Penn State coach James Franklin talks injuries, Lions' offense, and more: Everything he said after Wednesday's practice

Penn State coach James Franklin held his second news conference of Indiana week on Wednesday night after practice. As expected, the topics discussed did not focus on the 2-5 Hoosiers. Instead, they continued to focus on the aftermath of the team’s 20-12 loss to Ohio State. The first inquiry centered on how the team has responded to the setback so far this week.

“The guys have been great,” Franklin said. “The coaches have been great. We’re on to the next game, the next opponent.”

The next question focused on why Penn State guard JB Nelson did not play against the Buckeyes despite traveling with the team to Columbus following an injury that caused him to miss most of the previous two games.

“Yeah, obviously with JB, coming off an injury, didn’t get a ton of reps during the week,” Franklin said. “He was available to play. But, we kind of took it as more of like an emergency. If somebody had gotten hurt, than he would have went in the game. But, based on reps, between him and the coaches, we just felt like the amount of time that JB put in during the week [that approaching it that way] was the better option. But, he’s fully available for this week.”

Here’s a look at everything else Penn State coach James Franklin had to say.

Why has the Penn State run defense been so good?

Question three asked the 10th-year leader of the Lions to assess why the team’s run defense is performing at such a high level. It leads the Big Ten with an opponent yards per carry average of just 2.32 yards.

“I think Deion [Barnes has] done a good job,” Franklin said. “I think it’s a combination of a couple of things. It’s how well we’re playing on defense. I also think been a number of games where I think, we talked about earlier in the week, about the stats can be skewed sometimes because if you get up by a significant lead, people feel like they have to throw it to get back in the game. So, I think it’s a combination of how some of the games have played out, but also how well we’re playing on defense and, specifically, the defensive line.”

How did Drew Allar bounce back from his first loss?

“Good,” Franklin said. “He puts a ton into this. As you guys mentioned, he waspretty upset after the game, which a lot of people were. But, has put his moved on, I think for a lot of us, when that next opponent comes out, and that next game plan comes, and the film,and the next challenge, and the next opportunity, that helps. Because it allows you to pour all your energy into that next battle, that next challenge.”

On the status of Penn State defensive ends Amin Vanover and Chop Robinson

“I think Amin could be a little bit like JB [was like week], a game time decision,” Franklin said. “And then even then, depending on how much work he got during the week, will still be a decision that needs to be made. I think a little bit too is how veteran of a player is it in terms of how much practice time they miss and how much football they’ve played here. That plays a part into it as well.

“But we have played a ton of guys at defensive end. There’s also a young guy that we’ve been excited about who’s coming on, Jameial Lyons. So that plays a part in it as well. With Chop, we hope to get him back sooner rather than later. But, I don’t have any that information right now.”

On freshman defensive end Jameial Lyons

“I think I made a comment like, there’s some positions, and some guys, that I think would have played [if Penn State didn’t have so many veteran starters], and I think that’s a good example with Jameial,” Franklin said. “I think there’s also part of it too, with new players, whether they’re high school or transfer players. are you playing them in certain packages? Or are they ready to handle all of it? And I think with Jameial early on, it was like, we’re going to use him in certain packages, but not all of it.

“But, as the season goes on, you hope that you’re at a point at this stage that he can handle more. So, obviously this week has been great work for him, today and yesterday. We still got Thursday. We still got Friday. But hopefully he’ll have an opportunity to play on Saturday and take advantage. I think you guys have seen, he’s made some flashes in the games he has played in. And then, same thing in practice. So there’s excitement about him.”

Has the team moved on from Ohio State the way Franklin wanted it to?

“To be honest with you, we’ve had discussions about moving the press conference to Monday [from Tuesday] for a little bit of that reason, so we can move on and not keep doing this,” Franklin said. “Not keep going back and talking about it. I get [that the media] asks the questions. But for us., one of the ways to move on is to stop talking about it. And the hard part is [the media wants] to talk about it. Which, I get it. I totally get it. But, it’s kind of sending mixed messages.

“The best way to move on is to focus on the next opponent, learn from it, which we did on Saturday night, which we did on all day Sunday. But then, it’s time to move on to the next opponent, learn the lessons from the game, make the corrections, and then pour all of our energy into finding a way to get a win against Indiana and playing well, so we can build that confidence and take it for the rest of the season.”

How does Franklin balance what he knows about his team versus surprises that occur during the season?

“I think it’s hard, because although you learn lessons throughout the process and throughout your career, each team kind of is their own team,” Franklin said. “This was one of the things we talked about last week. That was this team’s first time playing [Ohio State]. This team. The actual team. This locker room, the coaching staff and really those things that had happened before, positive or negative, they don’t really impact these guys in this locker room. So you know, for us, although we’ve learned lessons, a lot of these guys, it was their first time. It was their first time going through it or the first time at The Horseshoe or whatever it may be. But, I do think you see some guys step up in those moments, those those games on the road against challenging opponents. Or it’s from a leadership standpoint, in the locker room at halftime or during the game or after the game.

“I think one of the other things that can be challenging, in an emotional locker room at times is, I think you can make the mistake that you expect everybody to, I don’t know if grieve is the right word, but for everybody to grieve the same way you grieve. And, people handle those things differently. You have to be careful with that. But again, overall, I’ve been pleased with how the guys have handled it and moved on. But we got to go take our frustrations out on this next opponent.”

Why did James Franklin say Tuesday he had thought about what he was going to say last Saturday if Penn State beat Ohio State? Is that common?

“I think what I was trying to talk about is the confidence that we had going into this game,” Franklin said. “I knew the questions that were going to come based on the record. So, there was some things that that I wanted to say, and it was going to be an opportunity. That was part of my process, of kind of visualizing the success that we were going to have, and then how we were going to handle it.

“So yeah, I think that’s a fair interpretation of what you’re saying. But for me, it was the confidence that we had. And it was, for me specifically, not just the program, of visualizing walking into that media session after the game and maybe not answer as many tough questions as I had in the past.”

On Riley Thompson’s performance as the Penn State punter in 2023

“He’s done a nice job,” Franklin said. “And I think for a lot of these guys, whether they’re transfers or freshmen, we’re kind of getting at that point in the season where they’ve kind of adjusted, they know what to expect. I think they’re pretty comfortable. And, I think right now, he’s doing some really nice things. I’ve seen our special teams as a group really improve over the last couple of weeks. And, I think typically, special teams are highly driven by the specialists.

“If you’re a snapper, punter, kicker, holder, [and] those guys are high level guys, then you got a chance to be successful, especially with the depth that we have in other positions. So I think as those guys have gotten more comfortable in their roles, and have been more consistent, our special teams have improved. He’s one of those guys that I think is really comfortable now in how we do things and how we operate and doing some nice things.”

How did Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich handle the Ohio State loss?

“Number one, it’s challenging,” Franklin said. “It’s challenging on all of us. And one of the things that we try to do, the way we operate, is trying to eliminate as many distractions as we possibly can. So, it’s not always fun for me to come to a press conference. But, it allows the rest of the staff to focus on the job at hand and moving on. Now, are we completely in a submarine? No. But, I think on Sunday, just like a lot of people, we were in there, and there was tough film sessions. tough conversations, a lot of transparency, a lot of honesty, really good discussion from the entire staff. And that is hard to hear sometimes. But it’s also needed.

“So, it was a challenging [Saturday] night and it was a challenging next day. And again, like I’ve mentioned before, you kind of move on. But, I do think it’s helpful that you’re able to move on. Like that’s one of the things about being a head coach. That leaving the submarine, and walking over to the press conference that I know the questions that are coming, not the funnest part of my week. But that’s the job. And the way we have it set up, it allows the assistants and coordinators to focus on the job at hand and move on without some of those responsibilities.”

How far is the Lions’ passing game from where they want it to be?

“We’re behind in the passing game,” Franklin said. “I think we’ve shown some flashes. I think [Harrison “Trey” Wallace III]’s injury, when we didn’t have a whole lot of proven guys before that; I think some guys that have kind of come in have transitioned a little bit slower than we had hoped. But, this is an opportunity to take a step this week and build confidence moving forward. I think there’s guys in that room that have the ability to do the job and do the job at a high level. But it’s about consistency physically. But, it’s also consistency mentally. Sometimes you guys ask questions, and it’s hard, because as the head coach, I know you guys are just asking the questions that you have to ask. But, if I don’t answer them correctly, they can be divisive. They can be divisive for the coaches and the players. They can be divisive. A lot of times, as we all learned, people only hear my answer. They don’t hear the question. I don’t want to ever say anything’s divisive between the offense and the defense. Or, a position group feeling like they’re being called out.

More: Penn State practice report: What did we learn about the Lions’ offense and defense before Indiana?

“We do those things behind closed doors. But, the reality is, there’s room for growth there. And there’s some times where things happen, where you guys don’t know about, where a guy runs the wrong route, or the wrong assignment. I’m not going to come out and say those things. Or on the offensive line. Or the defensive line. But those things happen. And those things may limit playing time or opportunities. But, I’m not going to come into the press conference and necessarily say that when it doesn’t necessarily make sense to you guys. Does that make sense? That the challenge as the head coach in the press conferences. How do I answer your questions, so you guys feel like I’m giving you what you need to do your jobs, but not do anything that’s going to cause issues in my locker room? And that’s literally the balance, constantly. How can I answer your questions, but most of your questions, put me in that position. So that’s that’s that’s the that’s the challenge.”