Penn State coach James Franklin on his role in the Lions' offense, game day play calling more on Wednesday

Penn State coach James Franklin held his second news conference of Rutgers week on Wednesday night. He spoke with reporters inside of Holuba Hall after another evening of drills ahead of the team’s Noon ET matchup with the Scarlet Knights. The first question he took focused on who would handle the team’s quarterbacks in the wake of Mike Yurcich’s firing.

“[Graduate assistant] Danny [O’Brien] will have the quarterbacks,” Franklin said. “Robb Smith will be on the headsets in the booth.”

On why the Lions picked Smith, who is in his first season on staff as an analyst, Franklin said: “One of our most experienced guys. He’s been a defensive coordinator at Duke, Rutgers, Minnesota, just a very experienced guy that we think can bring a lot of value for us.”

Another early question for Franklin focused on who would actually call the plays on Saturday. With Yurcich gone, running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider and tight ends coach Ty Howle are sharing his vacated responsibilities. He did not provide a clear answer.

“I’m not going to get into that,” Franklin said. “We got two guys that will both be involved with calling the offense.”

Next up for the 10th-year leader of the Lions was an inquiry about how starting quarterback Drew Allar has handled the coaching staff shakeup.

“It’s been great,” Franklin said. He’s been really good. I thought we had a good practice tonight. I thought the quarterbacks have been good. Drew’s been good.”

Here is everything else Franklin said on Wednesday night.

On the experience he hopes the seniors have on Saturday

“I hope a great one,” Franklin said. “I hope it’s a great environment, [and] I hope the fans show their appreciation for all the hard work that these guys have put in representing the university the right way both on and off the field. So, yeah, I would love for them to get a feel for the sense of appreciation that we have for them. Play well, get a win, all those things included.”

On monitoring players already in the NCAA transfer portal from other schools

“That’s where the staff, the recruiting staff, kind of handles that. We’re aware, and obviously, we’re tracking that and we have the recruiting staff kind of handle that while the coaches are focused on normal game planning, normal prep.”

How has Franklin’s week changed without Yurcich?

“I’ve been in the quarterback meetings with Danny,” Franklin said. “Danny’s done a great job. So, I’ve had more of a presence in there, been more vocal in the in the offensive meetings. Ty and Ja’Juan have done a phenomenal job. It’s been very collaborative with everybody in the room really all week long. I think that’s been a real positive.

“Players have been great as well, not only from a game-planning perspective, but also getting up in front of the team, whether it’s in a team meeting or post-practice, the guys have been great. So I’ve been very pleased with how they’ve handled it.”

Will Penn State’s game day offensive collaboration change on Saturday?

“We’ll see,” Franklin said. “I mean, obviously, we’ll find out for sure on Saturday. But, I’ve been pleased with the process and how the coaches have approached it throughout the week, and all the voices in the room, speaking up and giving opinions. You bring an idea up and everybody kind of thoroughly investigates it and checks to film to see if it makes sense, and then move forward or not. And, I think it’s been it’s been a real healthy dialogue in there. We’ll see what that equates to on Saturday. But, I’ve been pleased with the process. I’ve felt good about the process and the prep.”

On Penn State senior Keaton Ellis

“Obviously a local guy that we’ve known for a long time, and came to camp,” Franklin said. “His dad actually was working on campus when I first got here in the athletic department. Really had a really good senior year in the recruiting process as both a wide receiver and a defensive back. And then, was able to come in here with maturity and play.

“He’s kind of seen it all. He’s had the full experience in terms of COVID, academics, success adversity, and handled it all with class. It’s been phenomenal. He’s graduated from here multiple times, went to preschool on campus, there’s pictures of him graduating with the preschool.”

Is the Penn State offensive staff collaborating more now?

“I think it’s been I think it’s been more collaborative,” Franklin said. “There’s a lot of different ways to do it. Some people break up into separate rooms, so you don’t get groupthink. You get different ideas. There’s a lot of ways to do it. A lot of people do it different ways. We’ve done it different obviously since the change, and I do think it’s been it’s been really collaborative and been really good discussions and healthy dialogue, and healthy confrontations, about different ideas and subjects.

“I think it’s it’s been good. And, there’s been hours put on. We’re obviously down a man. So, there’s been a lot of hours put in, guys here early and staying until late. And, I think Ja’Juan and Ty have just done a really good job. There’s been some adjustments and things that have been made. They’ve been organized. They’ve done a really good job.”

How is the young Lions quarterback room handling Yurcich’s exit?

“I think it goes back to what I tried to say to you guys [on Monday], it’s not that we’re trying to hold information from you guys,” Franklin said. “But, I want to be able to have healthy dialogue and conversations rather than you just read something online and you don’t understand and it’s shocking and you can’t talk it through. That’s to me when it becomes problematic. Or, as a leader, you’re not communicative. And, you don’t talk it through and explain, and talk to the parents, and talk to the high school coach, and talk to the trainers, and talk to the guys.

“But, it’s been good. They’ve handled it well. Obviously it’s a tough situation. But, they’ve they’ve handled it well. And I think also, they got a ton of respect for Danny, and Danny has been with those guys, a lot of them, through the recruiting process and afterwards. So, I think that helped. If it would have been somebody completely new coming into that room that hadn’t been with him, I think that could have been more challenging.”

On Penn State receiver Kaden Saunders

“Yeah, he’s done some nice things,” Franklin said. “There’s been flashes in practice and there’s been flashes in some games, where he’s done some nice things. Again, it’s back to consistency. I know you guys get sick of me saying that. But it’s back to consistency. And, the other thing is, the work that he has done in the weight room, I think has really helped him. But, he’s still an undersized guy.

“So, getting as strong as he possibly can and be as explosive as he possibly can. Like I think back to KJ [Hamler]. KJ was undersized, but was was one of our better blockers, was fiercely competitive, and wiry, [and] strong. So, if you’re an undersized guy, you got to be willing and able to do some of those things and I think he’s growing in those areas.”

On the opportunity the final home game presents

“Yeah, we get very few opportunities, so to take advantage of every single one of them,” Franklin said. “And then, our players talk a lot about, when they come here, either as a freshman or a transfer, how good from a cultural standpoint that our vets are with the young guys. And, it’s not like that every place. Our guys do a really good job of that. So I think there’s a pretty consistent sense of appreciation throughout the locker room for those guys and wanting to send them out the right way. It’s an emotional day.” It’s kind of a weird day since COVID … it’s not as black and white as it used to be for some guys [because some have extra eligibility].

“But I just think there’s a sense of appreciation of sending those guys out the right way, out of our stadium, our last last game and Beaver Stadium, not our last game overall. But, I there’s a sense of appreciation and respect for those guys.”

What would Penn State coach James Franklin tell a prospective offensive coordinator about his role in the offense throughout the week and on game day?

“As we all know, it’s pretty obvious, I’m ultimately responsible for everything,” Franklin said. “So I get that and take full responsibility. But I’ve also said multiple times that I want a head coach of special teams. I want a head coach of offense, I want a head coach of defense. I want a head coach at the tight ends. And, I want them to approach it that way. I want them to create a room. Or, a side of the ball, that’s high production and low maintenance. I’m there to support whatever possible. I’m there to bring perspective whenever possible. But, I’ve been very clear about how we run it, and how I’m not running the defense. I’m not running offense, [and] I’m not running the special teams. I’m involved in all those things.

“But, I’m also involved in academics. I’m also involved in fundraising, [and] I’m also involved in recruiting. I’m involved in every aspect of the program. And when you do it that way, and you’re not in one area; I need Andy Frank to run the recruiting department, and I rely on him to do that. I need academics run like that.

More: Penn State practice report: What did we learn about the Lions before Rutgers?

“So I think I’ve been very, very clear on that. But I also want to be very clear I also understand that ultimately, I’m responsible for all of it. So, if that’s been ambiguous in the past, I hope that clears it up. And, that’s what I’m looking for moving forward. And that’s what I’ve stated very clearly in the past.

“Strength and conditioning, I want Chuck Losey to be the head coach of strength and conditioning and run that. And, he has done a phenomenal job. Manny’s done a phenomenal job. Stacy, I’ve been very impressed and pleased with our improvement from the beginning. of the season to now. We’ve improved dramatically on special teams. Our specialists have been more consistent.

“Am I hands on with special teams? Yes. But, Stacy’s the head coach of special teams. So I appreciate the question, and I hope that clarifies any ambiguity that may be out there.”

Why does Penn State coach James Franklin think Danny O’Brien is ready to handle the quarterbacks now?

“Well, I think first of all, he played the position at a high level,” Franklin said. “He had adversity that he had to overcome, [and] he had a chance to play professionally for a number of years. He coached professionally. The fact that he played for me, and we kind of see the game in a similar way, and he understands kind of how we operate culturally. He understands the recruiting process. I recruited him, [and] I went to his home. I went to his high school, [and] I know his high school coach very well, I know his parents very well. So, there’s a trust there personally. And there’s a trust there professionally. And the other thing with him, which I’m drawn to these type of guys: He loves football. He’s sending me stuff all the time that he’s seen, that he saw. Whether it’s on social media. Or, an NFL game, or another college game.

“He’s constantly studying ball and trying to find the best way to teach things to make it simplistic for the quarterback and for the offense but still challenging for the defense. And, the fact that he’s not so far removed, I think he’s got a really good rapport and way to connect with our players as well as recruits. And he works at it. So, I got a ton of respect for him. And, I’m biased because I’ve known him for a long time. But, I think the staff feels in a similar way, and I know the players feel that way. Drew [Allar] came to see me specifically about him, when this all went down, to make sure his feelings were crystal clear on Danny.”