Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters on Monday afternoon ahead of his Nittany Lions’ trip to Purdue this weekend.
Follow along as Blue White Illustrated presents a live play-by-play of the topics and answers Franklin provides. This page does not automatically refresh and will include paraphrased answers from the press conference.
Penn State head coach James Franklin weekly press conference updates
(Press conference begins at noon. Press conference has ended at 12:43 p.m.)
Big pieces in place:
11/11/2024 11:45:55 AM
Is appreciative of all the work that has gone in over 11 years. One thing he wants to show us at some point is before/after pictures of everything. Thinks back to standing on turf practice field, back against the fence, asking questions about facilities and that was a battle when he first got here. Weren’t allowed to use the turf because it hadn’t been replaced in 10 years. Proud of the progress made. Appreciative of board leadership over 11 years. Presidents. ADs.
Will say this: In the last three years, with Neeli, Pat, Matt Schuyler, and soon Kleppinger, it has changed. Very appreciative of support over 11 years, but in last three years it has been different, and specifically in last year and a half. First year on campus, trying to figure it all out. And now in place, getting support at a level this place demands and should have. Getting type of support in last 18 months through those people that they have not had here.
Are there still things to be done? Yes. Will be saying that for rest of time here because it’s constantly a moving target. That’s the problem. When you stop trying to get better daily, and you’re not bold and aggressive, you can fall behind and behind significantly. Still a lot of things to get done. But closer – not even close – than where they have been in 11 years from a support and commitment standpoint. That is a credit to Neeli Bendapudi, Matt Schuyler, and clearly Pat Kraft. Walk-on linebacker who approaches it like that every day. Total respect.
Game flow and how team is positioned in final three weeks
11/11/2024 11:42:43 AM
That’s where all this has become challenging. The Big Ten is not what they always remember. SEC is not what they always remember. When you bring these teams in and increase competition week in and week out. This is not grandfather or father’s Big Ten. Same as SEC. You’re not going to have lopsided games you’ve had in the past. More like NFL where a lot of these games are one possession game.
Interesting thing is, that becomes magnified because just increased competition, talent, and now will reduce roster sizes. This has beecome more challenging than ever. Tranfer portal, NIL, travel in the Big Ten, roster size. Bigger and different challenge than ever. That’s where this commitment and support is important.
Has Threlkel doing study of West Coast/East Coast teams traveling. It is critical. You better have support from athletic admin. Support on campus of when and how to travel. So many things go into it. Positioned fairly well right now because they’ve been very strategic. Get sick and bored of red/yellow/green, but those conversations are more important than ever. Four game decision was one of better NCAA has made recently. Will get to a point of five years of eligibility. If you reduce roster size, how do you do that. Have dynamic where player tells you they’re redshirting. Something that has been talked about a long time in college athletics, specifically football, but that will come to a head sooner than later in conversations he’s part of with NCAA and AFCA.
White Out game selection
11/11/2024 11:34:38 AMSpend a lot of time talking about and working toward as players and coaches controlling things you can. Not going to spend any energy or time on things outside his control. The football program and administration have made it clear what they’d like to do and how they’d like to do it. That’s all they can do. Thinks part of reason games have been lopsided is because of crowd and environment. That plays a factor. When it’s the White Out, homefield is even more of a factor. Will make case of what they want to do and how to do it, but need cooperation from others to make it happen.
Linebackers
11/11/2024 11:33:02 AMSpeca a guy they were trying to redshirt. Might not play out that way. Will see. Kobe is playing really well and it’s hard to take him off the field because he runs the defense. Elsdon has had bumps and bruises. Ta’Mere had them earlier in the year and has missed time. Need him to come on. Has shown good flashes. Need to get Elsdon healthy again. All those things factor into that. Ta’Mere at Will and Mike. DeLuca you know exactly what you get with him. Creating some depth because he can play both OLBer positions. That helps with that. DaKaari has done a nice job. But don’t have great depth there. Developing it, but have had bumps and bruises. Once they get to point where Speca is available will help. But a lot has a lot to do with Kobe playing really well and a position where there are bumps and bruises, like RB.
Red/yellow/green:
11/11/2024 11:30:39 AMA lot of guys that were on the line, can now play and not burn redshirts. Granville was like that. Fortunate over last few games to not need to play him. Is very sensitive to playing a guy for three plays. Once you’re playing him, has to be a commitment throughout program on special teams, coordinator, and position coach so that kid and parents think it was worthwhile and in everyone’s best interest.
Guys that have only played in one game, they’re good to go. Guys that have played in two, will try to hold one more game. Terry rotates Kenny and Jon every other game. Kenny has played two. Jon has played one. This will be Jon’s game and he can play the rest of the year. Next game, Kenny will be in similar situation.
Hakeem Beamon:
11/11/2024 11:28:13 AMNo longer part of the program. Loves him. Loves his mom. Has been over seven years from high school recruiting process. Ups and downs, twists and turns, everything in between. Proud of him graduating from Penn State. Did a bunch of good things on the field. But no longer part of the team.
In terms of the room, guys stepped up. Cool to see some guys in there. Mupoyi. Artis. Cool to see those guys get in there and get some work. Guys that have worked really hard. Talking about some other guys they’ve discussed, Xavier Gilliam they tried to hold to have ability to play him moving forward, and a lot of excitement for him. Alonzo’s impact, a guy they weren’t sure about but trends in the right direction and playing back into shape. At 305 right now down from 320 and moving well. Dvon and Zane lead them in there. Coziah a guy they didn’t have last week, which magnified it. Expect to have him back. They are three vets that have played a lot of football. Would also view Alonzo that way too, so have four DTs, which is the position you want to be in. Then battle for fifth position with young developmental guys that are hungry.
Cutting back practice:
11/11/2024 11:28:02 AMAlways do at this time of year. Type of equipment they wear at practice. Drills they run. Reps at practice. Time at practice. And then full speed reps compared to jog through reps. They all gradually get reduced over time. Not dramatic. But gradual. End of day, you still need reps to be prepared to play the game, but cumulative effect as well.
One thing he constantly challenges Nelly and Chuck Losey on is everyone has to make adjustments. He has to make adjustments with practice shell. Strength coach needs to make adjustments with lifts. Coordinators. Position coaches. High rep guys. Vets. All those things factor in. As head coach, has to make sure that’s happening everywhere. All coaches don’t want to do that, want it to come away from someone else. Everyone needs to be on same page for best interest of Penn State and players.
AJ Harris:
11/11/2024 11:22:41 AM
Have as good of a history as anyone at Penn State with strong positions, but didn’t have that as much at corner until Terry. He’s done a really good job. Draft picks and depth at a position that reflects how the conference has changed. He’s done a phenomenal job. Whether high school guys they’ve developed or transfer portal, which they look at like juco recruiting to fill immediate need or bring in veteran leadership. AJ is a little different as a redshirt freshman. If you look at Kimber, as well as him, playing a ton of ball in the SEC, and AJ a highly recruited guy they were on in high school, once they were on campus bought into everything immediately, tested well, and then competed. Knew early. The thing that’s exciting is he hasn’t scratched the surface. A ton left for him to improve. Terry is the right guy to coach him. As good as he’s been, has a chance to get a lot better. That room does in general. Very pleased with how they’re playing, so Terry and young men deserve a ton of credit.
Nick Singleton/RBs:
11/11/2024 11:19:37 AM
Short term. Will have a better idea at practice. In terms of looking better, those guys come to practice every day ready to work. Nick has had some things lingering throughout the year that he has battled through. Kaytron is a workhorse. And they complement each other really well. Even on kickoff return, a shame that got called back, and thinks it was a legitimate call. Clearly held a guy, hands outside. Will be first one to admit a good, fair call.
In terms of the run game, will be a boring answer, but just like the targets for the receivers, the more they can stay ahead of the sticks, didn’t have any TFL allowed, stay ahead of schedule, creates more opportunity. Committed to the run and being balanced and being as explosive as they can. Continue to feed those guys the ball.
Offensive line and TEs had chip on shoulder. Coaching staff as well. Will need that moving forward. Andrew Nelson has done a really good job giving team and Franklin feedback on how to adjust practice based on game just played. Off topic, but feels for Washington. Played a 7 o’clock game, they didn’t get back until 7 a.m., and they have a Friday game. Doesn’t know if that’s in best interest of the Big Ten. But Nelly gives great insight into how adjust practice. Time to push and work. Time to cut back. Goes back to depth, when you have backs like Quinton and Corey, allows you to cut reps for Nick and Kaytron. Nothing dramatic, but two reps a period. Allows them to be as fresh as possible. Has always been a challenge and now more challenging with travel. Why a lot of these changes made in past few years, and that are coming, make it more challenging for the Big Ten. Need to have honest dialogue to put conference in best position to be successful long term.
More targets of WRs:
11/11/2024 11:14:54 AMMore successful on third downs means longer drives and more opportunities to have the ball and spread it around. It creates more plays, opportunities to score, touches, explosive plays. Just chuck it down the field.
Depth at running back:
11/11/2024 11:13:48 AMYou better have depth, especially if committed to running the ball like they are. Will have bumps and bruises. Have two young backs they’ve been excited about. Warrented excitement for Quinton. But Corey deserving as well. Long run has everyone excited outside, but his first run has internally excited with a dirty run. He stuck it up in there and had efficient run. That’s good. Those guys are being developed. Have talent at that position and holding up well. Both Nick and Kaytron are complementary pieces to each other. Will need all of them as this season continues.
Development of quarterbacks
11/11/2024 11:13:40 AMReally good example, Drew is a morning guy. He’s in there watching film this morning at 6:30 a.m. Beau is in typically for hours in the afternoon. Grunk has really turned it on here recently. Hopefully Smolik available again soon. Looks great. But it’s a combination of most of these guys, all of them, are a year older. A year older in college experience. Watched a ton of film. In some ways playing in multiple schemes is helpful. Listening to Reed talk about it the other day, reality is things Pry, Manny, Tom Allen all do/did well. Reed can learn from all of them. If you look at quarterbacks, a lot of similarities there, in terms of what Danny has done with players.
Andy has done a good job. It’s probably more of a pro style system with huddle. With playcalls. That has changed. A lot of NFL teams running spread schemes now. More of a combination of things of two backs, heavy sets, no backs. But they’re a year older, a year more comfortable and confident. Have a better understanding of how to watch film and prepare. As a young player, you watch game as a fan and follow the ball. Talk weekly about process evolving over time. Danny and Andy have helped with that. Pleased with their maturation. Drew looks consistently comfortable and in control of games. Biggest thing for him is his mobility has been a huge factor for him and offense. Especially vertical in the pocket. Climbing pocket has been big. And then development of positions around him have played a major role too. Very pleased with development and direction they’re heading.
Opening statement
11/11/2024 11:05:35 AMHappy with how they limited Washington running back. Offensive line gave up zero sacks. Defensive line created pressures and sacks.
Purdue, built on the transfer portal. Coach is calling the offense, as a defensive guy. That’s impressive and challenging. D Coordinator was with him at Illinois and so has a lot of comfort with him. They’re based out of spread offense. Mix in a little bit of 12 personnel.
Staff has done a really good job and players understanding what they’re trying to do o managing four game restriction on redshirts. Will see guys available to play on offense, defense and special teams over last few games. Some will play this game. Some next game. Big reason for that is it’s hard to get a guy ready for one week and then not next. Want guys available for two games in a row and hopefully post season as well.
