As always, James Franklin's paraphrased answers on the highlights from his Thursday night radio show. If anything needs further explication, please just let me know.
Week in review:
Has been a really good week. Preparation has been really good. And it looks like they’re going to get a few guys back. Will have a better idea. Players are with trainers right now and tomorrow morning is the deciding factor to whether or not they get some of these guys back.
Hobbies outside of football:
Loves his family, loves football, loves opportunity at Penn State, and loves music. Turns on music first thing in the morning. R&B from the 90s. Sits there and organizes his thoughts. Too competitive to play golf. Doesn’t want to spend four hours to make himself miserable.
Indiana’s Nate Sudfeld:
Hearing he’s going to play. What makes it challenging is that their backup couldn’t be any more different from Sudfeld. Sudfeld doesn’t scramble. Diamont does. Have had to spend time preparing for both this week. Was shocked when he didn’t come back in the second half of Ohio State. Same for their running back.
Players that maximize opportunity at PSU:
So many guys are like that at Penn State. With 125 guys and 85 scholarships, there’s a lot of that. Von Walker sticks out to you. Could list 15 guys like that. They’re the guys he enjoys working with the most. Tries whenever he can to single those guys out and talk about their commitment and sacrifices. It’s the guy that works for four years to get an opportunity to play, never plays, and still has unreal attitude and brings value to the team. Often they quit late in their careers because they think they’re not making impact, but they are. It’s not about touchdowns, it’s about sacrificing for teammates and brothers. Always trying to teach them to prepare as if they’re the starter. Scout team DT is just as important to have success as starting QB. The guys have embraced that. Guys that can figure out a way to have fun. You’re going to do the work. No matter what. For the rest of your life you have to do jobs you don’t love, but you need ability to grind through work and have fun doing it. People that figure that out are most successful.
Thoughts on the short passing game:
Is a fan of being able to line up and run the ball down someone’s throat, even when they know you’re going to do it. Is an advocate of dropping back and throwing it over defenses head for huge game. Wants to be able to do it all and really keep D on toes. Four or five weeks ago, said they would have to play a style to allow OL to grow and develop. Not sexiest football. Have done that and found way to get wins. Now everyone is saying to get back to having fun and taking some risks, and he gets that. Indiana might force that. Last week, they were the fourth ranked run defense in the country. Need to be more aggressive. It’s that point. And on top of that, defense forces you to do that.
Johnathan Thomas:
He is a running back who had some injuries. Everyone is excited about him. He’s a mauler. Will lower shoulder and try to hurt you. There was a buzz in the program about him last year. Last year in those developmental scrimmages, he wore everyone out. Just now starting to feel like they can work him back in. Sharp kid, sharp family. Excited to see him grow. Same for Nick Scott. Would be nice to have some of these other guys step up as well.
Game day depth:
Have played 21 freshmen this year. There’s been some growing pains, but sees them gaining confidence and maturity. Hoping those young players are no longer young players anymore. Sees that confidence and experience coming through. From RBs to receivers to DBs, it’s exciting watching those guys. That’s going to be important. It’s trust both ways. Have some players they feel like there’s no doubt. Have a safety that could play from an ability standpoint, but doesn’t think he can handle it from a maturity standpoint. Concerned academically too. Has to be the whole package. Freshman football players that are talented, going against juniors and seniors, it’s different. You can be the most talented in the world, it’s still night and day.
Saquon Barkley:
Isn’t sure if he’ll play. He did practice all week long. He’s not 100 percent. And that’s what they have to decide right now, what percentage is he. If he plays this week and is 85 percent, but by playing this week he’s at 80 percent next week, or not play him this week and he’s 100 percent next week. That’s the balancing act. He practiced at a “limited” level. Friday is a walk through for them. Will see where he’s at. Barkley told Franklin he could have played second half, and all of last week. Likes that mentality.
Week in review:
Has been a really good week. Preparation has been really good. And it looks like they’re going to get a few guys back. Will have a better idea. Players are with trainers right now and tomorrow morning is the deciding factor to whether or not they get some of these guys back.
Hobbies outside of football:
Loves his family, loves football, loves opportunity at Penn State, and loves music. Turns on music first thing in the morning. R&B from the 90s. Sits there and organizes his thoughts. Too competitive to play golf. Doesn’t want to spend four hours to make himself miserable.
Indiana’s Nate Sudfeld:
Hearing he’s going to play. What makes it challenging is that their backup couldn’t be any more different from Sudfeld. Sudfeld doesn’t scramble. Diamont does. Have had to spend time preparing for both this week. Was shocked when he didn’t come back in the second half of Ohio State. Same for their running back.
Players that maximize opportunity at PSU:
So many guys are like that at Penn State. With 125 guys and 85 scholarships, there’s a lot of that. Von Walker sticks out to you. Could list 15 guys like that. They’re the guys he enjoys working with the most. Tries whenever he can to single those guys out and talk about their commitment and sacrifices. It’s the guy that works for four years to get an opportunity to play, never plays, and still has unreal attitude and brings value to the team. Often they quit late in their careers because they think they’re not making impact, but they are. It’s not about touchdowns, it’s about sacrificing for teammates and brothers. Always trying to teach them to prepare as if they’re the starter. Scout team DT is just as important to have success as starting QB. The guys have embraced that. Guys that can figure out a way to have fun. You’re going to do the work. No matter what. For the rest of your life you have to do jobs you don’t love, but you need ability to grind through work and have fun doing it. People that figure that out are most successful.
Thoughts on the short passing game:
Is a fan of being able to line up and run the ball down someone’s throat, even when they know you’re going to do it. Is an advocate of dropping back and throwing it over defenses head for huge game. Wants to be able to do it all and really keep D on toes. Four or five weeks ago, said they would have to play a style to allow OL to grow and develop. Not sexiest football. Have done that and found way to get wins. Now everyone is saying to get back to having fun and taking some risks, and he gets that. Indiana might force that. Last week, they were the fourth ranked run defense in the country. Need to be more aggressive. It’s that point. And on top of that, defense forces you to do that.
Johnathan Thomas:
He is a running back who had some injuries. Everyone is excited about him. He’s a mauler. Will lower shoulder and try to hurt you. There was a buzz in the program about him last year. Last year in those developmental scrimmages, he wore everyone out. Just now starting to feel like they can work him back in. Sharp kid, sharp family. Excited to see him grow. Same for Nick Scott. Would be nice to have some of these other guys step up as well.
Game day depth:
Have played 21 freshmen this year. There’s been some growing pains, but sees them gaining confidence and maturity. Hoping those young players are no longer young players anymore. Sees that confidence and experience coming through. From RBs to receivers to DBs, it’s exciting watching those guys. That’s going to be important. It’s trust both ways. Have some players they feel like there’s no doubt. Have a safety that could play from an ability standpoint, but doesn’t think he can handle it from a maturity standpoint. Concerned academically too. Has to be the whole package. Freshman football players that are talented, going against juniors and seniors, it’s different. You can be the most talented in the world, it’s still night and day.
Saquon Barkley:
Isn’t sure if he’ll play. He did practice all week long. He’s not 100 percent. And that’s what they have to decide right now, what percentage is he. If he plays this week and is 85 percent, but by playing this week he’s at 80 percent next week, or not play him this week and he’s 100 percent next week. That’s the balancing act. He practiced at a “limited” level. Friday is a walk through for them. Will see where he’s at. Barkley told Franklin he could have played second half, and all of last week. Likes that mentality.
