Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference

Penn State head coach James Franklin is back in the Beaver Stadium media room. Visiting with reporters for the first time since his Nittany Lions’ loss at Ohio State on Saturday, he’ll recap the loss, what’s next, and beyond.

James Franklin press conference updates

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Press conference has ended at 1:08 p.m.

Questions in the room

On him taking personal accountability and impact on support:

If he didn’t do that, just gave him an opportunity to do that. Ultimately, it is always on him when things don’t go well. When things do go well, when he talks about process of being prepared for that game, and literally what he was going to say after getting that win, it was going to be obviously to praise the players. The difference in getting that win was going to be the players. That didn’t happen.

When it doesn’t happen, it is ultimately on him and his responsibility. No grey area about that whatsoever. Is it nuanced? Yes. Loaded with things people don’t care about. But end of the day, most important thing is for him to take responsibility and do everything within his power to get it fixed.

On spending time on this game:

Haven’t gotten a whole lot of sleep since that game. Fixing the issues, coming up with a plan for this week, moving forward and all that has to happen> Staff has done a good job of that. But after a loss, should your process stay consistent? Yes. But can he say they don’t spend more time watching film and having discussions after a loss, why did they show up in this game and not in others. 

In the office, watching film, having discussions.

On play-calling for the game offensively and impact on third down:

Thought they got a little away from staying true to identity. The goal line package in short yardage, got away from that. DIdn’t feel like they had been as consistent and aggressive in areas as they’ve been in the past. Part of that is who you’re playing. But obviously, when you talk about evaluating that, opening drives are an indicator, third downs for quarterbacks and coordinators, red zone. They’re very telling. But based on the lack of success, was not a good game for them.

On having a true No. 1 wideout, creating separation against better defenses:

Production in the passing game is something they’re putting a ton of emphasis on. Creating separation. That’s something important when evaluating. Just evaluating WR and TE, sometimes QB can impact that. So take that out of it. How much separation are they creating on runaway route? That’s something you can do as a player to get more production. That’s something that hasn’t been there. 

A lot of things factor in. Sometimes beat someone, and there is pressure or a sack allowed. Or, miss a throw.

On Drew throwing over the middle:

Have to be able to attack the entire field, and if most of their production is coming in similar areas of the field, it makes you easier to defend. Throwing on the perimeter, making defense run from sideline to sideline, play action and taking shots over the top, getting the ball into playmakers’ hands (tight ends, running backs, receivers), that’s balance as well.

Mike Leach talked about that a lot. Balance isn’t just run/pass. It’s also getting ball into different peoples’ hands so people have to defend it.

On Beau Pribula package:

Have something for him every week, whether the game allows for it or mixing it in. Have that every single week. One of the things that is challenging is, thinks the lack of production on third down limited a lot of things they wanted to do. Is it easy to say they should have called it in one of first two plays as a drive? Yeah. You have specific calls for specific things, but ended up not being a part of what happened.

On emotions after the game:

Everyone knows how hard they have worked. When you see how they’ve lost these games, by a point, or a possession, those are hard because you have opportunities. Those are tough. But have to learn from it and move on. Get back to stacking days and learning from it. Also believe this loss can’t get them twice, which is something that has happened to them before.

There was a ton of raw emotion. When you take how much everyone invests, the physical and emotional impact, in some ways, would be more concerned if it wasn’t.

Questions on zoom

For all the success he’s had at Penn State, narrative of beating Ohio State or big games:

Wishes he had answered it on Saturday, but thinking about that game at the time. More than fair to judge him and staff for all of it. That’s what it’s about. The good, the bad, the consistency. The lack of success in that game. All of it. It’s totally fair to be judged by all of those things.

But also important to judge the entire body of work, all of it. Doesn’t need to get into it now because it’ll come off the wrong way. But totally fair to be judged on all of it, the good and the bad.

On utilization of Nick and Kaytron:

If you’re just looking at numbers and data, it’s a little skewed from previous games this season with them largely not playing in fourth quarters. On Saturday, thought they should have gotten more touches. But looking at run/pass balance afterward, was closer than he realized. Weren’t enough touches because of third downs.

When you have guys on the outside and production on the outside that concerns people, it changes how they defend you. People will load the box and not let Kaytron and Nick beat you until QBs, receivers and TE beat you.

On sign stealing and impact of Michigan situation:

You have to have a way to disguise your signals. Everyone does it. Sheets, or boards, or whatever it may be. Made some changes after the bye of how they operate on offense or defense. Won’t get into what’s going on at that other school. But, in general, always aware of how they signal, are they disguising it. 

What happens is, you get after games and you feel like you called something very unpredictable call, and they’re in perfect defense. Those things make you second guess and what you need to do to disguise it. If it happens over and over, you’re aware of it. So that’s something they’re always looking at. But with what’s going on right now, it magnifies it.

Sees a lot of people talking about NFL system with headsets. Understands it. But it doesn’t solve this issue. If college offenses decide not to huddle, you still have to get the information communicated to receivers and tight ends. Can verbally communicate to RB and OL. But how does everyone else get it? 

Huddled more on Saturday than they typically do.

On Chop Robinson and how he’s doing:

Nothing more than they would normally talk about. From what he sees, understands, and knows, doesn’t see this being a long term issue, but you never know with medical. Hopefully will get Chop back soon. Is pretty open with season ending injuries, and doesn’t see that.

On offensive line performance:

In general, feels they didn’t play up to their standards in that environment. Pretty much across the board on offense. And to be honest, if had to say one thing after the game with defense, thought they played extremely well, but didn’t have an awareness of 18 like they went into it with. But obviously, hard to be critical of how the defense played.

Offensive line, it was across the board. Athletically, it was a challenging matchup. Schematically, same. They knew that. But had opportunities they weren’t able to take advantage of.

On having “money plays” that they’re super confident in:

When you don’t have success, then the first thing you do is ask if you’re doing too much, and tighten the package and get really good at certain things. It always starts with that. Looked at that, number of plays in each game plan, ideas in each game plan.

Talking specifically about this game because up to then, had done a good job of playing and managing the game, converting third and fourth down, sequencing. So do you need to narrow it down to these things in run game, these in pass game, that you can hang your hat on?

That’s fair.

On how he impacts play-calling, adjusting game plan, and the process for that/effectiveness on Saturday: 

Obviously, it wasn’t effective. That is easy to answer. In terms of running the ball and touches, when he went back and looked at the numbers, that was not the issue. Not run/pass ratio that was the problem, especially when you take last two drives out of the equation.

The issue was third down. When you’re 0-15 on third down. Normal, long, short-yardage. That was the issue. Not able to stay on schedule or get in flow or touches they want for the running backs. 

During the game, what he tries to do is when he feels they’ve gotten conservative and need to take a shot, recommends it. When they get away from run, makes sure they get back to it. On defense, pressure or making them earn it on third-and-long. Same operation as previous years.

Biggest issue was third downs and that impacted everything else.

On identity:

Thought it was staying on schedule, converting third downs, and either converting or going on fourth down. That had been the identity for the season. Had a lot of respect for their short yardage defense. But did not do that. Did not either convert on third downs like they had, or get in situation where they got to fourth and short.

The fourth-and-1 they were going to go for, that was significant. Were going for it and had 12 guys on the field. If didn’t call timeout, would have gotten penalty. Doing that you lose momentum and element of surprise, so changed to punt. Liked the call, but again, 12 guys in huddle and official was about to throw a penalty. 

The lack of success on third down changed the game. DIdn’t have enough opportunities, couldn’t get into a flow, not enough touches for people. When you have that lack of success on third down, it’s hard to get anything going. Penn State defense did that for the most part to them as well. But 18 was a difference maker in the game.

Opening statement

Won turnovers. Didn’t win explosive plays, third downs, sacks, drive start. Did win penalty battle.

Positives from the game: Went on the road, battled No. 3 team in the country and had a chance to win down to the end. Protected the football. Handled crowd noise well. For majority of the game, played if not one of the defenses of the country, and so was theirs. Field goals were huge, great to get those points.

Opportunities for growth: Too many controllable mistakes to win in that environment. Tackled too high. Need to tackle lower and be more consistent. Story of the game was third down, which impacted other things on offense.

Indiana: Hard to say what they are offensively. Not a lot of data on that since he hasn’t been in position long. QB is an athletic guy. 

Defensively, they have Chad Wilt with DC title, but understands co-DC Matt is calling the defense. Combination of Matt, Chad, and obviously Tom. Impressed with DE 1, Aaron Casey, and safety No. 6 Philip Dunham.