Live updates: Penn State head coach James Franklin

Penn State head coach James Franklin is addressing the media on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the start of his Nittany Lions’ spring practices. We’re providing live updates from Beaver Stadium.

Penn State head coach James Franklin spring press conference

(Page does not automatically refresh. Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Press conference has ended at 12:38 p.m.)

On third string RB:

Cam is an exciting guy. Did some good things this offseason. Put good weight and size on. Hasn’t lost quickness and explosive movements. Handled that redshirt process the right way. London Montgomery, every time he’s on the field, does good things but hasn’t changed his body a lot. That makes it challenging for him. But in terms of football, he’s pretty good. Has done some good things at practice. Has to understand he needs to do things off the field to be able to do things on the field. Trying to block Abdul Carter at 180 pounds, that doesn’t go well. Then Quinton Martin comes in, a highly recruited guy at that position, and continuing on that line of successful NFL and college tailbacks, haven’t seen those things yet, but already has changed his body. Surprised when he got here for how raw he was in terms of running a 40, getting in a stance, the weight room. So just think he’ll continue to grow and explode dramatically over the next couple of months. Frame to carry the weight. 

Holzworth Kency Davis have all done a good job too. Exciting room. A lot of competition. Have an idea of who Singleton and Kaytron are. So they need to be developed and get reps, but have to figure out who the third and fourth are going to be.

On install process in January vs. next few weeks:

Where it is painful is grinding for hours over what is in the players’ best interest. What is best. Not best at Indiana, Kansas, Vanderbilt, or even Penn State. What is best, period. 

Maybe you put in a new play and call it the Bruins because you’re playing them that week. And you go back to system of what fits in that package, there is an opportunity to clean some things up about best way to call and term this to put them in best position to be teachers. As Frank Leonard would say, they’re overpaid phys ed teachers. So there is a lot of value for the guys running certain systems to say what can we clean up. And also for Penn State. How do you marry those things to be best for player and program best interest.

That’s what it was. Now more recently, it’s installing it to the players. Don’t want to start installing too early and have to change things. Players wanted it as soon as possible. But once able to clean things up, start sending it to them in smaller packages.

On addition of new Big Ten teams impacting defensive strategy:

Southern Cal, Oregon, UCLA, Washington look more similar to current Big Ten than not. That diversity is also what makes the Big Ten special and fun. So would say no. Biggest thing they’re looking at in scheduling with the Big Ten is you can’t treat everyone the same. The most northeast teams travel is very different for Nebraska. If you look at major college football or the NFL, teams traveling west vs. teams traveling east and their records, be honest and thorough about what’s needed to put them in the best position to be successful on those trips. Need to make the right choices to be successful. When he was at Maryland, scheduled a home and home with Cal. They came to Maryland they played at 11 a.m. Then went out there and it was a 7 p.m. game, which went well for the California team. Spending a lot of time figuring out best way to do this.

On urgency and seeing team for first time:

Yes, needs to be urgency, but can’t compare this first day to last few. But needs to be urgency between now and end of training camp. Thing that jumps out right away is depth. Bigger, stronger, with more competition. The number on the roster is greater than it has been. Last year at 106 at this time, at 125 right now. That also is exciting for practice reps. Same for spring game. Hopeful to have more of a traditional spring game, which has become more challenging the past few years in college football. Not a guy overly concerned in hiding too much. People could watch last year, can watch Vandy special teams, Kansas offensive tape, and Indiana defensive tape. So it’s not like a whole lot of secrets out there. But being able to compete will be really important for the team.

On Tyler Warren and Winston:

From a leadership standpoint, it’s really important. Not just a leadership for this season, but about the nature of college football right now and challenges a lot of programs and places are dealing with. They don’t say a whole lot, but they’ve earned everyone’s respect. KJ and Tyler have led through their actions. This generation, most guys want to lead by example and not call out teammates. Needs guys to have honest conversations with him in his office. Two examples of many that need to step up.

On Saquon Barkley/running back NFL value:

Doesn’t follow it as closely, but didn’t know how it would play out. Had a lengthy conversation with him and Fumi last year during contract negotiations. Then this year comes around, you just don’t know how it will play out based on the market. So for him to sign this type of deal, it happens and RBs realize you better bring value – leader in locker room with influence over guys, and also in the passing game – he’s one of those backs you can use in a lot of ways, similar to a lot of backs talked about in the league. Then being a PA kid that chose to stay in PA, hit rate has been really good. Talking about the top players in the state. Micah, Saquon. For him now to play within the state, in Philly, not just the Eagles but Penn State and the fan base. Just a really cool opportunity. Like the lettermen and former players to try to get back to campus to have influence, be supportive of current players. His schedule is crazy and hectic, but it helps. The guys in San Fran, it’s not easy to get back here like Pittsburgh or Philly. That helps with this fan base. Loves that they can come back and have influence. Trace and Grant Haley are coming back to talk to the team about 2016 Big Ten Championship. Selfishly, a ton of value for Penn State football and players.

On spring practice importance:

When you have different pieces of the puzzle, it magnifies importance. After 15 practices, need players and coaches to understand how they want to play, who they want to play, and what are strengths and weaknesses to be able to work on before training camp. Issues are the same as always, but it’s magnified. Need to understand out of spring ball how to give players confidence in all three phases. It has been painstaking going through entire process. A lot of humility for Tom to be able to compromise, Andy compromise, Lustig to compromise where appropriate. It’s been really good. The core staff that is back have helped in that process.

On Drew Allar:

It’s consistency. You look at his TD/INT, it’s as good as anywhere in the country. Looking at the coverage, didn’t necessarily feel that way. If you’re evaluating a QB, one of the top things you study is TD/INT ratio and he did a great job there. But it’s consistency, week in and week out against all competition. Playing the way he’s needed to play every week. But that’s not just Drew. That’s how they call the game, the complementary pieces around him. It’s all those things. He’s ready to take the next step, excited about the things they’re doing. He looks better, leaner. He’s changed his body composition in a lot of ways. And just like last year, have a ton of respect for Beau Pribula and what he can do to make offense more difficult to defend, but be a complementary and competitive piece with Drew.

On Mehki Flowers/safeties:

Recruited him that he could play both sides of the ball, came in at the end of season and wanted to move to WR. Open to it because recruiting him, he was an explosive athlete on both sides of the ball with talent and ball skills. It’s what he wanted to do, but Penn State comfortable with it because they recruited him to be able to play both sides of the ball.

At safety, have a number of guys they feel good about. Winston/Reed have played a ton of football. Playmakers, big and strong, physical in the run game. Zakee Wheatley expected to take a big step. By far his best offseason. Not even close. That also allows them to maybe use Reed in the nickel, which they’re calling the Lion. Mack significant step. Payne as good of an offseason as anyone in the program. Nelson big and athletic with a redshirt. A number of guys they could talk about and mention.

Feel really good about that three deep, then specifically Reed, Winston, Wheatley, and Mack, have a ton of confidence in them.

On receivers going into spring:

Never an issue of talent. Athletic numbers are as good as anywhere in the country. Things they can do to help the WRs schematically. Another year of experience for those guys. Marques in second year. Julian Fleming brings experience and maturity that has been really good. Has approached things the right way since he’s been on campus. Didn’t think they needed to do a whole lot in the transfer portal, but to create enough competition to bring out the best of everyone. Julian has helped with that and younger players in the program taking the next step, and that includes veterans fully expected to take the next step.

On how Andy Kotelnicki can help Drew Allar: 

Thinks play-action pass will be a big part of opening the field, with Drew, with Andy, and offense in general. And some things they did later in the season, if you look at explosives the last two games, it increased. Alignments like stacks and bunches to help WRs vs. man coverage is important. The combination of what they did at Kansas, what Penn State did with play-action the past couple of games, to make it more challenging for people in man coverage.

On offensive tackles:

Drew Shelton had surgery at the end of the season. A surgery he could get through the season with but it made most sense to get through season. Some guys play through for number of years, some wait til end of season. Right now, wish they had him, but long term in his best interest and program’s best interest.

Have a number of guys they feel good about there. Not having Shelton or Sexton, won’t have them for spring ball. Want them back as soon as they can. JB Nelson has tackle flexibility. Williams the backup last year. Chimdy Onoh. And young kid Boyer can compete.

Donkoh played in bowl and better than people anticipated. Also think like JB he can play guard and tackle. Being able to bring Rucci back home. He’s all of 6-7/300 pounds and looks skinny. Should be good competition there. 

Cooper Cousins can play multiple positions but will start at center. Want freshmen to start at one position. Two tackles headed to the NFL, having some young tackles, bringing in a veteran. Shelton viewed as sort of a starter. That’s helpful too.

On Abdul Carter:

When they recruited Abdul, thought he was a DE. Dad and Abdul were adamant he was a LB. Reality was they just wanted him in the program. This wasn’t something from Penn State. Abdul wanted to make the move for a number of reasons and Penn State is excited about it. 

Lost some pieces at DE, excited about the room, but injecting him in that room is a positive. On the bubble of struggling to keep weight in linebacker mode. Right around 250 or below for a while. So his body naturally telling him he could make the move if he needed and wanted. So having depth and talent and the type of length they want at DE, this is a win-win for everyone. 

Other thing is, with LBs, created some good depth there. And ability to play a little more nickel, those things help. Win-win for everyone. Abdul excited about it.

But, it is a big change. He’s never done it before. It’s not a decision to move, snap fingers, and a DE. It’s a different world the closer you get to the ball. Excited about his development and growth.

Opening statement

Really cool seeing Saquon, Gesicki and Yetur sign contracts. Great to see all those guys doing well. 

Got through winter workouts. That went really well. Chuck Losey continues to do a phenomenal job. Now getting ready for spring ball. Great the weather is cooperating. That helps. Then obviously with three new coordinators, have a ton of work already put in to this point. But a ton still to do between now and West Virginia. Just taking it one day at a time and being as aggressive as they can.

All three coordinators have been awesome. All of the staff. Tom is really enjoying being a coordinator again. Lustig is a vet. And Andy is a vet. A lot of work going into this. Will have a pretty good idea after today of how they’ve done with the process to this point. Very important to lay the foundation this spring to be ready to go for the hostile environment they know West Virginia will be.