should be dominating high school football. They’re typically bigger, stronger, and faster. That’s also what makes it difficult when you’re so much physically better than everyone you’re playing against, how do you handle it when you get to college and you’re not? Specifically with QBs, that’s hard to see until you get to games. Other positions, you get to see them in live situations. QB, you don’t, unless you make them live, which most people don’t.

A lot of time it takes truly until they’re in a college game to see if they have that or not. Have had examples of guys not ready for it as a redshirt freshman. Have a young man that isn’t with them anymore, and playing really well somewhere else. Sometimes they’re not ready for it at that time. And sometimes it’s normal maturation that has to happen. And they may be the same type of player.

Keaton Ellis has had an unreal career here. Porter redshirted as a true freshman. Keaton played. They may end up together in the NFL. And that’s a little bit of the sad part of the transfer portal. Sometimes you’re just a year older. But specific to the QB, you need the games.

Daequan Hardy. How many times do you really see a punt returner return punts live? You may do it in practice 50 times. How many are actually live where you have the bullets running full speed and that guy is taking those hits? Terry Smith and Manny Diaz don’t want that. Some of this evaluation process has changed. Most positions you can see in practice, but some not.

On three safeties vs. 12 personnel:

That’s why people do it. When you’re playing 4-3, you have rules for how you block to the Sam, bokck to the Mike or the Will. With the extra safety like Ohio State is doing, like Iowa State made popular, it’s different than your normal rules of how you account for that guy in the run game. In the pass game. As a blitzer or robber in coverage. No different from playing the Wishbone when you don’t see it all year. Or now, in some ways, a traditional two-back power set. That’s where it can become challenging is having to teach things different than normally. With coaches, just like teachers, you’re trying as much as you can same-as, or like. This is like this. You have categories. This is how you treat that. This defense forces you out of it a little bit and it has to be specific to how they play. You just don’t have accumulated reps against this defense.

On explosive plays and how Kaytron and Nick have done:

Real football people, the staff, college coaches, NFL scouts, those guys are running really well and really hard and really physical. Are there times in the open field and run the safety over? Yeah. But again, that goes back to the question earlier about identity. You gotta embrace who you are as a player, as a coach, as a leader, as a team. This is who they are right now and doing it well. Also knows, when the opportunities present themselves, there is evidence these guys will make the big plays because they’ve done it before.

People are playing them differently than they did last year based on safeties, number of people in the box, and fitting the run. With two proven commodities, saying to make them beat us. But when they watch the tape on Sundays, very pleased by how they’re running. Those things are going to come. They’ll happen organically as long as they don’t create something that hasn’t been detrimental to them to this point.

On this year’s game as an opportunity: 

They’re trying to find a way to get a win this week against a really good team, against a program they have tremendous respect for, the talent they have. But approach it the same every single week. Everyone on the outside is talking, but they’re approaching it the same way every other. Why is it an important game? Because of how they’ve handled the previous week. Each week is important.

On last year’s game:

Everyone is a combination of previous experiences. Whether a first-time coach in the league or player, all those experiences positive or adversity, if you approach them the right way, they help you grow. Ton of respect for Ohio State and their history, and not just now. 

It’s interesting looking at Penn State’s record against all these teams before they got here. They’re important to study and understand. But last year’s experience was a learning tool for the team, the coordinators and coaches. And it goes back to the previous question. Played really well for three quarters and didn’t finish. They are opportunities to grow and get better. 

On not being in close games late:

You control what you can control. Have had some situations where maybe they went into halftime and game was closer than people thought it would be. And there was some sense of that. But you control what you can control. Have played the way they’ve needed to play to get better. But yeah, you gotta be able to win big games in the fourth quarter. Win one-possession games. Practice those things in practice a lot. But some things that just have to organically happen. Expect this to be one of those types of games. Have played these guys, up to the last two years, as well as anyone in the conference.

But have to find a way to win in the fourth quarter and win in one possession games.

On what stood out about Drew in recruiting:

Already had Beau when Mike came in. Not only is he scouring the country at Penn State, he had already done that at Texas. And then, he’s from Ohio. If you’re from Ohio, you have friends and buddies talking about guys, and it’s more natural to be aware of them based on network and connections. That’s how it started. 

His transformation, his QB coach Brad Maendler, hasn’t seen anything likely. Didn’t even believe in it. Believes you can improve QBs 90 percent of the time through footwork, timing, anticipation, pre-snap understanding of defense. That’s where you can really help QBs, especially at college level.

But Brad’s ability with Drew’s commitment and work ethic. His transformation is crazy. And it just continued. His HS ran a wide open, spread offense which also helped get him a good feeling of depth and space and making people defend the field. Has the arm to do it.

Some people are spacial, and some are sequential thinkers, and the good ones can do both. He has physical gifts for body type and arm strength. And surrounded by really good coaches. Medina HC, plus Maendler, plus coming to a place like Penn State running a system that is pro style, has spread elements, but enough flexibility to take advantage of what he does well.

Combination of things but goes back to how you’re raised at home. Steady, level, humble and hungry guy.

Questions over zoom:

On second half vs. first half: 

Had same answer in 2016 but with a different commissioner. Tony came in the preseason and said he wanted drama in the second half. (It’s a joke.)

Sometimes when you have a young team, can make adjustments between series, but sometimes it takes getting to the half. Reality is having to do it faster. Need to start faster and get to higher level faster. But end of the day, playing really good, complementary football. Probably more complementary and balanced than they’ve been in the past. Players and coaches have done a good job embracing that. 

One thing that has been really good, will talk about an offensive stat that isn’t an offensive stat. It’s a team stat. Offense leading conference in points. That’s not an offensive stat. Defense is putting offense in position for short field. Just like red zone opportunities against the defense. But way offense is playing, that’s a team stat. 

Good for Manny to get in front of team and talk to defense, but also offense about what they’re doing as well. Same for Mike and Stacy.

On Drew’s improvement the past few weeks: 

You spend your whole career trying to get QBs to take checkdowns. Every QB wants to throw the deep ball. That’s why he got so uncomfortable and upset last week because it’s so foreign. He’s a young QB starting for the first time, those plays can be called, and he’ll take the check down. He’s doing a great job keeping th email thing the main thing.

Protect the football, take explosives when they’re there but not forcing it, managing the game. The QB on every play, run game, RPO, traditional pass, a lot on his plate. Being graded mentally and physically on every play. Getting more comfortable with that every week. Refining process of watching film and studying game plan. 

Very pleased with him. Wants Drew to understand and team to understand, that’s what they have to do this week. If the process is what they say, just have to take next step and get better this week. Nothing more than that. Just continue to refine the process. He’s been steady. When you’re steady and making small gains daily with your mental and emotional and physical approach to the game, you get better and you’ll like where you are at the end of the season. That’s what he’s doing and not listening to all the other stuff.

On not having recruiting drama with Drew:

It’s how they do things. They never pressure a kid to commit. Never have. Doesn’t believe in it. When kids call to commit, usually try to talk them out of it. Would rather not commit than commit and change your mind down the road. That’s why it bothers him when decommitments happen. Everyone is on the same page. Commitment for them and the player is a strong word. Transparent about that on the front end.

Other thing is, typically recruit kids and families with similar backgrounds where that is important to them too. People forget, he wasn’t a high profile guy in the beginning, even when he was offered. Penn State thought he had potential, but wasn’t seen that way nationally. 

Then as he went through the circuit and climbed, people started offering him. But how he’s wired, and how parents are wired, and how thorough Penn State was, it didn’t changed. Allar family called James to let him know that coaches would call, and they didn’t want to talk to them, but wanted to be up front about it.

Recruitment happened over COVID. Drove around campus by themselves, no tour. Just a combination of how they do things. Don’t offer playing time. Don’t do things that aren’t realistic in the recruiting process. Try to treat people the way he would want if his son was recruited. Some people are drawn to that and some people aren’t. Not for everybody. Won’t just say everything you want to hear. Wants the same in return. Don’t have a lot of drama and that was the same with Drew and family.

On approach to offense this year, balancing what has worked in the past against those teams:

What you have to be careful of is, you have to understand and figure out the identity of your team and embrace it no matter what the outside world is saying. You have to be comfortable in your skin, own who you are and how you have to play. Doesn’t mean you’re not looking to improve in certain areas. But Iowa game is a really good example. Went in at halftime and said let’s not change who we are. The runs in the first half that went 3-4 yards went 8-10 in the second half.

Staying true to identity and what has gotten them here, while still saying, these are the areas they have to improve. That’s offense, defense, and special teams. Studying the analytics are important so you’re aware of what they say. But those trends are there for a reason. Means you’re good at something. Biggest mistakes you can make is trying to be something you haven’t been in the previous six weeks.

On Kyle McCord:

Obviously a big arm. He’s a good size guy. Been in their system for a while and understands it. Surrounded with a ton of talent at WR, TE (“I love their tight end.”) and running backs. They do a really good job. Approaching it a little like Penn State has with Drew. And he’s doing what he needs to do for them to be successful offensively and win games. Look at his interception to touchdown ration, really good.

High school coach is on Penn State staff. Have recruited him. Know a lot about him. Ton of respect for him and continue to. Will be a challenge on Saturday as well.

On Drew Allar playing in home state: 

Going to have a conversation with him about it because everyone is talking to him about it. Wants Drew to do what he’s done all year. Prep same way. Practice the same way. Tune all that stuff out and get better this week through preparation and performance, which isn’t different from any other week.

On Marvin Harrison:

No. 1 is body control and ball skills. Has ability to contort his body into positions and catch the ball effortlessly. He’s so smooth and fluid. A guy similar is Jahan. Difference is, this guy is doing it at 6-3, 6-4. On tape, he looks like he has good size, but in person he’s a big dude. And his consistency. Has consistently made spectacular plays, but also makes routine plays as well. Obviously someone they have to be aware of at all times and have respect for him and how they use him.

On Ohio State:

Offensively, Brian Hartline, one of best receivers coaches and recruiters in the country. Spread offense. Will go tempo. WOuldn’t necessarily say that’s all they do. Personnel starts with Marvin Harrison. Tremendous player. Henderson. Cade Stover not getting enough attention and love. He’s been a very productive player and has elite ball skills. Ebuku and Williams, respect for. Left some guys out based on not sure if they’ll play or not.

Jim Knowles, very familiar with him. Has taken it to a whole new level this year. 4-2-5 scheme. More three safeties this year that he ran at Oklahoma State. Doing a little bit less than the year before, but what they do, they do it well. Equated to them limiting explosive plays. Coach crush on Tommy Eikenberg. Really fun to watch. Obviously the QB of the defense. Pick up a lot of stuff off tape, watching him, plus TV copies. Smart, instinctive, athletic linebacker who they have a ton of respect for. No. 8 Ransom safety. JTT had a career game against them last year. Cornerback No. 10, Burke. 

Tremendous challenge. Also a tremendous opportunity. Looking forward to going to Columbus to play this game.

Opening statement

Opening statement: 

Last game – Lost the turnover battle, won explosives, third downs, sack, drive start, and penalties. All those are positive. Have done a great job all year with turnovers. Need to buckle down on that and continue it. Huge part of identity and success.

Players of the game: Warren, Isaac, and Hardy

Got better during the week. Dr. Nelson message at pregame meal, talking about Saturday as a culmination of the work you do throughout the week, or as another day to get better, just like practice days.

Playing really good complementary football. That’s been really important. One thing Manny talked about the other day, and something they take pride in, one of top teams in the country for not allowing opportunities in the red zone. People aren’t getting down there. But that’s also a team stat. The defense is getting a ton of three and outs and offense is either scoring or able to get a few first downs before punting and make them drive the whole field. 

As head coach, always looking at team stats. Coming up, people talk about time of possession being important stat. But Saturday proved it isn’t. If you return punts for touchdowns, defense stays on field.

Explosive on special teams. Played physical on both fronts. Talked all week about their identity as explosive offense. Took that away from them. When you do that to a team, taking it away, you have a chance. Played 76 players in the game.

Areas to improve: Have to start fast on offense. When twos and threes get in the game, need to play at higher level. Ball security and perimeter blocking.