Press conference notebook: Penn State QBs, run-game take center stage

Significance accompanied Penn State head coach James Franklin’s meeting with the media on Monday afternoon.

An event designed to kick off the start of spring practices, it also marked a reunion more than two years in the making. Though holding post-game press conferences in person throughout the 2021 season, the trip back into the Beaver Stadium press room was the first for media since February 2020.

In the time since then, Penn State has struggled through a 4-5 season in 2020 and another disappointing 7-6 campaign in 2021.

What does Franklin and the Penn State coaching staff plan to do to change that trajectory?

Franklin met with the media for more than 40 minutes Monday to detail that plan.

Here’s a look at some of the significant news and notes to emerge from the press conference:

1) Penn State’s quarterback approach

Franklin acknowledged from the onset the reality of the challenge at hand for Penn State’s quarterbacks this spring.

Welcoming the return of Sean Clifford for his fourth year as a presumed starter, plus the additions of Drew Allar and Beau Pribula on top of Christian Veilleux’s second season in the program, the Nittany Lions have their hands full. 

How will Clifford gain the experience of a second season with offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich? And how will that balance against the necessity of competition from the younger quarterbacks and getting them prepared to play?

Franklin detailed that conundrum.

“When it comes to young quarterbacks, that’s always the challenge in spring ball is how do you get everybody enough reps to be able to be evaluated and also to be developed?” Franklin asked. “Because it’s not just about the quarterbacks. It’s about, do you have enough depth on the offensive line, do you have enough depth at wide receiver, tight end, so on and so forth. And then also from a defensive perspective.”

The answer, Franklin continued, is to consistently update reps as spring practice rolls along.

“I think that’ll be a big focus. We’ll probably go back and forth with those guys,” Franklin said. “One day, they’ll get reps with the threes. One day, they’ll get reps with the fours, kind of rotating back and forth. And then as this thing adjusts, obviously there could be some opportunities to take reps with the ones with Veilleux and reps with the twos and threes with Pribula and Allar. 

“So we’ll see how that whole thing plays out. But right now, that’s been a big emphasis of spring ball is how do we make sure everybody’s getting reps and getting evaluated?”

2) Running game improvement

Franklin did not object to the reality of Penn State’s 2021 disappointments offensively.

Answering that Mike Yurcich’s first season with the program wasn’t what he, or Yurcich for that matter, had hoped, Franklin said that this spring has become of paramount importance for improving run-game performance.

“I think a lot of it is us spending time, really from the time of season ended to the spring ball starting, and just really making sure that we’re having detailed conversations about what we’re trying to do schematically, who we are, what do we want to emphasize,” he said. “And then obviously, I think it needs to be something that we make sure that we get enough reps on in the spring. In the summertime, you still have an opportunity to work your passing game and you can do those things all summer. It’s really difficult to do that with the running game. So making sure that these 15 practices, that we’re getting enough reps there from a scheme perspective, from a technique perspective, and that we’re emphasizing it enough.”

That emphasis has extended well beyond the offensive line room, however.

Splitting up responsibility throughout the offense, Franklin said that Penn State’s offensive coaches have all taken a proactive approach to fix the issue.

“I think there’s been a really good discussion,” Franklin said. “We all know that’s an area that we that must improve on. And then I think it’s also not just with the offensive line and tight ends, but it’s also with our running backs’ ability to break tackles and make people miss. That has to be emphasized as well. 

“It’s a combination of all those things factoring in together. Coach Traut and Ty Howle and Ja’Juan Seider have taken a lot of responsibility and ownership in that as well.”

3) Defensive line returns

Though absent for completely separate reasons last season, the importance of both Adisa Isaac and Hakeem Beamon to Penn State’s future defensive line plans was on full display Monday.

Isaac, injured well before the start of preseason practices, and Beamon, who missed the entirety of the season for unspecified, off-field issues, both left the Nittany Lions short on depth at defensive end and tackle, respectively.

Now healthy, Isaac is expected to participate in most of the program’s spring practices, Franklin said. 

“We’re approaching this thing slow and conservative to make sure that he’s ready to go. We anticipate him being able to do a lot this spring. I wouldn’t say 100 percent, but close to it,” Franklin said. “So that will be important for us because I think Adisa has a chance to be an impact player for us. I think he’s got a very, very bright future and long future.”

Beamon, meanwhile, is apparently on track to again contribute to the defensive line’s efforts. 

“And then Hakeem, as we all know, we’ve seen tremendous things from Hakeem,” Franklin said. “I’m proud of Hakeem. He’s growing up and maturing. I try to hug him and love on him as much as I possibly can. But it’s also one of those fine lines too because I want to make sure that Hakeem stays on that trajectory that he’s on right now.

“But both of those guys are super talented. They can have a huge impact for us on the defensive side of the ball. And we’re depending on them. So hopefully they continue heading in the right direction both physically and in other areas. But I’m proud of them. And I think this spring is going to be important for them.”