Penn State will travel to Illinois for the second to last game of the regular season and a chance to make it three straight victories for the Nittany Lions. Only days away from the 11th game of the 2014 season, James Franklin is set to talk to the media at Tuesday’s weekly press conference.
Follow along here for bullet point updates live from Beaver Stadium as StateCollege.com gets the latest from Franklin on the Fighting Illini and the Nittany Lions.
- Franklin opens the press conference by saying that safety Ryan Keiser is out of the hospital after a few weeks of hospitalization following his bowel puncture.
- Franklin notes that he has some history with the Illini coaching staff from his time at other programs.
- Franklin says he recruited Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt and that their spread no huddle offense has slowed down during the time that Lunt was injured. Says they expect Illinois to go faster now that Lunt is healthy again.
- Franklin notes that Illinois is No. 8 in the nation for net punting, how that impacts the field position game Penn State tries to play.
- No concern for Franklin when it comes to a letdown after a bowl eligible win. “Focused on Illinois now.”
- Franklin notes that healthy offensive linemen allows Penn State to get players back in more natural positions. That in turn helps communication and getting on the same page. “More consistency.”
- “I think our coverage units have done a good job, especially on punts. Because our coverage units have been so good our net punt has been pretty good and I’m pleased with that.”
- Franklin says that the field goal blocks have largely been the result of low kicks. With the exception of Rutgers’ block which Franklin summarized as a 6-6 kid with a 40+ inch vertical getting his hand in the right place.
- Akeel Lynch: To be honest with you that I don’t think that it’s Akeel Lynch he has does some nice things don’t get me wrong, but I think that the run game goes as the offensive line goes, the defense goes as the defensive line goes. It’s not that the running backs have done anything different but the lines have really helped. (Paraphrased.)
- “There are still some things we have to get cleaned up” Franklin says on getting both the run and the pass going at the same time.
- Torrence Brown (DE) at 255 pounds and very little body fat.
- “I think our defense is really good.” Franklin says, doesn’t feel it’s fair to compare defensive units from across the years because the game is so different now than it once was. Notes that 400 yard offensive games were once unexpected but now fairly common.
- Franklin says that he didn’t sit Belton because of a fumble it was just how the rotations were set for the game. In turn says that Christian Hackenberg is Penn State’s quarterback and “We love him” when asked about sitting Hack for a series or two after struggling or turnovers.
- Franklin is hopeful and excited to have Trevor Williams back. But says that’s his answer for anyone who is injured or will be injured.
- Franklin doesn’t have any ill will toward Tim Beckman for the drama that unfolded regarding Illinois coaches recruiting Penn State players during the sanction era. Doesn’t look much beyond the game that happened “last year” which went into overtime.
- Franklin says that Penn State doesn’t cut back on practice in terms of what they do, but cut minutes off of periods they work during. So instead of 5 minute periods they have 4 minute periods. Thinks they have cut about 15 minutes off of practice a few weeks ago to help keep players fresh.
- Franklin “you’d be amazed if you just run to the ball, that even if you miss the tackle there should be 5-6 other guys there to make the tackle.”
