Undoubtedly by now, you’ve heard Head Coach James Franklin say it 1001 times: “We’re focusing on going 1-0 this week. We’re focusing on beating… (insert week’s opponent).” And this past weekend’s media day proved that, despite stunning the Big Ten and winning the conference last year, the team isn’t worried about higher aspirations thank defeating Akron on September 2.
Franklin fielded his first question of the open media day after a brief opening monologue that asked if anything changed this offseason coming off an 11-3 record as opposed to two seasons ago when the team finished 7-6. Franklin responded by saying, “Last year’s success or last year’s record should not impact us. I’m challenging everybody in our organization to go back to day one as if they’ve never heard the offense, defense, or special teams installed.”
While the team returns a majority of its key components, including both quarterback and running back, as well as both special team starters, James Franklin wants his team to realize that last year doesn’t mean anything and every team in the Big Ten will be gunning for the Nittany Lions as they get set to defend their title. He understands that his young team winning the conference last season added growth and maturity along the way, but he stressed the importance of one game at a time. The team is still going to have to come out and execute each game as if they won no games at all last season. In preparing this way, Franklin has set his practices up in such a way that the team is able to attack their weaknesses instead of simply adding to their strengths.
While this was a board question served up to Franklin to get the press conference started, the tougher questions soon followed. Franklin was almost immediately grilled on the secondary situation, one which has some question marks after the injury to star cornerback John Reid. Franklin was frank, no pun intended, with reporters in saying that while Reid is continually working to get back on the football field, he is currently in Portland, Oregon working an internship for Intel. Franklin stressed that Reid is studying film daily and rehabing his leg in order to maximize his down time. He is in constant communication with defensive backs coach Terry Smith discussing formations he sees on the tape. But studying tape and rehabbing your injury thousands of miles away from State College don’t bode well for a return to the field this season. Without being outright in saying Reid won’t play this year, the assumption is that he’ll be getting a medical redshirt for the season in order to not blow a year of eligibility.
In hinting at Reid not playing corner back this season, Franklin pulled a very traditional James Franklin-ism. You see, I’ve picked up over the years of his coaching tenure at Penn State, when Franklin isn’t happy with a certain question, or feels he doesn’t want to give away too much information, he goes into a long, name calling banter. And I don’t mean vulgar language directed at someone. What I mean is, when he’s asked about a certain position, he simply spits out a ton of names who could have any impact on that particular spot. In lieu of Reid this season, Franklin mentioned the growth and maturity of a handful of defensive backs that could step up. Of course, Grant Haley and Christian Campbell will likely get the first crack at the start jobs as veterans on the roster. But that doesn’t mean the position will be their’s to keep so easily. Redshirt Amani Oruwariye has reportedly caught Franklin eye throughout the offseason, and newcomer Tariq Castro-Fields is a young gun that Franklin thinks the world of. Franklin said, “He’s a guy that, of the freshmen, I think right away is kind of making an argument that he’s going to factor in.”
Moving to the offensive side of the ball, Franklin fielded a question that, to most, meant nothing, but to the head coach, got him excited. Franklin was asked about the battle for the third quarterback spot, of course behind incumbent start Trace McSorley and backup Tommy Stevens, who saw action in blowout games last season. He told the media that this positional battle is, “Probably one of the more interesting story lines for the coaches.”
Ideally, the Nittany Lions would be happy if sophomore Jake Zembiec could beat out incoming freshman Sean Clifford for the third spot, allowing the team to redshirt Clifford this season, preserving a year of eligibility. But Franklin said the battle still could swing in Clifford’s favor, which would put him ahead of Zembiec on the depth chart. But that coveted third spot on the depth chart, if Clifford were to take it, may be nothing more than a place holder. Franklin told the media if Clifford were to beat out Zembiec, he still may not play. Franklin said, “If you get in a situation where you get an opportunity to get your number three in the game, we may do what we did with Trace, where we actually put the number four guy in the game to be able to redshirt the other guy, depending how that plays out.”
So why is the battle so important, then, if Zembiec would likely get action before Clifford regardless of depth chart? Franklin said the depth chart experience will teach the young players, especially the quarterbacks, patience. Of course, only one quarterback is on the field at any given time, and guys that are buried in the depth chart aren’t likely to see any action. Franklin said that now that the team is back to its full plethora of scholarships, this will become more of the norm.In discussing the quarterbacks in particular, Franklin noted his time with the Green Bay Packers. He said the best thing to happen to Aaron Rodgers career was sitting behind a great like Brett Favre for a few years and learning. That’s what he hopes can happen with Zembiec and Clifford.
Penn State, despite being down, and kicked while down, the last few seasons, has always been a powerhouse football school. Big name talent across the country want to play for the program, and Franklin knows some will have to wait to get their shots. Patience is going to have to become a core virtue for these players to succeed.
Despite preaching patience, Franklin also commented on the play of younger talent, and how those players can get on the field early through their hard work. Franklin said the two true freshman that jump out at him to contribute right away are the aforementioned Castro-Fields and defensive end Yestur Gross-Matos. Adding to that list of inexperienced contributors, Franklin jotted down defensive end Shane Simmons, a redshirt freshman who didn’t play in 2016. Simmons, a four star recruit from Maryland, chose Penn State over Ohio State, Auburn and Notre Dame.Franklin said there’s a difference between remaining patient and going out and taking a position, and these guys have the tools to do the latter. He said these names are just a few that stand out, but, “Over the next week or two, there’s going to be other guys because we have no problem playing true freshmen. We encourage it.”
Franklin finished his time with the media talking about the player that some are considering the top running back in all of college football, Saquon Barkley. Despite being just a junior this season, it’s unclear whether Barkley will return for his senior year in 2018. Barring an injury, Barkley could be a Top 5 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. With that in mind, Franklin was asked if Barkley would be used more sparingly or cautiously. The short answer from Franklin? No chance. Of course, he elongated on that, saying Barkley isn’t going to be used cautiously in games. Franklin said the team will get him his touches out of the backfield, both in the run game and catching passes. He hinted at maybe even using him on special teams. He could, however, take a few reps off in practice each week in order to see what his backups, namely Miles Sanders, Andre Robinson and freshman Journey Brown, are able to do. Franklin said that’s where the value comes in, by fielding a more confident depth chart.
Franklin won’t openly tell you he’s looking forward to the season. That’s just not his style. He’ll proclaim from the mountain tops that the team isn’t focusing past this next practice, or this next film session, or the first game against Akron. But I bet if you got him to lean a little bit closer in, he’d tell you he knows his team is good. He knows they’re hungry to defend their conference title. And he knows that they’re ready to take the next step and get into the College Football Playoff in 2017. Just don’t let other people know he thinks all these things.
Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
