Penn State head coach James Franklin was a talkative man Tuesday afternoon.
Meeting with the media for the final time for a formal press conference during the 2017 regular season, the Nittany Lions' head man talked Thanksgiving plans, a few personnel notes, and, oh yeah, Maryland.
Let's knock out some of the pertinent news and notes from the session, here:
1) Maybe the most immediate and pressing topic for Franklin to address was his linebacker Manny Bowen and special teams specialist Irv Charles and their availability for this weekend.
Bowen, he said, will again not be available and Charles will be a game time decision. Both have been suspended due to unspecified violations of team rules.
Additionally, Franklin reiterated the note that senior safety Troy Apke will not be available in the first half of the Maryland game due to his targeting ejection Saturday against Nebraska.
2) Speaking of Nebraska, Franklin again talked about some of the challenges of finishing out a game and how to handle a second half when you've got a 32-point advantage heading to the halftime locker room. Substituting backups for starters, Franklin said those backups did not live up to the standards the program expects in those circumstances, but nonetheless provided valuable experience to those players that are soon likely to make a big impact.
"Obviously with eight minutes left in the game, we had 283 yards, 24 points and six explosives, then things changed," said Franklin. "I still kind of struggle with what that answer is. You leave your ones in, you're jeopardizing injuries, people say you're running up the score. You put your twos in, people score a lot of points. You get angry text messages from people who have been drinking and the spread got messed up probably for them.
"I do think there's a lot of value. We have a bunch of young players, a lot of experience. We didn't play up to our standard with the young players. They're playing against the ones from the other team. That's a challenging thing. I know the most important thing for us is the guys that go on the field, whoever they are, they have to play up to our standards."
3) Looking ahead to Maryland, Franklin broke down the major notes in all three phases of the game that his Nittany Lions will be focusing on.
Offensively, Franklin highlighted the Terps' no-huddle, tempo, check with me, run-pass option system. Noting that they're multiple, Franklin also said counters, split-zones, smoke and mirrors, screens and shots downfield are all parts of the equation when dealing with Maryland. Wideout D.J. Moore, and running backs Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson are three players to watch.
Defensively the Terps run a 3-4 that can slide to a four-down front. "Experienced, disciplined, athletic," said Franklin. "They're going to play cover three, some variations of cover one. Pressure, 29% over all, 57% on third down. Then they kind of got a guy at each level that we have to spend some time on."
Defensive lineman Cavon Walker, linebacker Jermaine Carter and DB Darnell Savage all earned props from Franklin as players to be concerned about.
4) A week without academic classes does not necessarily mean the Nittany Lions' schedule will change this week.
Enjoying their typical off day Monday, the Nittany Lions reconvened to participate in community service today before practice, then will hold practice this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon, as well as Thursday morning before celebrating Thanksgiving in the afternoon and evening.
"At Thanksgiving, a lot of guys are going to their position coaches. Then I have a number of young staff members that don't have families that are coming to my house. Got probably about five or six players that are coming to my house," said Franklin. "I probably have another four or five players that their families were going to come up, they were going to go to a restaurant after practice, come to our team meal. I just said, doesn't make sense to go to a restaurant, come to my house. I think I have four players and their families coming, which I think is awesome.
"I want them to understand what Thanksgivings are like at the Franklins. I don't want them to come up dressed up and formal. It is sleep, it is eat, it is watch football, fall asleep on the couch, play ping-pong, board games, pool, eat, sleep, rotate the rest of the day. I'm hoping that they'll come and slobber on my couch and eat turkey and just chill because to me it's just about family and about spending quality time with each other and taking a time to be thankful for all the blessings that we do have, so... That's the plan."
The Nittany Lions will then travel to Maryland Friday before taking on the Terrapins for their final regular season game of the 2017 season.
5) Lamont Wade, a favorite talking point here in the Den, also came up Tuesday in Franklin's press conference.
Saying that Wade's greatest strength is his confidence and competitive nature, Franklin said he's had some really good moments and others that need improvement. But, the key quote is likely as follows:
"But, you know, I think I have told you guys before, I think playing offensive tackle and corner at this level are probably the two hardest positions, as well as quarterback with all the other responsibilities that are on there," said Franklin. Probably the three toughest positions to play in college football of the you're basically trying to cover the best athlete on the other side of the field in space, and you're not the one, you know, that's making the decisions, you're reacting to somebody else's decisions, which makes it even harder."
So, with that in mind, Franklin is still perfectly optimistic about Wade's future with the Nittany Lions in spite of some of the challenges exposed Saturday night against Nebraska.
"I'm pleased with him. But the exciting thing is he's got a lot of football left ahead of him," said Franklin. "There's definitely some areas, I think challenging at the line of scrimmage is something he can do better to get people off balance. In high school, guys could just rely on their speed and things like that. That's not going to work at this level. But I could say that for a lot of these guys."
Bonus) Following Franklin, Penn State players Marcus Allen and quarterback Trace McSorley took questions. One of the interesting pieces to emerge from their Q&As was their comments regarding some of the scout team players that have been impressive this season.
Jonathan Sutherland, Daniel Joseph and Journey Brown all earned props.
"Every time is a scrimmage, I always just get him hyped," Allen said of Sutherland. "I'll be, like, Here come the choo-choo train, choo-choo. He hit like a train. He's really physical. That's what I love about him. He's very, like, just consistent in tackling. He makes plays in the passing game. That's what impresses me the most. He's very mature for his age, as well. I'm pretty sure you're going to hear his name next year. I'm just excited for you guys to see him, see what he can do, because I already know, I already seen it."
Meeting with the media for the final time for a formal press conference during the 2017 regular season, the Nittany Lions' head man talked Thanksgiving plans, a few personnel notes, and, oh yeah, Maryland.
Let's knock out some of the pertinent news and notes from the session, here:
1) Maybe the most immediate and pressing topic for Franklin to address was his linebacker Manny Bowen and special teams specialist Irv Charles and their availability for this weekend.
Bowen, he said, will again not be available and Charles will be a game time decision. Both have been suspended due to unspecified violations of team rules.
Additionally, Franklin reiterated the note that senior safety Troy Apke will not be available in the first half of the Maryland game due to his targeting ejection Saturday against Nebraska.
2) Speaking of Nebraska, Franklin again talked about some of the challenges of finishing out a game and how to handle a second half when you've got a 32-point advantage heading to the halftime locker room. Substituting backups for starters, Franklin said those backups did not live up to the standards the program expects in those circumstances, but nonetheless provided valuable experience to those players that are soon likely to make a big impact.
"Obviously with eight minutes left in the game, we had 283 yards, 24 points and six explosives, then things changed," said Franklin. "I still kind of struggle with what that answer is. You leave your ones in, you're jeopardizing injuries, people say you're running up the score. You put your twos in, people score a lot of points. You get angry text messages from people who have been drinking and the spread got messed up probably for them.
"I do think there's a lot of value. We have a bunch of young players, a lot of experience. We didn't play up to our standard with the young players. They're playing against the ones from the other team. That's a challenging thing. I know the most important thing for us is the guys that go on the field, whoever they are, they have to play up to our standards."
3) Looking ahead to Maryland, Franklin broke down the major notes in all three phases of the game that his Nittany Lions will be focusing on.
Offensively, Franklin highlighted the Terps' no-huddle, tempo, check with me, run-pass option system. Noting that they're multiple, Franklin also said counters, split-zones, smoke and mirrors, screens and shots downfield are all parts of the equation when dealing with Maryland. Wideout D.J. Moore, and running backs Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson are three players to watch.
Defensively the Terps run a 3-4 that can slide to a four-down front. "Experienced, disciplined, athletic," said Franklin. "They're going to play cover three, some variations of cover one. Pressure, 29% over all, 57% on third down. Then they kind of got a guy at each level that we have to spend some time on."
Defensive lineman Cavon Walker, linebacker Jermaine Carter and DB Darnell Savage all earned props from Franklin as players to be concerned about.
4) A week without academic classes does not necessarily mean the Nittany Lions' schedule will change this week.
Enjoying their typical off day Monday, the Nittany Lions reconvened to participate in community service today before practice, then will hold practice this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon, as well as Thursday morning before celebrating Thanksgiving in the afternoon and evening.
"At Thanksgiving, a lot of guys are going to their position coaches. Then I have a number of young staff members that don't have families that are coming to my house. Got probably about five or six players that are coming to my house," said Franklin. "I probably have another four or five players that their families were going to come up, they were going to go to a restaurant after practice, come to our team meal. I just said, doesn't make sense to go to a restaurant, come to my house. I think I have four players and their families coming, which I think is awesome.
"I want them to understand what Thanksgivings are like at the Franklins. I don't want them to come up dressed up and formal. It is sleep, it is eat, it is watch football, fall asleep on the couch, play ping-pong, board games, pool, eat, sleep, rotate the rest of the day. I'm hoping that they'll come and slobber on my couch and eat turkey and just chill because to me it's just about family and about spending quality time with each other and taking a time to be thankful for all the blessings that we do have, so... That's the plan."
The Nittany Lions will then travel to Maryland Friday before taking on the Terrapins for their final regular season game of the 2017 season.
5) Lamont Wade, a favorite talking point here in the Den, also came up Tuesday in Franklin's press conference.
Saying that Wade's greatest strength is his confidence and competitive nature, Franklin said he's had some really good moments and others that need improvement. But, the key quote is likely as follows:
"But, you know, I think I have told you guys before, I think playing offensive tackle and corner at this level are probably the two hardest positions, as well as quarterback with all the other responsibilities that are on there," said Franklin. Probably the three toughest positions to play in college football of the you're basically trying to cover the best athlete on the other side of the field in space, and you're not the one, you know, that's making the decisions, you're reacting to somebody else's decisions, which makes it even harder."
So, with that in mind, Franklin is still perfectly optimistic about Wade's future with the Nittany Lions in spite of some of the challenges exposed Saturday night against Nebraska.
"I'm pleased with him. But the exciting thing is he's got a lot of football left ahead of him," said Franklin. "There's definitely some areas, I think challenging at the line of scrimmage is something he can do better to get people off balance. In high school, guys could just rely on their speed and things like that. That's not going to work at this level. But I could say that for a lot of these guys."
Bonus) Following Franklin, Penn State players Marcus Allen and quarterback Trace McSorley took questions. One of the interesting pieces to emerge from their Q&As was their comments regarding some of the scout team players that have been impressive this season.
Jonathan Sutherland, Daniel Joseph and Journey Brown all earned props.
"Every time is a scrimmage, I always just get him hyped," Allen said of Sutherland. "I'll be, like, Here come the choo-choo train, choo-choo. He hit like a train. He's really physical. That's what I love about him. He's very, like, just consistent in tackling. He makes plays in the passing game. That's what impresses me the most. He's very mature for his age, as well. I'm pretty sure you're going to hear his name next year. I'm just excited for you guys to see him, see what he can do, because I already know, I already seen it."
