James Franklin weekly press conference: Live updates

Penn State head coach James Franklin is joining the media on Monday afternoon for the first time since his Nittany Lions topped Maryland on Saturday night, 51-15. The win improved the program to 8-1 on the season with a huge game against Michigan up next.

Franklin is recapping the latest win and what’s next, here.

James Franklin weekly press conference updates

(Topics and responses are paraphrased. Page does not automatically refresh.)

Questions in the room

On mentality of playing to the whistle:

To finish blocks with physical, nasty demeanor. Finish runs that way. Finish plays that way. If you look, you should be doing it that way anyway. Officials are afraid to call the whistle early. But that also puts you in a bind when a flag is thrown before whistle is blown. But on offense, want to finish plays like that. How do you show value to defense, to offense. Running to the ball and finishing plays is really important. It can solve issues and problems in all three phases.

On “big boy” football as a mindset:

People describe Big Ten football like that. Historically, it has changed. Talking to recruits and parents, the Big Ten has changed dramatically compared to what it used to be. But this is still a league that plays defense consistently as good as anybody.

Hired Mike from the Big 12. What that conference was like defensively. It’s up front. If you look, statistically, and you use NFL as a benchmark, Big Ten had more offensive linemen drafted than any other league. So when you take all those things into account, historically, how good both defenses are playing, the fronts, being able to commit and establish the run, last week was a good example.

Not saying you can’t win just throwing the ball, but it makes it harder to win if you don’t run the ball effectively. It’s going to be a big boy game. No doubt about that, with both front sevens, OL, TE, RBs, DL, LBs, and then everyone trying to find a way to get an extra man into the box to stop runs or create pressure. Interesting chess match for four quarters. A physical game.

On Jim Harbaugh and if his status is an influence this weekend:

Focused on everything they see on film. The coaches’ copy of what’s going on between the sidelines, the 53 1/3.

On using last year’s game to build confidence for this year’s:

That’s where they have to be patient. Could this game turn out to be a game with multiple touchdowns on both sides and it’s one possession, and more of a shootout? Yes.

Is it more likely to be a low-scoring, one-possession battle with four-minute, two-minute situations at the end? That’s more likely.

Have to make sure they don’t lose patience. There will be times where punting may be the best option. have to manage this game and when opportunities present themselves, have to take advantage.

Looks at Iowa game and what they talked about at halftime, staying patient, was important. Against a really good defense. And sometimes as an offense or offensive play caller, you can do that.

On optics of this game and playing better offensively:

It’s important to look better. It’s a fair question. But again, playing No. 1, 2, 3 defense in the country, and they’re ranked that for a reason. To the point, yes. There is no doubt about it. But again, the rankings are there for a reason, for the same reason people struggle against Penn State’s defense. In these types of games, have to show they can manufacture yards and points against whoever they’re playing. But there is a way to do that. And also thinks as a coaching staff, have to be patient. Have to capitalize when those moments come because there are 4-6 per game in these games that you need to capitalize on.

On Kobe and Abdul development the past few weeks:

Abdul played his best game. Was flying all over the field. Playing within the structure of the defense. Made a ton of plays. But more than that, you felt his presence on the field. Curtis is playing at a really high level and is consistent. You look at his stats and he’s always up there. Kobe is steady Eddie. Tyler Elsdon played well last week. Rojas played well. Dom DeLuca is the man. And than also able to get Keon Wylie in the game and he did some good things. That’s important as well. Not just the D-line challenged by this running back room. It’s the front seven and the totality of it.

On offensive line:

Have done a good job managing the roster. There are some guys that not sure how much they would have played in enough games throughout the season that burning their redshirt would have made sense. But have done a good job managing it that at the end of the season, should be able to play more guys, specifically at home games. So there are some offensive linemen like Donkoh and Jven that he could see playing more as the season finishes up, starting this weekend.

Same at linebacker. Kaveion Keys was all over him to get on the field. A lot of those guys could have and would have played this year. But it’s always a question of will they get enough reps. Had that concern with Jameial Lyons. Ended up going ahead with it. There will be value for that moving forward.

But with the OL, Shelton, Vega got a ton of reps. Helps keep both tackles fresh and helpful the whole year. Both guys getting reps on both sides. That’s been valuable. With these other guys getting some reps, could help even more moving forward.

On receivers:

Dante having a big game was big. KeAndre did some good things. Others as well. Have to keep building on that. Need other guys to step up as well. Need KeAndre, Dante, TEs to take the next step. Going to have to make some plays in the passing game. No doubt about it. Need to be balanced in run and pass, stay on schedule. But there will be times they have to take their shots.

On size/depth on DL: 

Sometimes you feel like you’ve been in gap long enough, want to make a play on the ball, and their backs are patient enough of prying a crease. Corum has shown he doesn’t need a lot of space. Better positioned for that. Bigger and more experienced at linebacker. So the combination of the front four and experience and depth at LB gives them the best chance to continue to play great run defense, which will be very important in this game.

Questions over zoom

On having experience of challenges and preparing for this opponent:

It definitely helps. Being on the road, at home, from a scheduling perspective who they’ve played out of conference. All those things are decisions you make and strategy that prepares you for games like this. It’s been helpful. There’ve been some games where he’s watched them, not just cutups, but they’ve started out a little slow or were down early on and could wear people down over the last couple of years. Even if they gave up early score, have been able to wear people down and get a win.

At the end of the day, will have two of the best defenses in college football in that stadium, similar to what they faced a little earlier this year. Will be a challenging game for both sides. Similar to last game, could come down to one-possession game.

On running back split and maybe going with a lead guy:

Did this last year and it was pretty successful. Doing it this year and pretty successful. Talk a ton about keeping RBs fresh for the fourth quarter and for their careers. Very comfortable with the model and plan and how they’re using it.

On Chop:

Missed Chop Robinson and Amin Vanover in that Maryland game and were still able to play the way they did. So the opportunity and possibility to have both back this week is significant. Being able to travel him was big, not only from rehab standpoint, but also morale. Talked about that in the locker room. Not just playing well, but playing for Chop. Hopeful to have both of those guys back.

On JJ McCarthy: 

Just a more experienced players. Has always made plays with his feet. Has just improved. Well-rounded. Throwing for higher percentage, great job protecting the ball, can extend plays and make throws.

The biggest thing with them is they haven’t been challenged. They’ve had great game control with offense and defense. Usually leading on the scoreboard, and ahead of the sticks from down to down. That puts your guys in advantageous positions.

Will be a big part of this game. And hopefully at home, this is more of a challenging environment. Just did a quick call and someone asked about noon game compared to 7 o’clock games. Those games can be a little sleepy. But believes that Penn State fans will be ready and amped up for this game. Hopes environment is something that is difficult and causes challenges. Michigan hasn’t had to play from behind the sticks a whole lot this year.

On signal stealing, and context this week:

Knows these questions will come this week. Will always have a plan for what they do and how they communicate with players and team during games. Will leave it at that, because less is more.

On run defense:

They’ve been much more gap disciplined. Also a little bit bigger. Size has helped across the front, specifically the DL. Not to the point where it has affected ability to move. 

With Michigan, offensively, they do a really good job of getting a hat on a hat. Good job IDing the front. Get their six blockers on Penn State most dangerous six defenders. Blake Corum has vision and balance. And behind the line, he’s patient. Then he can burst through the hole. So even though he’s undersized, he’s powerful and is always moving forward. Also have a change of pace guy that is explosive.

Experienced OL. Good job being aggressive in transfer portal on OL. Have brought in experienced guys. One was a captain at Stanford, another at Arizona State. Veteran guys in that room.