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What Penn State’s James Franklin said during his weekly press conference
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After opening the 2020 season with a heartbreaking, and controversial double-overtime loss to Indiana, the Nittany Lions have failed to tally in the win column and currently own a disappointing 0-4 record. They are the only team in the Big Ten without a victory.
After losing to Nebraska, 30-23 last Saturday, Penn State is now 3-6 over their last nine games.
The outlook doesn’t look any better, as the Iowa Hawkeyes come into College Station riding a two-game winning streak. If Penn State doesn’t best the Hawkeyes this Saturday, it will be the first time in the program’s 134 seasons to open a season with five losses, and no wins.
Head coach James Franklin has quarterback issues to address, as well as a host of other problems to address. He discussed this week’s plans in his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
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Franklin on Nebraska: "The story of the game was turnovers in the first half. That's been a similar challenge that we've had this year."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin: "I thought we battled like crazy in the second half… Defense gave up three points and 96 yards total in the second half."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin on Iowa: "Obviously Kirk Ferentz is the vet in the Big Ten…They do a great job. They play hard, they play sound, they play fundamental football."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin on early defensive struggles: "Over six years, we typically haven't been great on opening drives… Usually you're gonna get a scripted set of plays and formations…Typically we've been able to settle down."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin: "More than anything it's tackling and being able to adjust to new things we're seeing in games."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin on Devyn Ford: "I thought last week Devyn and the two young backs did some really good things…I see Devyn growing. I thought we ran the ball last week as good as we've run it this year."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin on Levis' Nebraska performance: "I think one of the areas that he would admit he needs to get better on is his touch. Take a little octane off the pass and put our guy in a position to make a play."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
"He played hard and played with passion and did some good things. We just gotta make a few more throws," Franklin added.
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin: "I don't think I've seen a year like this in the Big Ten since I've been here."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin: "I have people that I call and people that reach out to me. Which is nice. I'm trying to be there for the players, the coaching staff, and help us navigate these times that none of us have been through before."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
"I also try to remind myself every single day how blessed and fortunate I am every day. I think about everything Journey Brown has been through this year," Franklin added.
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin: "I believe good will come from this. For my program, for our players… It doesn't feel like it right now, but I'm gonna use this as an opportunity to grow."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Franklin: "At the end of the day you have to do whatever you have to do to give your team the best chance to win, whatever that may look like…I think that's some of what you have seen in the second halves, of changing our style of play to solve some our issues from the first."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 17, 2020
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.