So much to unpack in this quote.....Franklin postgame

[BUCKSCOUNTYLION]

Q: On Thursday night, you said you put a lot of time into the running game, during the bye week and this past week, and that you felt comfortable with it. Can you put your finger on why it wasn't quite clicking again this game?
A: Again, I think the combination of guys that did not practice, a combination of a wet day, the threat of the past not being there, a limited Sean, all of it factored in. You can't go from heavy pass to heavy run in one week. You got to be able to be mixed and be balanced, and we weren't able to do that today.

.

 

[nits74]

If they haven't fixed the running game by now, it's not happening.

 

[Al_Tuna]

Beginning to realize why Yurcich wasn't retained at tOSU. He is not the answer for the OC position.

 

[mn78psu83]

Q: On Thursday night, you said you put a lot of time into the running game, during the bye week and this past week, and that you felt comfortable with it. Can you put your finger on why it wasn't quite clicking again this game?
A: Again, I think the combination of guys that did not practice, a combination of a wet day, the threat of the past not being there, a limited Sean, all of it factored in. You can't go from heavy pass to heavy run in one week. You got to be able to be mixed and be balanced, and we weren't able to do that today.

.

This doesn't cut it. It would have been better to have said that, "We failed and obviously have to improve. I and the staff from top to bottom take full responsibility." Something like that. I mean C'MON!

 

[psu2016]

Q: On Thursday night, you said you put a lot of time into the running game, during the bye week and this past week, and that you felt comfortable with it. Can you put your finger on why it wasn't quite clicking again this game?
A: Again, I think the combination of guys that did not practice, a combination of a wet day, the threat of the past not being there, a limited Sean, all of it factored in. You can't go from heavy pass to heavy run in one week. You got to be able to be mixed and be balanced, and we weren't able to do that today.

.

Takes some serious chutzpah to cite Clifford being limited when you made the decision to run him out there. And a wet day? Was Illinois playing on a dry field?

 

[BobPSU92]

Takes some serious chutzpah to cite Clifford being limited when you made the decision to run him out there. And a wet day? Was Illinois playing on a dry field?

I guess Franklin’s point was that we needed an effective passing game to loosen up Illinois’ defense and open up the run. With no passing threat due to Clifford’s limitations, Illinois could sell out on the run. We obviously don’t have the horses to run effectively against a defense selling out on the run.

It’s certainly fair to question the decision to play Clifford, but I have to believe the coaches still felt he was the best option. Maybe Clifford said he felt better than he actually did because he felt he needed to play. It’s all conjecture since we’re on the outside.

 

[mn78psu83]

Takes some serious chutzpah to cite Clifford being limited when you made the decision to run him out there. And a wet day? Was Illinois playing on a dry field?

Exactly. Bielema and his staff had a gameplan that gave his team the only chance they had to win. They executed it and won. PSU did not have a winning gameplan, did not execute, and lost. Do the players participate in the loss. Of course, but the head coach and leader of the team has to take responsibility and give credit to the other guy who had his team ready to play. The excuses are weak.

 

[diontechristmas]

Weak. Well coached teams improve as the year goes on. For example, OSU’s defense struggled early in the season and have improved quite a bit the last few weeks. The PSU offense continues to be underwhelming.

 

[jjw165]

Q: On Thursday night, you said you put a lot of time into the running game, during the bye week and this past week, and that you felt comfortable with it. Can you put your finger on why it wasn't quite clicking again this game?
A: Again, I think the combination of guys that did not practice, a combination of a wet day, the threat of the past not being there, a limited Sean, all of it factored in. You can't go from heavy pass to heavy run in one week. You got to be able to be mixed and be balanced, and we weren't able to do that today.

.

So, Franklin couldn’t even take responsibility and simply say, “We weren’t ready to play and I am responsible for today’s loss. It starts with me.”
He’s 9-7 in the last 16 games and soon to be 9-8 next week. Mediocrity seems to be back again. I’m afraid that James gave us his best already.

 

[AWS1022]

Weak. Well coached teams improve as the year goes on. For example, OSU’s defense struggled early in the season and have improved quite a bit the last few weeks. The PSU offense continues to be underwhelming.

It’s pretty tough for OSU to improve, I mean they have to decide which of their gazillion five stars they have to play. Coaching brilliance.

 

[BBrown]

Q: On Thursday night, you said you put a lot of time into the running game, during the bye week and this past week, and that you felt comfortable with it. Can you put your finger on why it wasn't quite clicking again this game?
A: Again, I think the combination of guys that did not practice, a combination of a wet day, the threat of the past not being there, a limited Sean, all of it factored in. You can't go from heavy pass to heavy run in one week. You got to be able to be mixed and be balanced, and we weren't able to do that today.

.

Ummm James YOU were the one who decided to split reps during the week because you obviously have no faith in the backups, who by the way YOU recruited.
And WTF Franklin, the weather? yea it certainly sucked for us sitting in the stands but being that you are from PA I would have though you might notice the weather is not always favorable. Its one of the reasons why your complete reliance on "chunk plays" doesn't always work.

 

[BUCKSCOUNTYLION]

Yes, the players deserve the blame yesterday too. Despite the poor coaching and game plan, I can count about 3-4 situations on the top of my head if a player just executed his job correctly....we win.

 

[PearlSUJam]

Ummm James YOU were the one who decided to split reps during the week because you obviously have no faith in the backups, who by the way YOU recruited.
And WTF Franklin, the weather? yea it certainly sucked for us sitting in the stands but being that you are from PA I would have though you might notice the weather is not always favorable. Its one of the reasons why your complete reliance on "chunk plays" doesn't always work.

He said a week when it was actually two. Seems he got caught game planning for tOSU.

 

[PAgeologist]

Beginning to realize why Yurcich wasn't retained at tOSU. He is not the answer for the OC position.

I'm not so sure. He came in to here and was handed a garbage OL and a backup QB that can't run anything despite being in the program 3 years.

This team has an awful lot of problems that fall on Franklin's lap. The game plan should have been similar to what ILL did. With TR at QB, run heavy offense, limit TR to 10-12 throws. But they can't because the OL is soft and can't run block. The RBs rarely make anyone miss. The RB rotation many times doesn't make any sense. I don't think any RB saw the field in any OT besides Cain. The one RB who has shown all year he can't get the tough yards.

This team is soft physically and mentally. Bielama publicly challenged his team and they responded. Franklin would never do that. And if he did, I don't think we see a similar result as ILL did.

They had 2 weeks to get this team ready to play a 2-5 ILL. We got a flat performance. And instead of giving SC another week to heal he got the piss beat out of him just in time to play OSU.

Most of these issues are constant under Franklin regardless of who the OC is.

 

[BobPSU92]

So, Franklin couldn’t even take responsibility and simply say, “We weren’t ready to play and I am responsible for today’s loss. It starts with me.”
He’s 9-7 in the last 16 games and soon to be 9-8 next week. Mediocrity seems to be back again. I’m afraid that James gave us his best already.

I thought he did say something to that effect during the post-game press conference. We’re only seeing an answer to one post-game question here.

 

[Midnighter2]

Threat of the past? Or threat of the ‘pass’?

 

[4theglory54]

I thought SC looked pretty good the first couple of series, and probably looked as good during the game week's practice while absorbing no contact, leading the staff to give him the start. But after he took a couple of shots, especially the one where he sort of staggered getting up, he was essentially done for the day.

What particularly concerns me is the lack of physicality along the line of scrimmage on both O and D. It was glaringly obvious yesterday.

 

[BobPSU92]

So, Franklin couldn’t even take responsibility and simply say, “We weren’t ready to play and I am responsible for today’s loss. It starts with me.”
He’s 9-7 in the last 16 games and soon to be 9-8 next week. Mediocrity seems to be back again. I’m afraid that James gave us his best already.

I thought he did say something to that effect during the post-game press conference. We’re only seeing an answer to one post-game question here.

Last question, from dave jones, at around 6:10:

NN TV: James Franklin talks Illinois postgame

Penn State head coach James Franklin recaps his team's loss to Illinois.

bwi.rivals.com

 

[MacNit07]

Takes some serious chutzpah to cite Clifford being limited when you made the decision to run him out there. And a wet day? Was Illinois playing on a dry field?

It’s time

 

[jjw165]

Last question, from dave jones, at around 6:10:

NN TV: James Franklin talks Illinois postgame

Penn State head coach James Franklin recaps his team's loss to Illinois.

bwi.rivals.com

Thanks, he said it on the last question.

 

[HartfordLlion]

I guess Franklin’s point was that we needed an effective passing game to loosen up Illinois’ defense and open up the run. With no passing threat due to Clifford’s limitations, Illinois could sell out on the run. We obviously don’t have the horses to run effectively against a defense selling out on the run.

It’s certainly fair to question the decision to play Clifford, but I have to believe the coaches still felt he was the best option. Maybe Clifford said he felt better than he actually did because he felt he needed to play. It’s all conjecture since we’re on the outside.

Teams has sold out to stop the run all season long. Even when the number in the box scream run, we still can't do it. Yesterday we ran even when the numbers screamed pass and ended up with the obvious result.

You'd think by now CJF would have figured out who we are, we are a passing team, just do it and screw the run.

 

[BobPSU92]

Thanks, he said it on the last question.

Franklin got a lot of soft balls. dave jones is an insufferable f*ck-stick, but to his credit, he asked a hard, pointed question.

 

[MacNit07]

I thought SC looked pretty good the first couple of series, and probably looked as good during the game week's practice while absorbing no contact, leading the staff to give him the start. But after he took a couple of shots, especially the one where he sort of staggered getting up, he was essentially done for the day.

What particularly concerns me is the lack of physicality along the line of scrimmage on both O and D. It was glaringly obvious yesterday.

The lack of physicality is concering…has been for a number of years…though maybe the corner was finally turned - at least on D - at Wisconsin and Iowa…but yesterday was a new low in PSU football history…

 

[Nitt1300]

If they haven't fixed the running game by now, it's not happening.

exactly- do people really think that the staff didn't know there was a problem? if it was scheme or just a matter of starting someone else, it would have been fixed by now- we don't have the horses- not on the line, and not in the backfield

sometimes players aren't who you thought they were

 

[Cosmos]

Teams has sold out to stop the run all season long. Even when the number in the box scream run, we still can't do it. Yesterday we ran even when the numbers screamed pass and ended up with the obvious result.

You'd think by now CJF would have figured out who we are, we are a passing team, just do it and screw the run.

The fact of the matter is Franklin misjudged talent and mismanaged the depth chart. He's behind the eight ball is using the Transfer Portal to make up for said deficiencies, so now he's covering his @ss.

 

[psu2016]

I'm not so sure. He came in to here and was handed a garbage OL and a backup QB that can't run anything despite being in the program 3 years.

This team has an awful lot of problems that fall on Franklin's lap. The game plan should have been similar to what ILL did. With TR at QB, run heavy offense, limit TR to 10-12 throws. But they can't because the OL is soft and can't run block. The RBs rarely make anyone miss. The RB rotation many times doesn't make any sense. I don't think any RB saw the field in any OT besides Cain. The one RB who has shown all year he can't get the tough yards.

This team is soft physically and mentally. Bielama publicly challenged his team and they responded. Franklin would never do that. And if he did, I don't think we see a similar result as ILL did.

They had 2 weeks to get this team ready to play a 2-5 ILL. We got a flat performance. And instead of giving SC another week to heal he got the piss beat out of him just in time to play OSU.

Most of these issues are constant under Franklin regardless of who the OC is.

Don’t necessarily disagree about the RB rotation, but Lee got hurt early in the game and I don’t believe came back. Lovett completely whiffed on a block that led to a sack and I don’t think he came back after that. Ford was hurt vs. Iowa so maybe he wasn’t available. Think the coaches were somewhat forced to go with Cain in OT. Cannot believe he did not even try to extend the ball in the OT where he ended up at the half yard line

 

[PAgeologist]

exactly- do people really think that the staff didn't know there was a problem? if it was scheme or just a matter of starting someone else, it would have been fixed by now- we don't have the horses- not on the line, and not in the backfield

sometimes players aren't who you thought they were

Lee had a couple nice runs during the game, yet I don't think he saw the field in any OT. It's almost like he gets punished for having a little success. Or that's what Franklin's chart called for and substitutions be damned.

 

[Cosmos]

Last question, from dave jones, at around 6:10:

And the fatal shot occurred approximately 12 seconds into the Zapruder film. It does not encapsulate all of the events leading up to the shot.



Point being, Franklin was confident the team was ready. Trust what your eyes tell you. There's nothing to put into context here. Franklin is blowing smoke.

 

[PSUTENN1]

That entire post game presser had me asking “what planet is JF on?” It seemed like he took this loss to terrible team in stride. Like “so what”.

Why is this guy being paid 7.5 million a year? For what?

Sorry, he’s not “elite”, not even close. He’s lost.

 

[Nitt1300]

Lee had a couple nice runs during the game, yet I don't think he saw the field in any OT. It's almost like he gets punished for having a little success. Or that's what Franklin's chart called for and substitutions be damned.

I think Lee is the best of a very average group. If you don't have a good line OR a great back, it's hard to see the road to success- and I think that's where we're at.

 

[BobPSU92]

That entire post game presser had me asking “what planet is JF on?” It seemed like he took this loss to terrible team in stride. Like “so what”.

Why is this guy being paid 7.5 million a year? For what?

Sorry, he’s not “elite”, not even close. He’s lost.

From Franklin’s point of view, I don’t think there is any value in ranting or bashing himself to the press. It makes for good ratings, but I don’t think it helps him or the program. That said, the message and tone could be very different behind closed doors.

 

[tullfan68]

Q: On Thursday night, you said you put a lot of time into the running game, during the bye week and this past week, and that you felt comfortable with it. Can you put your finger on why it wasn't quite clicking again this game?
A: Again, I think the combination of guys that did not practice, a combination of a wet day, the threat of the past not being there, a limited Sean, all of it factored in. You can't go from heavy pass to heavy run in one week. You got to be able to be mixed and be balanced, and we weren't able to do that today.

.

yes and this week you couldnt do either one??

 

[emertmakeshiteup]

Even during this era of great athletes at QB, a lead footed QB that "understands" is offense, but more importantly, "sees" the field, is worth a 1,000,000 bucks! Not saying Cliff can't, however, just wondering how good he is at it? Indeed, very well may not be anyone on the bench better anyway!

 

[84Lion]

And the fatal shot occurred approximately 12 seconds into the Zapruder film. It does not encapsulate all of the events leading up to the shot.

View embedded media

Point being, Franklin was confident the team was ready. Trust what your eyes tell you. There's nothing to put into context here. Franklin is blowing smoke.

Unfortunately, "back and to the left" likely describes every Penn State offensive possession next week. (Run a bit left and lose two yards.) On the good side, at least it'll chew up clock if they don't go "uptempo."

And I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot about "physicality" from Captain Kirk during next week's game. Ugh.

 

[BBrown]

I thought SC looked pretty good the first couple of series, and probably looked as good during the game week's practice while absorbing no contact, leading the staff to give him the start. But after he took a couple of shots, especially the one where he sort of staggered getting up, he was essentially done for the day.

What particularly concerns me is the lack of physicality along the line of scrimmage on both O and D. It was glaringly obvious yesterday.

I didn't think he looked right from the start. I thought he had 1 excellent pass on the slant TD but most of the others were not very good. The one big one to Dotson should have been an int if not for a great play by Jahands. But yes Lovett got him killed on one bad missed block and the refs missed an obvious PF against him that would have changed the game and possibly the outcome.

 

[emertmakeshiteup]

One other point, (excuse if already made) dropped passes not Cliff's fault!

 

[Nitt1300]

From Franklin’s point of view, I don’t think there is any value in ranting or bashing himself to the press. It makes for good ratings, but I don’t think it helps him or the program. That said, the message and tone could be very different behind closed doors.

Telling the press- or fans what you really think is not smart or productive. He knows where the problems are, but hasn't been able to fix them-I doubt anyone can during the season.

 

[bvillebaron]

This doesn't cut it. It would have been better to have said that, "We failed and obviously have to improve. I and the staff from top to bottom take full responsibility." Something like that. I mean C'MON!

He said elsewhere that he didn’t have the team ready to play. Why don’t you call Franklin’s agent to see if they could hire you to tell him what to say after games. Geez

 

[Nittany_93]

Yes, the players deserve the blame yesterday too. Despite the poor coaching and game plan, I can count about 3-4 situations on the top of my head if a player just executed his job correctly....we win.

Certainly agree, missed FG, dropped balls, defensive TD taken away...
But there are ALWAYS such missed opportunities. I just wonder how bad the backup QBs are that a wounded Clifford who cannot run or pass or risk taking a hit was the best option, both short and long term.

 

[psu2016]

Telling the press- or fans what you really think is not smart or productive. He knows where the problems are, but hasn't been able to fix them-I doubt anyone can during the season.

So instead he blames the weather for the abysmal running game? When Illinois ran for over 300 and when we haven’t been able to run it all season. I guess it doesn’t really matter if he has a different attitude inside the locker room, but I worry that part of the reason we have such a soft team year in and year out is because these types of comments are reflective of Franklin’s true personality and coaching style.