Live updates: Penn State coach James Franklin holds Ohio week news conference

Penn State coach James Franklin is at the podium on Tuesday as the Nittany Lions prepare to take on Ohio Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

The leader of the Nittany Lions is chatting with reporters just four days before his team’s home opener opposite the Bobcats. He also wrapped up the win over Purdue in his opening statement.

“We got to be more explosive,” Franklin said. “There’s no doubt about it. We got to be more explosive on offense. So I’m pleased overall. Found a way to get a tough, gritty win on the road. And we were able to come in practice on Friday, meet on Friday [and] get those things cleaned up.

“The players had off on Saturday and then we went back to our normal work week on Sunday. Not completely normal because obviously we didn’t have any corrections to make.”

Per Franklin, the extra days of practice helped Penn State get a little further ahead on the Bobcats.

“I loved how our guys handled both Friday’s practice and Sunday’s practice,” Franklin said. “We’re a little bit ahead, but we mainly, at the end of the day, we got to get better this week. And that’s in every area offense, defense, special teams, and also individually. If we do that each week as the season progresses, I think we’ll like where we’re at.”

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Live updates: Penn State coach James Franklin press conference

(Updating in reverse chronological order)

Press conference has ended – 1:06 p.m.

Assessing true freshman class in first game:

They played well. Will have a better idea after this week. Always hard trying to compare and contrast how many guys you played, or stats, early in the season when people’s early season schedules are very different.

So being able to play seven freshmen on the road against a good Big Ten team is a positive. Those first games of the year can look very different, more now than ever the way people are doing scheduling.

Good first step, but need to take the next this week. Hopefully Abdul looks dramatically different with the number of reps he’s able to take.

On TEs moving forward:

Consistently catching the ball. Had one drop at that position. And then being physical with physical presence in the run game, finishing blocks. When you talk about run game, it’s not just OL. It’s OL and TE together. The whole unit at the point of attack. Can be better in that area as well.

Has been pleased with the group. Can be big time impact players for them. Just being difference makers in run game. Saw what they can do in pass game. Strange’s TD at 65 yards was huge play in the game. Combination of grit and toughness and then being able to score from that far out.

What was so amazing was him running 65 yards and the play itself took about four minutes. No one caught him and he scored.

On backup QB and if it’s Drew Allar:

Haven’t made any decisions. Had a corrections jog-through on Friday, then a bonus on Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday are work days for best evaluations. They determine moves they may or may not make.

It’s a competition there week in and week out. So doesn’t have that answer right now.

On defensive front understanding assignments:

Want to make biggest jump from week one to week two. Thinks they can take a big step there. Had some missed assignments at critical times in the game that can be corrected. Give credit to Purdue. They challenge you. But was pleased with those guys. Need to continue to grow and gain experience.

That’s where getting Kobe, Elsdon, Abdul a ton of reps is important. Get them caught up and competent as much as they can.

Up front have a lot of guys who have played a lot, so need to build on that. Zane Durant, Chop Robinson, Jordan van den Berg. The guys in that group that haven’t played as much. Dani. 

Thought one of his favorite plays in the game, was Amin Vanover retrace. Big tackle, maybe touchdown saving, 20 yards down field. His Catapult numbers were really good. He played really hard. Wants to continue to build on that with him.

Purdue game thoughts

On Omari Evans and developing WR depth:

Omari and Tre Wallace, Wallace played a bunch in the game. Omari can flat-out run. “Can run-run.” But he’s still growing and figuring it out. Omari is a tap guy for Tinsley. Got a bunch of guys competing for that backup spot each week. But he’s shown flashes of really good stuff.

He has to learn how to play fast without the ball in his hands to create separation and timing they need. Has shown flashes they need to build on in the game.

On Pat Kraft on the sideline:

He needs a get back coach and has a reputation for being into it. He almost wants to be out there. For Penn State, it’s appreciated and welcomed. Would rather that be the problem.

On Keaton Ellis/Tyler Elsdon and plan moving forward:

Haven’t talked about it for this week yet. But Abdul Carter, were expecting him to play a decent amount and it depended how he was going to play. With it his first game, didn’t want a strict rotation. But he only played two plays, one on ST and one on D. So this week, want to get him a ton of reps on ST and D. 

This game will give a better feel for plan moving forward. Same with Elsdon and Kobe moving forward, whether that’s 1:1 or 2:2.

And other OLB spot, it typically gets subbed out for nickel. But really see that as Sutherland/nickel as the main rotation with DeLuca getting some time.

And other guy, when Abdul got targeting penalty, Jamari Buddin. Wasn’t part of the plan. But he went in there and functioned in the defense and were able to get Curtis a blow. Hopefully he can build on that and gain experience.

At safety, have a lot of confidence in Reed, Wheatley. Zakee continues to make plays. In the spring, in camp, and got in game and the ball carrier has ball on inside arm. Penn State teaches the opposite. And Zakee gets his hands on the ball. Critical fumble they capitalized on.

No changes, but all those guys will play.

On defensive ends pass rush/Adisa/Chop:

When the game got there to the end and the QB had to hold onto the ball, they were able to get home and make some plays. But when you look at this team, knew going in that batted balls were going to be as significant as what sacks normally are, based on how quickly the ball comes out of the QB hands. They emphasized that and were focused on it.

Overall, good. Want more TFLs and more sacks. But based on who you play and scheme, you play a team like Wisconsin running 80 percent of the time and hard play-action, they typically don’t give up sacks. A team like Purdue, ball comes out quickly. It’s going to impact it. But at the end of the day, want to get people off schedule and do that with TFL and sacks.

On new NIL initiative, Lions Legacy Club:

This group is working specifically with Penn State football. Obviously certain people will have connections with sports they’re more passionate about. Appreciate what they’re doing. There’s a lot going into it. 

From a name recognition, being supportive in this area but also since they’ve been here, they’ve been great. Really appreciative of the opportunities they’re creating for Penn State football players. 

Also really a ton of appreciation for Success with Honor. Pat has come in and really worked well with these groups outside of the athletic department working together and pulling in the same direction.

Theo Johnson availability:

Was hoping they may have him available in the Purdue game. That’s not their call. But they traveled him in case there was a chance of that. Will go from there. Everyone knows he’s a big time player and has respect on and off field. Will hopefully get him back sooner rather than later, and hopefully that’s this week. 

Had to scramble because a big part of game plan included multiple TE sets.

Thoughts on CFP expansion:

Hasn’t spent a lot of time on it. But obviously the playoff model has changed college football. Would say that’s really starting with BCS and now current model. But thinks if you look at most sports in general, more opportunities for more teams to get in, without going too far, is important.

There’s always the discussion of teams that aren’t Power Five schools having great years that get left out. Or a situation like Penn State in ’16 winning Big Ten and being left out. It helps resolve and solve some of those issues.

In college football, have to look at length of the season. From academic calendar but also physicality. But in general, it’s a positive and it’s something that was needed.

Also a believer that the answer in this, nor everything, isn’t always that more is better. Need to find best solutions for everyone.

Player evaluations

On Joey Porter Jr.: 

Unusual to have a guy so highly thought of get thrown to. Not that they targeted him, but they didn’t avoid him. They were just going to run their offense and do what they do. And where the QB progression took him, they were going to go. O’Connell does as good of a job of anyone. Joey kept getting tested and as the game went on, really played well. His confidence continues to grow. It’s a great way for him to start the season, not just with the PBUs, but with the tackles.

Next step for him and Penn State is dropped balls. That’s defensively and offensively. That game would have been very different with more interceptions that were there, including possible pick sixes.

Offensive line evaluation:

Thought the majority of the offensive linemen played well. Had one penalty on the OL and one sack, so need to clean that up. Watching the tape, had a chance for a few more explosive runs. Need to make one free hitter miss and didn’t do that. But need to continue to progress.

One sack on the road, first game, in the Big Ten, took a step but there is still work that needs to be done.

Opening statements

Previewing Ohio:

Was a loss last time they met in 2012. Doesn’t know Tim Albin. 12 returning starters. They went out and played well in game one and did some good things. That will be a challenge.

Impressed by the quarterback. Receiver Bostick. Impressed with running back.

Defense: Watching game one and what he did at Miami Ohio was important. First game is challenging without data, but second game can be too. Will LB Houston, Matthews, and SS Drake jump out.

ST: Four starters returning on ST. Didn’t see Australian punter last week. Freshman kicker did really good job.

Practice is important today. Tremendous challenge. A little bit ahead from how they handled practice Friday and Sunday. But need to get better in every area.

Opening statement:

Thought they played hard against a good team. They’ll give a lot of people problems this year. Same team that beat No. 2 Iowa and No. 5 Michigan State. They’ve been in big games before. 

They won the situational football. Offense won a coming out. Sudden change. Two minute end of half and end of game. 

Defensively won a two minute end of half and end of game, and a four minute to win the game.

That was a big positive.

Growth opportunities: Too many dropped balls. Game could have been completely different. That’s offense and defense. Need to be more explosive. 

Pleased overall. Got a tough, gritty win on the road. Practiced Friday, players off Saturday, then back to relatively normal schedule on Sunday.