Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference

Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. His first time back in the Beaver Stadium media since the Nittany Lions’ 33-24 win over Indiana on Saturday, he’ll review the game and look ahead to what’s next.

Follow along with us here or in The Lions Den. Live updates of paraphrased topics and responses will be provided.

James Franklin press conference updates

(Press conference updates will be provided in reverse chronological order. Page will not automatically refresh.)

Press conference has ended at 1:11 p.m.

Questions in the room

On making changes schematically if second WR isn’t there:
Has total belief of everyone’s ability in the locker room and Lasch Building. If he didn’t, they wouldn’t be there. There is a difference between their ability and their maturity as a football player and young man to do it on a consistent basis. Also thinks there is the argument of why 12 personnel is a big part of what they do and why they do it and probably will be moving forward. TE room are proven commodities, can help with the run and pass, and are pretty darn consistent. There are things they can do better too. But that’s part of it as well, as receivers get more consistent, you never know, maybe someone breaks out on Saturday. But they do have the ability to play more 12, which can also be challenging.

On the fourth quarter:
Drew’s first career turnover was in the worst area of the field in a critical moment. Defense didn’t blink and got a critical three-and-out in that moment. And then offense was able to respond.
When it mattered most, the guys stepped up. That’s throughout the season but specifically last week when being challenged. Guys were resilient.

Evaluating Mike Yurcich:
When you put in all the factors, there is a lot to evaluate. Depth and consistency at WR. How they use the TEs. The run game and where they’re at, in production in the Big Ten. In terms of points, what are they doing? In terms of turnovers, have talked a ton about them. One, they’re doing very well, with turnovers. 
You have to factor all of those things in. For the most part, feels good. Will dig into all of these things after the season. Not into mid-season evaluations of the staff. Doesn’t think that is appropriate or the right thing when you’re focused on Maryland. But taking all things into consideration, some metrics they feel very good about and some metrics that aren’t that they have to continue to work on.
When talking about metrics, it’s about metrics that lead to winning. And it’s not like it’s just the wins and metrics don’t matter. Combination of the two together.

On Maryland as explosive offense:
There has been enough evidence over the season of who they are as a defense and pass defense. When you play man coverage, are there things they can do for technique that weren’t executed? Yes. But when you play that much man, they’re going to get you from time to time. The other one was a blown assignment. They’re going to make plays too. They’re on scholarship too.
This will be a challenge this week. But it’s not like you’re watching the tape and saying AHA, this happened on the tape and going to exploit it.

On receiver rotation against Indiana:
The two things we don’t get to see is practice. Looking for consistency physically and mentally. Guy might catch ball consistently, but not make plays. Or make plays, but don’t catch it consistently. For them, it’s about that. 
You don’t understand why a guy comes out, but a guy missed an assignment and comes out of the game. And we don’t know what the assignment was. Always trying to not talk about it in a way that is divisive. Some other coaches haven’t handled that well.

On Drew Shelton against Indiana:
Started a bunch of games last year and playing a ton this year. Lots of confidence in him. Needs to be more consistent. But he’s been very steady and consistent since he’s gotten here. very conscientious young man. He’ll continue to get better. Going to need him. Need him this game. Thinks Caedan will be available for this game. But will play Drew either way. Pleased with his development. Needs consistency with physicality in the run game as well as pass protection as well.

On Trey Wallace’s absence:
Felt like Trey and KLS were two of the more proven commodities they had. Had him, lost him, got him back, and lost him again. When you have two guys at a position with two or three guys on the field, and you lose one as your proven commodity and playmakers, it has an impact.
Has been a bunch of conversation since training camp about wanting someone else to step into third role, which right now is second and has been for most of the season. Goes back to conversation about Malik. Have guys that have done some good things, but it’s about consistency.

Questions on zoom

On Daequan Hardy on PR:
Hard and challenging part is No. 1 priority has to be catching the ball. No. 2 is ability to make explosive plays. Challenge for coaches and players is how much live do you go on ST with a PR that is also starting nickel and corner. Then you go live and in evaluation period, you lose that guy. You just don’t get that many live reps. A lot like dual threat QB in a competition where you don’t get to see that element of his game.
Had Jahan Dotson before. And in the past, had been based No. 1 on who caught it most consistently in practice. Totally fair question. He’s doing a great job and hopefully putting him in a position to make plays.
Have not put him on offense. It’s not that easy. Something you have to make a decision on early on. Someone with the ability to do and learn both at a high level. If you do that for a week, everyone knows he’s just in on pass plays. There are guys on both sides of the ball that only play one side, and miss assignments all the time. There is a lot that goes into it.

On Trey Wallace and Malik McClain:
No update on Trey. 
Malik is one of the harder workers on the team. Smile on his face. Great on ST. On offense has shown some good signs, but it’s about consistency. That’s always the measuring stick not just at WR but every position. The guys playing have shown the most consistency in practice and games. Sometimes that gets skewed for the players because they might be consistent, but against different competition. If you go against Kalen King every day at practice, that’s judged differently than going against someone else. That factors in as well. Across the board, it’s about consistency and Malik is doing really good things. Excited about him.

On development of a quarterback, learning from Christian’s career, and how he works with Drew:
When you’re talking about developing the QB, it starts with footwork and mechanics. Has talked in great detail in the past about the mechanics. Drew is one of the few guys he’s seen that has really changed. Typically it’s a footwork game. If the feet are right, they can be in rhythm and accurate. Have to spend as much time as you can in the footwork.
The other thing is being able to play to that QB’s strengths. So many factors that go into it. OL, TE, RB, WR play a major part in that. 
When you talk about mobility of Trace and past QBs, that opens up a part of the playbook and also changes how people defend you. People are less bold when you have a QB that can beat you with your feet. More cautious about blitzes and D they’ll call against you. 
All those things factor into it. But pleased with Drew’s physical and mental development. Need to do better job making plays for him and helping him. He needs to be more consistent with some things as well.
There is a lot more to being the QB at Penn State than just running the offense and managing the games. A lot that goes into it for the first time. Saw it with Trace, with Sean, and now seeing it with Drew. Pleased with how it is going, but obviously a lot of room for growth with him and with pieces around him.
And will also say the explosive plays help. When you complete a ball like to KLS, the more times you can put that on tape, that affects the defense similar to a mobile quarterback. It gives them things the D fears. The other day, threw a go ball against cover 0 to Theo. If you can make a defense pay for playing overly aggressive, you’ll get less of it. More time you can do it the better. If you throw a slant against cover 0 and they tackle you, it was worth it (for the defense) because you put pressure on the QB and OL and RBs. 
If you can throw it over their head though, that changes things.

On familiarity with Josh Gattis and game-planning:
Gets this question a lot whenever they play someone like this. And the answer is pretty typical. They know him, but he knows them. 
Locks and Gattis were together at Alabama. More aligned at Maryland than Michigan. Obviously head coach has some influence on the coordinators, not the same wherever the coordinators go. Awareness of Josh. But it’s similar to what Maryland has done. Locks is familiar with him. Can build on what they’re doing. Then things with Josh’s personality that are magnified and things that are decreased from the previous coordinator.

On the offensive line the past two weeks:
Across the board, and specifically the last two weeks, need to play better, get better, and grow. What happens specifically with the offensive line is, whatever OL you’re playing, or QB is back there, if you’re not good enough on first or second down, and in obvious passing situations and people can tee off, twist and game you, that’s challenging on the best OL. Gotta manage it as coaches. Players have to execute to stay ahead of the sticks.
Best sack teams in the country, it’s a stat that can be skewed because they don’t throw it, and when they do, it is in manageable third down situations. 
Need to develop depth. Have to execute and play better on first and second down. You’ll get obvious third downs and passing situations, but you obviously don’t want to live in that, and it’s impacted it the past two weeks. Combination of both.

Balancing a win vs. truth of the game:
To the point, there were three teams in the top 17 that lost to unranked opponents on Saturday. Point is that they’ll never make excuses for winning. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about and they’ll all be built differently in how you get there throughout a long season.
But, after wins, you have to be as transparent and honest as you can be with yourself as coaches and players. But also have those conversations, HC to assistants, HC to players, assistants to players. Dvon Ellies said something in the locker room. His total development is one of the more impressive he’s seen in 13 years. So proud of him. He spoke to the team afterward and said the best teams are honest teams. You have to be willing to have those conversations with each other.
Always at its best when it is player led. Accountability and conversations with each other. Practice, locker room, game day, or Saturday nights. 
But to the point, have to be able to peel things back and have honest conversations, look at data. Have to win and find ways to get better. There’s a lot of ways to get better throughout a season, and sometimes it takes a setback or ugly game. You hope it doesn’t. But sometimes it is needed.

Opening statement

Summary of Indiana. Won the turnover battle. The most consistent storyline of the year. Takes pride in it and has done a good job. Indiana won explosive play battle. Defense won its goal, offense didn’t. Won all others but penalties.
Kaytron Allen player of the game, Dennis-Sutton D, Tyler Warren ST. Obviously stats play a factor in winning grades each week, but it’s about how they grade. You have to be productive but also have a winning grade.
Won the game. Resilient. Right now, ST over last couple of weeks is playing really well and starts with specialists. Hardy in that group as well. Playing much more consistent and making plays. Hardy is a weapon. Made plays when it mattered most as a team. Won the middle eight.
Opportunities for growth: Tackling too high. Need to consistently wrap. Need to protect the football from decisions and fundamentals.
Maryland: First big break in the profession. Has tremendous respect for the university and athletic department. A lot of respect for Coach Locksley. At Maryland for three years together. 
Offense, familiar with Josh Gattis. Together for six years. Hired him from Western Michigan at Vanderbilt. They’re 11 personnel spread team. Respect Tagovailoa, WR 6 and 1, and RB Roman. Other guys as well. But runs through their quarterback and owns every QB record the program has.
Defense. Impressed with MLB 11, LB 1, Safety 2.