Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference

Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters on Monday afternoon for his regular weekly press conference from Beaver Stadium. His Nittany Lions, 6-0 and ranked No. 3 nationally, are coming out of a bye week, with a crucial test at 5-2 Wisconsin up next.

Will Penn State be ready for the national television, primetime tilt with the Badgers? How is the health of the Nittany Lions after the bye week?

Franklin will take on questions from the media to provide the latest insight into his program.

Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference

(Press conference is set to begin at noon EST. Questions and answers will be paraphrased. Page does not automatically refresh. Press conference has ended at 12:37 p.m.)

Questions in the room

Effect of one dominant run blocker on game plan and explosive numbers:

It’s a definite impact because he creates explosive play with the amount of space he creates. You could make the argument Vega falls into that category. Not uncommon for people to say on this run, this tackle and guard best outside zone combination. The other thing that factors in that they’re doing a better job of this year, last year when Beau would go into the game, a lot of times more explosive in run game and not just with Beau carrying the ball, but the threat of it that changed how D defended them. Times last year Drew should have pulled the ball and didn’t. Few times he has done it before and it has been effective. Doesn’t allow defenses to treat it as a non-threat. The QB as a possible ball carrier, and following out the fake full speed and holding outside linebacker, back safety a half second, also has ability of creating explosive runs. As well as a dominant blocker you want to try to run behind in a gap or zone scheme. All those factor in. But want to make sure you don’t have tendencies in those situations as well.

Tyler Warren as a recruit:

The guys they’re recruiting, the majority have been dominant offensive players, dominant defense. The more they can recruit on both sides of the ball, the better. Important piece of evaluation process. But a credit to Andy and Tyler, sometimes you have guys with really good skillsets and can do a ton of things, but maybe they’re lacking something that makes it difficult to do that.

Tyler used in pass and run game. But he’s also got a really good football IQ and is really smart, that you can move him around to a ton of different spots. Some guys, you do that and they’ll have a bunch of missed assignments. The fact that Tyler can do that allows him to be a matchup problem because the defense is doing everything it can to take him away, but you can line him up anywhere. Motions, shifts, and IQ allows him to do all at a high level. And the fact he played QB allows you to keep D honest by putting a pass in there.

Even the cadence. Sometimes the center isn’t comfortable with it. Sometimes the mesh. Sometimes you put a guy back there and a mesh with RB or QB, but they’re not reading it. It’s eye candy. With him, he’s done that before. Now that package becomes even more valuable. God forbid anyone take a snap under center. He’s done that before. It sounds good to say they’ll run a QB sneak, but with someone like Tyler who is 260 pounds and has taken a snap from under center, combination of Andy and a player that allows you to take advantage of creativity. 

When your best player is really smart guy and you can move him around, makes it difficult to take him away.

Learning from weekend of football:

A little of that. He wasn’t in position to do that because he left Wednesday night and got back Saturday night. Wasn’t a whole lot of watching other teams and games. But during bye week, getting ahead on next opponent? Yes. And other opponents for staff? Yeah, a little bit. But you better make sure right amount of attention and focus is paid to the next opponent on your schedule. But there are some work ahead things as well.

Quinton Martin and green light:

Would describe him as still a yellow where he and coaches understand if they have to play him to win games, they’ll do that and everyone is comfortable doing that. Prefer to manage it as best as possible to have that flexibility and choice moving forward. When Nick was working through some bumps and bruises, that made it more challenging to do that. 

He’s done a good enough job that coaches think it’s a weekly conversation on how to use him. If he was green lighted, have ways they would use him with 21 package. Every rep they give him is one taken away from Nick and Kaytron, which is something they’re trying to manage as a staff and Ja’Juan is specifically. When you have a third back you’re trying to factor in, if burning his redshirt have to play him, and that takes away from those other two guys, and if they’re healthy, not sure that makes sense. But a ton of confidence in him and he has confidence in himself.

Corey is coming on as well. A guy they can look at like Max Granville and Harvey possibly looking at having Corey as third back to preserve Quinton redshirt as well.

Slow starts defensively:

Have given up yards in the first quarter, but not necessarily points. What the defense has done a good job of is game planning and knowing where they’re at and how to stress the offense, and quickly figuring out if they’re playing the way expected or if they’re doing tendency breakers. Those things are important. You want to study your opponent’s tendencies to know how to call the game, but also they should be aware of their tendencies as well. Once you have a good beat on what they’re doing, are there exceptions, making adjustments as coaches and players. 

Have given up same amount of points in first and fourth quarter. Great in the third quarters. And second quarter where they’ve given up the most. Have played pretty good except opening drives.

Conversations with Andy Kotelnicki before coming to Penn State:

It’s overall philosophy offensively. Explosive plays was a big part of the conversation for how last year played out. The ability to run or pass. And then studying on film and in conversation about plays he focused on. More option. Not read option but true option. The one thing that was a little different in the conversations. But pretty similar. Also about coming in here and changing only what needed to be changed. Needed to take the next step, specifically for explosive plays. Similar to what they’ve talked about. 

He’s been comfortable because they spent a lot of time talking about expectations, spring ball, summer, practice schedules, and all of those things. And then getting an idea of how he wanted to operate and function. Then talking to people like his head coach and other people that have worked with him. From both sides, has worked out how expected for the most part.

Message to the team right now:

Don’t really talk about that. It’s just about getting better. Need to get better. Every week. That’s collectively, each side of the ball, by position, by individual, coaches and players. Really just focus on getting better every week. Studying opponent and giving necessary respect. Then doing everything they can to be 1-0. Being as consistent in their approach as they can. That has served them well.

Coaches Poll approach:

It doesn’t vary a whole lot. Michael Hazel used to put it together for them. Now Will Ryman does. Typically have AP poll last week, Coaches Poll, and how they voted last week, and they’re usually consistent. Look at that, and then whoever lost and won that week, who should come out of the top 25, who should go in. Also a big proponent of the power conferences based on the competition they play every week and the challenges that come with that. But very similar to what you see out there publicly. Very little difference between the polls and theirs. All three had it ranked the same way this past week. Sometimes where they have Penn State voted lower than other publications have them ranked, and sometimes a little higher, but all comes out in the averages.

On Cael Sanderson speaking to the team:

Do it every year. Go out to the university community and seek their input. Have people from all over come during the summer. Cael did a nice job this summer and wanted to bring him back and double down on it. His message is consistent with what they do with the guys all the time, which makes it powerful coming from a different voice. A lot of it is about being present, being appreciative, and the other one is controlling what you can, and not inhaling or reading or listening to outside messages or words.

Questions via zoom

On Jaylen Reed: 

Playing well. And doing so in a way that impacts other. As Dejuan Lane continues to develop and grow, getting all three on the field will be important moving forward.

KJ Winston and possible return: 

Long-term injury. As far as he’ll go with the details of that. KJ, hoping for him to have a more significant impact in terms of leadership and all those other things, but right now his focus is on getting healthy. Visited with him and family on Wednesday night. Him and Dex. But he’s a huge part of the program. But based on things he’s dealing with from health perspective, his focus was on that and rightfully so.

Running game the past few weeks:

Have to do whatever they have to do to win, and will be different each week. About what they’re doing offensively and what the D decides to game plan. Most teams will go into the game with something they’re adamant they’re not going to give up. Stopping 44. Stopping the run. Most will have a plan that they’ll stop something, and to beat them, you have to do this thing. 

Would they like more production in running game? Yes. Explosive runs? Yes. Has it been a discussion in the bye week? Yes.

But game may go differently based on production in the pass game and how they operate each week and what they have to do to win.

Linebackers:

A little different from receivers in that there was a lot of confidence for the linebackers and injuries and other things affected depth. Overall, good. Kobe and Elsdon and Dom, have missed time with Dom, but a core group of guys that have played a ton of football. Rojas as well. Then the development of DaKaari has been big. That is something he’s really flourishing right now and a lot of conversation about it. Doing good things at ST and doing better at LB than anticipated for a guy who hasn’t done it before. Ta’Mere another guy with bumps and bruises and has missed time but has flashed. Continue to be a guy where his role needs to continue to grow and evolve as the season goes on. But with all the moving parts, pleased by them.

Wide receivers:

Pleased and impressed with the room. Their production, impact to games, and different guys doing it. Fleming had a huge game two weeks ago. Games with Omari, Liam, Trey all being the guy. That’s helpful that a number of guys have been impactful and are making plays. Puts challenge on the D that it’s not one guy. Need to continue to grow it and create opportunities to take advantage of their strengths. Not just the RBs, but Warren will get a ton of attention as well. Should be more opportunities for these guys because of that. But needs to be continued growth and production as the year goes on.

James Franklin opening statement

Wisconsin: Played their best football the last three weeks. Impressive to watch.

Phil Longo started his career at East Stroudsburg. He has evolved at Wisconsin and with Luke Fickell. An obvious commitment to running the ball in a different way from Wisconsin traditionally. Impressed by QB. Impressed by Oklahoma RB transfer Walker. And WR Vinny Anthony. 

Defensively, if you look at how Michigan State played all those years and now Wisconsin, similarities. Playing good football. Arkansas transfer Thomas. CB Hall. And DE Lowry, Syracuse transfer. 

ST: Have really stood out. Huge game on ST against Wisconsin. Aussie punter. KR No. 8, Anthony, doing some good things for them.