I am very grateful to Moorhead and happy for him. One thing that bothers me though,

[GreggK]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Who is saying that?

I'm of the firm belief that Hack leaving is what saved us... partly due to his play and partly because we had a QB that fit the system.

I haven't seen many people say Moorhead saved us, on this board at least.

Trace, even with IMO a slight step back this year, is who saved us.

LdN

 

[maxxedout]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

Good post. I credit Franklin with an outstanding hire and vision for the program. Hope he can continue his success in that regard.

 

[PSUoh90]

Good post. I credit Franklin with an outstanding hire and vision for the program. Hope he can continue his success in that regard.

Absolutely. Most big programs could have had Moorhead, but it was Franklin that watched him and eventually hired him. So many people don't realize that surrounding yourself with the correct staff IS coaching. Saban's defense hasn't quite been the same since Kirby Smart left. Urban's offense hasn't quite been the same since Herman left. That's football.

 

[ga.lion]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

He played a key role but clearly so did Trace, Barkley, and the entire coaching staff. Look at the kids that led PSU to two straight ten win seasons. Franklin gets a ton of respect for finding many of these kids and putting his staff together. I'm extremely proud of the job Coach Franklin has done on and off the field and the best sign of a solid program is one where your staff is sought out by top 20 programs. As they say, we're in good hands and yes Coach Franklin knew this day was coming and has already thought out the best solution.

 

[PSUoh90]

Trace, even with IMO a slight step back this year, is who saved us.

In fairness, I don't think we were ever really in need of being saved. Prior to last year, with the scholarship constraints, we were essentially an FCS school playing in the Big 10 and still rattling off better than .500 seasons.

 

[Doc-M]

Coach Franklin, go get Troy Walters ASAP before somebody else. Go go!

 

[marshall23]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

Any quality head coach is content to let the credit go to his assistants. When you are winning, there is more than enough kudos to spread around. James Franklin is one shrewd dude. No one should ever doubt he is the straw that stirs the drink in the program. If bringing JoMo was one of the best moves he's made.....right behind it is JoMo leaving for a P5 HC position. It permits JF to sell his program to quality asst. coaches as a pathway to the promised land (their own HC job).

 

[Obliviax]

Franklin "discovered" JoeMo. Credit to Franklin. But lets also not forget Donovan. It isn't an exact science. JoeMo's offense is modern and innovative. At the same time, he had the best RB in the NCAA, one of the best QB's, TE and WR crew in the country.

Credit to JoeMo. Credit to Franklin. Credit to the players.

We can be successful without JoeMo and we can also crash and burn if we hire another Donovan. Lets hope for the best.

 

[Judge Smails]

Franklin looked at all of the analytics about the best offense to run, realized he wanted to run a RPO heavy, 3 WR offense, then went out and found the guy who specialized in that.

The only thing that is going to shut up these people is time. Reading idiotic responses from Michigan fans, who of course have learned nothing from their over confidence last off season. Just because Harbaugh is his own OC and calls his own plays, that means that he is smart and Franklin is dumb? Do you want your CEO cutting the AP checks, opening the mail? Is that the best thing for the organization? Yay, Harbaugh calls the plays. You know how many recruiting screw ups they have had since he's been the coach? Sending out mail with names misspelled, thanking recruits for visiting when they weren't there, it goes on and on and on. That is a sloppy organization, because your head coach is too involved with just the offense. Franklin has built a tremendous organization, and he will continue to bring in talented coaches and support personnel and we will continue to be better than Michigan.

Larry Appleton
MGoPoints: 8459

OT: Joe Moorhead to be named HC at Miss State
Per Brett McMurphy on the Twitters. May James Franklin’s career now shrivel up die.


war-dawg69
MGoPoints: 2525

Have to give credit where it is due and psu had the best QB in the big ten. If he is leaving and moorhead they won't be a tough out and we will be returning the ass whoopin. I personally feel we should and will be undefeated next year so I had us beating them anyways, but they surely are not going to be as good. Is there QB leaving also?.


1VaBlue1
MGoPoints: 15986

I work with a PSU alum that truely [sic] believes Franklin is brains behind that whole operation...


Term
MGoPoints: 608

Good, now everyone can remember how terrible James Franklin is

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Franklin looked at all of the analytics about the best offense to run, realized he wanted to run a RPO heavy, 3 WR offense, then went out and found the guy who specialized in that.

The only thing that is going to shut up these people is time. Reading idiotic responses from Michigan fans, who of course have learned nothing from their over confidence last off season. Just because Harbaugh is his own OC and calls his own plays, that means that he is smart and Franklin is dumb? Do you want your CEO cutting the AP checks, opening the mail? Is that the best thing for the organization? Yay, Harbaugh calls the plays. You know how many recruiting screw ups they have had since he's been the coach? Sending out mail with names misspelled, thanking recruits for visiting when they weren't there, it goes on and on and on. That is a sloppy organization, because your head coach is too involved with just the offense. Franklin has built a tremendous organization, and he will continue to bring in talented coaches and support personnel and we will continue to be better than Michigan.

Larry Appleton
MGoPoints: 8459

OT: Joe Moorhead to be named HC at Miss State
Per Brett McMurphy on the Twitters. May James Franklin’s career now shrivel up die.


war-dawg69
MGoPoints: 2525

Have to give credit where it is due and psu had the best QB in the big ten. If he is leaving and moorhead they won't be a tough out and we will be returning the ass whoopin. I personally feel we should and will be undefeated next year so I had us beating them anyways, but they surely are not going to be as good. Is there QB leaving also?.


1VaBlue1
MGoPoints: 15986

I work with a PSU alum that truely [sic] believes Franklin is brains behind that whole operation...


Term
MGoPoints: 608

Good, now everyone can remember how terrible James Franklin is

UM fans need some hope after sliding from 3rd to 4th this year and being second in their state for something line 6 of the last 7 years or so. I get they are concerned and need that ray of hope, but they shouldn't sweat it as they'll be ok next year. They return a ton and just need to find a QB and a HC not stuck in the 70's.

 

[michnittlion]

Who is saying that?

I'm of the firm belief that Hack leaving is what saved us... partly due to his play and partly because we had a QB that fit the system.

I haven't seen many people say Moorhead saved us, on this board at least.

Trace, even with IMO a slight step back this year, is who saved us.

LdN

When we look back to when the "offensive turnaround" began --- it wasn't in Moorhead's first game. It was the 2nd half of the Gator Bowl.

Many thanks to Moorhead and I wish him well going forward. But I'm with you --- the turnaround was more because of McSorley (that kid is simply a "winner") than Moorhead.

 

[AWS1022]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

And don't forget it's easier to be an offensive genius when you have better players....the players Franklin brought in.

 

[WPB_lion]

Who is saying that?

I'm of the firm belief that Hack leaving is what saved us... partly due to his play and partly because we had a QB that fit the system.

I haven't seen many people say Moorhead saved us, on this board at least.

Trace, even with IMO a slight step back this year, is who saved us.

LdN

With Trace, Gesicki, Goodwin, Barkley, Hamilton, Johnson and the other receivers, PSU has had among the best, if not the best, skill position players in the country for the past 2 seasons. While I appreciate the job Moorhead did PSU, he certainly had elite talent to work with. A lot of OCs would have been successful with this talent.

 

[WPB_lion]

Franklin "discovered" JoeMo. Credit to Franklin. But lets also not forget Donovan. It isn't an exact science. JoeMo's offense is modern and innovative. At the same time, he had the best RB in the NCAA, one of the best QB's, TE and WR crew in the country.

Credit to JoeMo. Credit to Franklin. Credit to the players.

We can be successful without JoeMo and we can also crash and burn if we hire another Donovan. Lets hope for the best.

I don't necessarily agree that Donovan deserves as much blame for the Offensive woes that existed prior to 2016. Donovan was saddled with possibly the worst offensive line in PSU history and a QB with absolutely no pocket presence. That is a horrible combination. I believe Donovan's biggest mistake was not replacing Hackenberg with McSorley in Hackenberg's last season. That would have taken guts given Hackenberg's tangibles, reputation and Hackenberg's loyalty to the program, but, in hindsight, that is probably what needed to be done.

Moorhead stepped into the great situation with a rising star QB in McSorley who fit his system perfectly and Gesicki turning his game around after Donovan left.

 

[BBG65]

As already said in this thread, I believe the main reason for the offensive turnaround was the transition from Hackenberg to McSorley, plus some improvement in the OL. I don't think a lot of people realize just how bad of a college QB Hack was.

 

[Obliviax]

As already said in this thread, I believe the main reason for the offensive turnaround was the transition from Hackenberg to McSorley, plus some improvement in the OL. I don't think a lot of people realize just how bad of a college QB Hack was.

So bad he was drafted in the second round! And if not then, he'd have been gone by the end of the third.

Donovan was fired minutes after the final game of the season. That should tell you all you need to know about Donovan. At the same time, we had an OL that blocked each other and allowed a sack on a two man rush by Temple.

McS played well against GA, but it was after GA was in a prevent defense. How often do we see 2nd team QB's excel when the game is all but over? (I'll answer that, a lot) I'd also say that Hack was a really good QB in his Fr and Soph season that regressed. That is about coaching.

No question Hack is not suited for JoeMo's offense and it was good for everyone that he declared for the draft.

 

[Howie'81]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

Great post! You are exactly right!

 

[LafayetteBear]

Moorhead did a good job, but it's now next man up. Franklin can presumably offer his next OC a pretty competitive salary, and the opportunity to be OC at Penn State is a pretty good opportunity. Moorhead is evidence of that.

 

[LionDeNittany]

So bad he was drafted in the second round! And if not then, he'd have been gone by the end of the third.

Donovan was fired minutes after the final game of the season. That should tell you all you need to know about Donovan. At the same time, we had an OL that blocked each other and allowed a sack on a two man rush by Temple.

McS played well against GA, but it was after GA was in a prevent defense. How often do we see 2nd team QB's excel when the game is all but over? (I'll answer that, a lot) I'd also say that Hack was a really good QB in his Fr and Soph season that regressed. That is about coaching.

No question Hack is not suited for JoeMo's offense and it was good for everyone that he declared for the draft.

Jets obviously made a mistake.

I was listening to the radio the other day and they had a scout talking about Hack. He said something about his production his first year vs. his other seasons. Mentioned everything from coaching to system.

Interestingly (and this was in Jacksonville) nothing about Allen Robinson.

Several people were wrong about Hack... some of us were right.

LdN

 

[WPB_lion]

So bad he was drafted in the second round! And if not then, he'd have been gone by the end of the third.

Donovan was fired minutes after the final game of the season. That should tell you all you need to know about Donovan. At the same time, we had an OL that blocked each other and allowed a sack on a two man rush by Temple.

McS played well against GA, but it was after GA was in a prevent defense. How often do we see 2nd team QB's excel when the game is all but over? (I'll answer that, a lot) I'd also say that Hack was a really good QB in his Fr and Soph season that regressed. That is about coaching.

No question Hack is not suited for JoeMo's offense and it was good for everyone that he declared for the draft.

Hackenberg was drafted where he was drafted purely based on his tangibles and the hope that it was bad coaching that resulted in his poor performance in his last two (2) seasons. However, it appears that NFL coaching has not solved the problem.

Hackenberg was good when he had protection. However, he was horrible when the protection broke down. Not just bad, horrible. He had no pocket presence and his mechanics went to sh!t the minute he felt pressure. McSorely is 1000 times better than Hackenberg when the protection breaks down. Unfortunately for Hackenberg and PSU, the protection broke down constantly during his last 2 seasons. IMO and with the benefit of hindsight, McSorely would have faired better than Hackenberg in Hackenberg's last year with the team and should have been given the opportunity.

 

[marshall23]

So bad he was drafted in the second round! And if not then, he'd have been gone by the end of the third.

Donovan was fired minutes after the final game of the season. That should tell you all you need to know about Donovan. At the same time, we had an OL that blocked each other and allowed a sack on a two man rush by Temple.

McS played well against GA, but it was after GA was in a prevent defense. How often do we see 2nd team QB's excel when the game is all but over? (I'll answer that, a lot) I'd also say that Hack was a really good QB in his Fr and Soph season that regressed. That is about coaching.

No question Hack is not suited for JoeMo's offense and it was good for everyone that he declared for the draft.

Do you think in hindsight the Jets made a good choice?

 

[HazletonLion]

When Franklin hired Joe, it wasn't 6 months into the program that the talking heads were saying Joe would be a head coach at another program within 3 years. They were right, Kudos to Coach Franklin.

 

[jimjim47]

Franklin looked at all of the analytics about the best offense to run, realized he wanted to run a RPO heavy, 3 WR offense, then went out and found the guy who specialized in that.

The only thing that is going to shut up these people is time. Reading idiotic responses from Michigan fans, who of course have learned nothing from their over confidence last off season. Just because Harbaugh is his own OC and calls his own plays, that means that he is smart and Franklin is dumb? Do you want your CEO cutting the AP checks, opening the mail? Is that the best thing for the organization? Yay, Harbaugh calls the plays. You know how many recruiting screw ups they have had since he's been the coach? Sending out mail with names misspelled, thanking recruits for visiting when they weren't there, it goes on and on and on. That is a sloppy organization, because your head coach is too involved with just the offense. Franklin has built a tremendous organization, and he will continue to bring in talented coaches and support personnel and we will continue to be better than Michigan.

Larry Appleton
MGoPoints: 8459

OT: Joe Moorhead to be named HC at Miss State
Per Brett McMurphy on the Twitters. May James Franklin’s career now shrivel up die.


war-dawg69
MGoPoints: 2525

Have to give credit where it is due and psu had the best QB in the big ten. If he is leaving and moorhead they won't be a tough out and we will be returning the ass whoopin. I personally feel we should and will be undefeated next year so I had us beating them anyways, but they surely are not going to be as good. Is there QB leaving also?.


1VaBlue1
MGoPoints: 15986

I work with a PSU alum that truely [sic] believes Franklin is brains behind that whole operation...


Term
MGoPoints: 608

Good, now everyone can remember how terrible James Franklin is

"we will continue to be better than Michigan"
13-8
2-1 Harbaugh vs Franklin

 

[LaJolla Lion]

"we will continue to be better than Michigan"
13-8
2-1 Harbaugh vs Franklin

Last 2 years...who has finished higher with a better record? UMD beat PSU coming off the sanctions too...congrats there.

 

[Obliviax]

Do you think in hindsight the Jets made a good choice?

I think NFL and college qbing are two vastly different animals.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Do you think in hindsight the Jets made a good choice?

No. He had accuracy issues while in college. If you are not accurate, you cannot play in the NFL. The kid was a warrior for PSU, took a beating, and came during the darkest hour...glad he is collecting good coin, but yes...the Jets reached there.

 

[Obliviax]

Hackenberg was drafted where he was drafted purely based on his tangibles and the hope that it was bad coaching that resulted in his poor performance in his last two (2) seasons. However, it appears that NFL coaching has not solved the problem.

Hackenberg was good when he had protection. However, he was horrible when the protection broke down. Not just bad, horrible. He had no pocket presence and his mechanics went to sh!t the minute he felt pressure. McSorely is 1000 times better than Hackenberg when the protection breaks down. Unfortunately for Hackenberg and PSU, the protection broke down constantly during his last 2 seasons. IMO and with the benefit of hindsight, McSorely would have faired better than Hackenberg in Hackenberg's last year with the team and should have been given the opportunity.

'hackenberg was good when he had protection'. That is called coaching, recruiting and player development. And, of note, was sanctions cutting off access to good lineman to support a five star quarterback.

 

[VaLion'92]

Who is saying that?

I'm of the firm belief that Hack leaving is what saved us... partly due to his play and partly because we had a QB that fit the system.

I haven't seen many people say Moorhead saved us, on this board at least.

Trace, even with IMO a slight step back this year, is who saved us.

LdN

Fans of opposing teams, that's who. Like Michigan, like Pitt. We're now doomed w/o JM according to them!

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Fans of opposing teams, that's who. Like Michigan, like Pitt. We're now doomed w/o JM according to them!

You mean the same schools that thought they would capitalize on a bad situation at PSU,,,didn't, and still haven't done a thing since then. LOL

 

[PeetzPoolBoy]

Do you think in hindsight the Jets made a good choice?

If I remember correctly, it was Jon Gruden who was touting Hack as a high 1st Round pick. The Jets just happened to listen to JG.

 

[marshall23]

If I remember correctly, it was Jon Gruden who was touting Hack as a high 1st Round pick. The Jets just happened to listen to JG.

Gruden does a segment where he works out and "evaluates" QBs for ESPN. I don't know if you are referring to that ....but that's just entertainment. I doubt Gruden would have wasted a first round pick on Hack if he were HC or GM. I think everyone has to wake up to the fact that sooner or later, excuses run out.......as do chances in the NFL...not for long.....if you don't produce.

 

[Judge Smails]

"we will continue to be better than Michigan"
13-8
2-1 Harbaugh vs Franklin

Penn State 3 Big Ten titles since Michigan won their last one 14 years ago.

 

[marshall23]

Yep Michigan's "golden era" Bo....5-10 in bowl games. LOL

 

[Obliviax]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

 

[Phil's Rug]

"we will continue to be better than Michigan"
13-8
2-1 Harbaugh vs Franklin

 

[VaNtyLion]

is that people keep saying how HE saved Franklin and how HE brought us back. I am sorry, but, Franklin brought us back not Moorhead.

Franklin as President and CEO essentially went out and found Moorhead. He knew that a change was needed and he made the decision to fire Donovan. Nobody else was looking at Moorhead and Franklin found him. Franklin gave him the keys to the offense and we got the results.

But everyone saying Moorhead brought us back, and there are plenty of people saying that, really irks me. I don't want to diminish his accomplishments as a coach, because he was spectacular, but Franklin, not Moorhead brought us back.

I trust in Franklin to go out and find another stellar talent.

Thanks Coach Moorhead, you will do great things down in Mississippi.

I think a few things hold true:

1 - If you put Moorhead in charge of an offense with Hackenburg at the helm and an OL such as the one Franklin inherited in year 1 and year 2, there is about zero chance JoMo does THAT much better in terms of results.

2 - Related to 1, Moorhead's success was greatly enhanced by McSorely's arrival on the scene. It's going to sound like slamming Hack but I think a sense of loyalty from Franklin in honoring Hack's commitment to the program made it very hard to sit him in favor of a QB that may have masked the OL issues more effectively.

3 - Great coaches - especially those of the CEO variety - are made great by decisions and evaluations made to surround themselves with the best people and match those people with the talent on hand. Xs and Os in a team game are not as complicated as people want to make them. Getting effective communicators and motivators for 18-22 yr olds is. Franklin is as good as anyone in this category.

Given where the program was at to where it has come in 4 years, there is absolutely no reason to doubt Franklin or his ability to keep this program at this level.

 

[Judge Smails]

Hackenberg was good when he had protection.

Well, sort of. I know there were stats out there showing he was two times as inaccurate on screen passes than the next most inaccurate quarterback. Those screen passes had nothing to do with a lack of protection.

 

[ACGT]

And don't forget it's easier to be an offensive genius when you have better players....the players Franklin brought in.

I recently heard or read that JMo had final say on all offensive side players offers. Wish I could remember where it was. Having said that, I agree that Franklin brought the players in and I expect continued quality results.

 

[Mudge1026]

'hackenberg was good when he had protection'. That is called coaching, recruiting and player development. And, of note, was sanctions cutting off access to good lineman to support a five star quarterback.

Ha ha! To funny!