James Franklin sizes up Delaware ahead of weekend tilt

Penn State head coach James Franklin opens his weekly press conferences with a bullet point assessment of the Nittany Lions’ next opponent. Welcoming Delaware to Beaver Stadium on Saturday (noon, Peacock), that meant a detailed rundown of coaches, players to watch, and program history.

Noting Penn State’s internal respect for the FCS Blue Hens, Franklin set the table for the weekend matchup. They’ll feature a vertical passing game, he said, but is also expecting to see “a ton of quick game, a ton of screens, and a ton of move-the-pocket type stuff.” Specifically highlighting receiver Jourdan Townsend, quarterback Ryan O’Connor, and running back Marcus Yates, the comments were Franklin’s first and last of the session with the media for the week. 

Thursday night on his weekly radio show, though, Franklin explored deeper what Penn State fans should expect from Delaware on both sides of the ball. And, given the opportunity, his assessment was more comprehensive and free-flowing than earlier in the week. 

James Franklin on Delaware’s offense

Sizing up Ryan Carty, the Blue Hens’ head coach in his second year with the program, extensive experience as an offensive assistant has gone into play for what Delaware does. 

For Carty, a former quarterback at Delaware from 2002-2006, stops at New Hampshire and Sam Houston State, including offensive coordinator roles from 2012 until his arrival back at his alma mater in 2022, has carried into his head coaching responsibilities.

“Their head coach is the offensive coordinator. That’s what his background is,” Franklin told host Steve Jones. “In a lot of the smaller schools like this, sometimes it makes sense for the head coach to call the offense or the defense. They don’t even have anybody with the title. In most places, even if the head coach calls the offense, someone has the title.”

Tabbed as the FCS coordinator of the Year in 2020 for his performance with Sam Houston State as OC, Carty delivers an aggressive, bold approach to the field offensively. 

“They want to throw it,” Franklin said. “On top of that, you’re gonna get every trick in the book. Reverses, double-reverse, double passes, muddle huddles. Everything you could possibly imagine, they like to do it. 

“And we’ve been able to study, not only them from this season, but also to go back to last year as well. They’ve got a few transfer portal guys, but not as much as what we faced last week. So we got a pretty good idea of who they are.”

James Franklin evaluates Delaware’s defense

The sentiment extends to the defensive side of the ball, too.

Highlighting defensive coordinator Manny Rojas during his comments on Tuesday, Franklin reiterated some of the tendencies the Blue Hens demonstrated last season and at the start to this, which has included a 37-13 opening win over Stony Brook last Thursday. Among the standouts defensively, Franklin highlighted linebacker Jackson Taylor, defensive tackle Keyshawn Hunter, and end Chase McGowan.

But, on the radio show, Franklin also insisted Delaware’s looks would be out of the norm for what Penn State might expect every week in the Big Ten.

“Defensively, they’re kind of the same way. They’re unorthodox,” Franklin said. “A little bit of a combination of odd-front, maybe from the Al Groh tree. And then also a little bit of the Iowa State, three-safety look. 

“So you’re gonna see three down linemen predominantly. And then a mix of six defensive backs and different looks.”