he wants to play BIG 12/PAC 12 style football in the Big Ten East.....that is not a formula that will fit!
Franklin's problem is.....
- Thread starter BUCKSCOUNTYLION
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And is not a good coach, out coached every week- talks a good game but dose not back it up.
I think Franklin's issues are more philosophical in nature. His football philosophy is flawed. Explosive plays win the six to ten plays that determine the outcome of games which works in the SEC but in the Big Ten, most defenses limit big plays. Analytics drive all even though football is 100% a qualitative sport by its very nature, especially at the collage level. Talent accumulation guarantees victory even though the level of effort needed to recruit hinders development and frequently leaves you with holes in the roster.
With even mediocre o-line play, PSU is probably 11-1 and getting ready for Indy on Saturday and Iowa.
OSU has also gone in the direction of high-powered offense, relying less on dominating the line of scrimmage and more on spreading out the playmakers and tossing the ball around.
We don't have the firepower they do, but we have enough to beat most opponents with that model.
But as both OSU and we learned yesterday, when confronted with a smash-mouth Big Ten style of play that dominates the line of scrimmage, it's a big vulnerability.
The focus on "explosive plays" comes at a cost. It's great when you have Saquon and Chris Godwin and other big time talents. Otherwise, it puts you in a tough position when confronted with an aggressive line-of-scrimmage team.
We don't have the firepower they do, but we have enough to beat most opponents with that model.
But as both OSU and we learned yesterday, when confronted with a smash-mouth Big Ten style of play that dominates the line of scrimmage, it's a big vulnerability.
The focus on "explosive plays" comes at a cost. It's great when you have Saquon and Chris Godwin and other big time talents. Otherwise, it puts you in a tough position when confronted with an aggressive line-of-scrimmage team.
Here is a news article clip from the game that tells you a lot about Franklin's short comings . The last sentence tells the story. The problem is never him, and he fails to adjust......................
Penn State ran for 61 yards, 33 of them on one astonishing gallop by Keyvonne Lee, 87 yards if you strip out the four times Clifford was sacked.
To strip out the sacks, though, is better than this offensive line, consisting mostly of veteran and well-recruited players, deserves. The inability, in particular, to run the ball when, as coach James Franklin often puts it, “everyone in the stadium knows you’re going to,’’ was a theme of this season and this game.
Penn State was stuffed on run plays on second-and-1, third-and-1, third-and-2, third-and-3 and fourth-and-1, and Franklin punted rather than try a fourth-and-less-than-1 from the 48 yard-line.
When someone pointed out to Franklin that he has not had a 100-yard rusher this year, he answered, tersely, that the, “year’s not over yet.’’
Penn State ran for 61 yards, 33 of them on one astonishing gallop by Keyvonne Lee, 87 yards if you strip out the four times Clifford was sacked.
To strip out the sacks, though, is better than this offensive line, consisting mostly of veteran and well-recruited players, deserves. The inability, in particular, to run the ball when, as coach James Franklin often puts it, “everyone in the stadium knows you’re going to,’’ was a theme of this season and this game.
Penn State was stuffed on run plays on second-and-1, third-and-1, third-and-2, third-and-3 and fourth-and-1, and Franklin punted rather than try a fourth-and-less-than-1 from the 48 yard-line.
When someone pointed out to Franklin that he has not had a 100-yard rusher this year, he answered, tersely, that the, “year’s not over yet.’’
The problem is the team doesn't need to win.
All of the losses were winnable but the team seems content in losing.
This team has no heart. It reminds me of many FSU teams from back in the day. Played great from ahead but once there was any challenge, they folded.
Iowa and Illinois exemplify this. But you see it over and over when PsU plays down to an inferior opponent.
There is no Trace on these teams leading them to victory.
LdN
100% agree there is a lack pf resilience and determination. When Clifford got hurt at Iowa team fell apart and never really regained their composure rest of the season. That is a "coaching establishing culture" failure
That one statement in and of itself speaks volumes. Have we EVER had a season since 1900 where we didn’t have AT LEAST ONE GAME with a rusher with over 100 yards??????
That is beyond incredible and inconceivable……..and explains a lot.
I don’t care how bad our OL is. This is the absolutely WORST set of running backs in the last half century or more. Not only are they slower than rented mules, they’re soft. Lee should be benched for the way he was running on short yardage. Unfortunately, we have no one that’s worth a crap to replace him.
I would add that the coaching fell apart and never regained composure as well.
Who’s responsible for recruiting? Hell, I am old enough to remember a couple of years where we had to move a DB to RB mid season and were able to run the ball and win.
Franklin has structured this team to be competitive with OSU and by in large, he has done that. But we are going tonhave problems moving forward if we can't win at both line of scrimmages. That is how you play down to "inferior" competition. You let them possess the ball and run on offense, you don't hit your usual big plays, and all of a sudden Maryland or an Indiana is hanging around or beating you. We need dominant offensive and defensive lines above all else. The Michigan state QB had all day to throw yesterday, contrast that with Clifford. Walker, all be it a wonderful back that does not go down on first contact, had lanes to run through all day, our backs dont.
Yes. The Iowa game really set the table for the rest of the season.
Rolling towards an easy victory. QB gets hurt.
Suddenly We can't even snap the ball.
We committed something like 10 false starts. At one point 4 or 5 in a row.
That's a game day coaching failure. We lost more yards than we gained.
LdN
I mean we have mostly kept the scores close(r) than others. Franklin references it all the time. I don't agree with the sentiment, but yeah, we have played OSU fairly well the last 6-7 years. Of course what matters is beating them.
Explosive plays come when you run the ball and control the line of scrimmage, PSU has not done that in Franklin's tenure.
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His record vs OSU MSU and UM dose not warrant a 10 year 80 million dollar contract.
My issue is the stubbornness to keep running the damn ball. Analytics couldn’t have said that was a good idea yesterday. They had to say throw throw throw. We tried to fit a square peg in a round hole all year long.
I think you're right about that.
We actually have a fairly similar system as OSU -- reliance on playmakers, big plays, and recruiting 4*/5* athletes. It's more the SEC model, and it's a pretty good model on the whole.
But it runs the risk of being exposed if you get challenged to a fist fight in the trenches with a team that controls the line of scrimmage on both sides. OSU has made it work because they've mostly had big talents on both lines, but even then, Michigan showed what happens when OSU's line struggles.
It's cliche, but the "toughness" aspect is definitely not where it should be (even if the kids as individuals are definitely tough).
Franklin's problem is , he is not a good coach. He is a good father and a good man, but a mediocre coach
Well, the upside to that is that the following year, we were a missed field goal by Ohio State against Texas and a final seconds hose job by the refs against Michigan from playing for the National Championship against USC.
I have no doubt the kids are tough... just that the kids on the other side might be tougher still.
As an aside, I always thought Joe's problem regarding strength training was that he would see these incredible specimens in the locker room (old guy thinking about what players looked like in the 60's and 70's.. now seeing a new breed in the 90s onward) and thought they were the toughest kids in America...if not the planet.
He just wasn't in other teams' locker rooms seeing those kids were even bigger and stronger. Took a long time to adjust.
We have a talented (but not deep) bunch of kids who are physically able and I have no doubt are tough... but are getting out-toughed in the big games. imo, of course.
The B1G, Ohio State's defense does not scare anyone, aside from the early schedule cream puffs and SOME of the bottom of the B1G that subscribe to the same offensive/defensive philosophy.
Our game plans and play calling gave our running backs no chance this year, no chance at all. Virtually EVERY PLAY was a deep handoff to a lone back. No two back formations…..no quick tosses…..no option plays…..no jet sweeps or reverses.
Do good men seek, force, significantly more money from their employer after mediocre (at best) results?
Franklin thinks he can win with this model. A better O-line of course but not smashmouth. Sooo, will we ever get there? Is it the QB? I think this system depends on an elite QB. Certainly not game managers like what scUM or Wisky have.
This is a system and philosophy debate. If he emulates O$U that is a good thing. I think the scUM win over O$U had a lot to do with the snow and O$U's speed and talent on the outside got neutralized. Also a broken clock is right twice a day kind of thing. Law of averages and perfect storm, pun intended. I would still vote for the Day/Franklin model over the Harbaugh model. Not sure if Franklin is the guy but I think his system can win. The toughness issue is a question. Can that model produce a "tough" O-line? I don't know why not. O$U I don't think is questioning the toughness of their O line.
