Live updates: Penn State head coach James Franklin press conference

Penn State head coach James Franklin is addressing reporters on Monday afternoon ahead of his Nittany Lions’ tilt with UCLA this Saturday. Follow our live updates from Beaver Stadium, here.

Live updates: Penn State head coach James Franklin press conference

(Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Press conference is set to begin at noon.)

Questions in the room

Discipline:

They always translate. The point he feels strongly about, talked about it with the staff, with the team, is discipline that shows up on game day is discipline that shows up in practice that is tied to discipline going to class and not showing up on lists, being on time, sitting in the front row, taking notes, study hall, meals. All the responsibilities they have on their plate. Discipline in those areas translates to discipline on the field. Coaches have been talking about that forever. There always has been a correlation. Need to get those things buttoned up. Always a challenge when you have 120 18-22 year old males figuring out the college experience, which is hard enough for normal students, let alone student-athletes. That’s been every year. That’s a challenge to get that demographic to consistently do what they’re supposed to do. Belive that wholeheartedly.

DaKaari Nelson:

Proud of him. The light has really gone on for him. That happens for different players at different points. It started on special teams. Was having success on ST, which has led into defense and he’s having success there. The transition from safety to linebacker is something he has embraced and trusted them on. Having a lot of fun playing football and having success. Acknowledged publicly with peers how well he’s doing and how proud of him they are. That’s not an easy transition. It’s a very different world. It’s obvious this is the right position for him. Doing really good things. The exciting thing is this is his first time doing it. But excited about him. With Dom being out last week he had to. Hopefully with Dom back this week, creates some flexibility.

UCLA/USC, intel with colleagues you’d typically gather, and them on the West Coast, if that is complicated by relationships:

Scouting is the same. It’s a small world. Contacts and connections trying to get info from. But really, it’s about the film. Getting it, breaking it down, running through the data to understand tendencies, and then building a game plan. The stuff being asked about that is significant is talking to buddies and friends that have done the cross country travel. You did all that planning, but then you actually do it, what did you learn and what would be done differently?

Did it ahead of time, but this year being able to talk to other ops people, other head coaches that are friends, what you learned about it.

The kicking situation:

It’s not kicking, because they’ve been punting well and kicking off well. It’s field goal. Are they kicking better in practice than games? Yes. Decide that based on practice. Sander had won the job. Did it during training camp, did it this season, all the data and stats back that up. During the spring it was a closer battle and then he slowly but surely took the lead, but it was close. But everyone felt comfortable that was the right decision.

Will factor all of that in and make a decision. It’ll be a competition. But not just based on practice data alone. Have to factor in the game as well. But obviously he was the starter for a reason and up to this point, most of the data they had was practice data.

Taking a step:

Have to get better each week. Doesn’t want to be a team that waits until you have a loss for the wakeup call to happen and now you start doing all the little extra things and getting them corrected. The obvious one is penalties. That’s making things harder than it needs to be on offense and defense. And have been a disciplined team. Need to get that fixed. Talking in general, but for specifics, that’s the message to the game. Take the penalties they can control out of that game and it wouldn’t have been as hard as it was. And what happened in the second half when the game and score gets out of whack. 

That game was going exactly how they wanted it for a long time. Then get a lead, they have to play a style they don’t want, and the sacks don’t come, and we’re asking about pressure on the quarterback. It’s about the style of game. 

In general, have to get better. Shouldn’t have a setback. Don’t be complacent. But also, obviously need to clean up penalties. Can’t just keep talking about it. Want it fixed. And ultimately as coaches, need to make sure that happens, but so do coaches.

How kicking impacts offense:

Talk about them during the week. Talk through them on Monday. How to play this opponent. Last week early in the game, fourth and 1, stadium wanted them to go for it. In a lot of games, probably would have. But playing a team like Illinois and Bret Bielema where they are a field position team, it’s all about that with them, it’s all about great D, great ST, like Iowa, you would play them the same way. Force them to go the long field. Defensively, even with a punt, should get it back in good field position. But it’s going to be that type of game. That’s what predicated that decision. In terms of going for it on fourth down on offense, always wants Andy to have his call ready once he’s made the third down call. Has already told him on first down what is a go so they can handle sequencing. But clicks over to Tom to talk about thoughts. The results of that play, defense has to deal with. Did that with Manny and Brent as well. But ultimately, it’s his call.

Abdul Carter:

The good thing is it’s just going to get better. Transition from LB to DE is significant. He’s done some good things already. But as he gets more comfortable there, and like you saw last week, put more on his plate doing different things lining him up on other sides so they can’t game plan for him and know where he’ll be, or spying the QB and adding the blitz, lining him up over center, trying to get him matched up on RB, which offenses don’t want. As this goes on and he continues to get comfortable playing DE, and coaches find more creative ways to use him, that’s the exciting, fun part. WIll see him be more impactful each week.

Dan Connor:

Has a very bright future. Dan is a unique guy. He really is. He doesn’t say a whole lot but when he speaks, everyone listens. Has great perspective on college football, the state of Pennsylvania, the NFL and what it takes to be successful at that level, and has unique Penn State experience. Really good hire and extremely valuable. And has been a DC in college before and there is value in that.

On the headset, that has taken some time to work through the kinks and what is best for Penn State. Tom in the booth has been a positive. But on top of that, in terms of the best place to call a game and that role and job, that was just another thing that Tom didn’t necessarily want to manage. Dan was an option to talk to the linebackers. Did it in the NFL and what he liked in that communication. Sometimes coaches can give too much information on the headset. Tom can just call the game and not worry about communicating with LB on the field. Did that the past two weeks and it’s been good for D, Kobe, Dan, and Tom. And working through this technology piece, have had to work through it on O and D and what’s best for Penn State.

Questions via Zoom

Punt return production:

Kaden Saunders suffered an injury during training camp. That’s why he hasn’t been playing much receiver. Anticipated him having a pretty big role for them on offense. Early on, weren’t sure if he could go. Then he got cleared and it was him getting confident back to being out there. And really the plan for the first couple of games was to have him catch the ball. Ton of confidence that he would fair catch the ball, predominantly. While he was injured, had a ton of guys back there to catch it, decision, backed up punt, when to catch it, advance it. That’s a unique job and skillset. Also saw they used Jake Spencer. Another guy that has caught punts in college games before. The ball got to the ground, which also created challenges. Had a bunch of competition for someone else while Kaden getting healthy and no one took the job. Still at the point of having Kaden catch and fair catch. Zion Tracy is close. Hoping he would be the guy during that time and it just hadn’t happened at practice. But doing really good things on defense and special teams and gaining confidence, so that’s why you’re seeing this.

Kaytron Allen:

Proud of him in so many ways. Maybe just some bad luck, but historically in his time here, has had lingering injury in the offseason that has hurt his development. One of the more natural players they have. Has worked very hard at his development, but has missed a lot of time in the offseason. So seeing him play this way is awesome.

Him and Nick are quiet guys. Different personalities. But them showing emotion and having fun and being supportive of each other, as well as the O-line. The play Kaytron scored and the whole offense kicked down the door with him showed how connected the offense and team is. Proud of him. Doing really well in school. Great teammate. Beloved by teammates. Playing really well. Very productive. He is really growing up and they’ve challenged him in his leadership, how communicative he is. He’s really growing in all areas.

How has the offensive line played to this point:

Have three guys playing in the NFL off last year’s team, so playing very well. That’s a credit to Trautwein, Leonard, and Quisart. As well as the players. Nick Dawkins a big storyline there as well. Has waited for his opportunity and he’s playing better than anticipated, not only physically but mentally and leadership. He’s been really good.

You look last week. Have a ton of respect for Bielema and what he’s done through his correct, and it’s built on fronts. That running back, he was a specimen. Like 250 pounds. Thought they played very well up front against a team that is built to win games in the Big Ten on their fronts. Like their defense, it’s one thing to hold a team to 36 yards rushing, it’s another to do it against a team that is committed to running the ball. Same thing on offense against a defense that was committed to stopping the run and not giving up explosives, and still able to run it in a physical way. Not only the O-line, but also the running backs. There were some punishing runs that Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, and Tyler Warren had.

Conference conversation about officiating:

Doesn’t know if he would characterize it the same way as in the question. There is always communication with the conference. Turn in the plays they disagree with. They respond back. Turn things in before the next game, things they’re concerned about. So there is constant communication.

Priority No. 1 is handling the things they can. Wants to be very clear on that.

Opening statement

Cam Wallace will be a long-term injury. He will be out.

Try to be very respectful of the student-athletes and their health. And sometimes we ask, and almost didn’t have the answer today because if it’s a significant injury, doesn’t want the first conversation with the player to be about sharing it with the media. That’s why he doesn’t answer it right away. Doesn’t want that to be the first conversation he has with the kid.

Expect to have Kimber, Wormley, and DeLuca back. We expect those guys back but I don’t have that information for you right now either.