I don't normally watch these, but this week's PC might be a good one if they have it....
- Thread starter IANit
- Start date
He says we're not playing fast on defense because we're still learning the defense.
Franklin asked why our offense isn't playing well. Basically has no idea. But did get into some details on OL issues when asked. Sounds like it's not any one thing, some plays one screws up, other plays another screws up.
Shouldn't the coach know how to fix that?
Says they thought UCLA was going to kick the ball so that's why they didn't rush the punter. Guessed wrong, apparently.
Asked whether he was considering coaching changes. Said he needs to hold people accountable. How about himself?
Franklin asked why our offense isn't playing well. Basically has no idea. But did get into some details on OL issues when asked. Sounds like it's not any one thing, some plays one screws up, other plays another screws up.
Shouldn't the coach know how to fix that?
Says they thought UCLA was going to kick the ball so that's why they didn't rush the punter. Guessed wrong, apparently.
Asked whether he was considering coaching changes. Said he needs to hold people accountable. How about himself?
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
"we're still learning the defense." This was discussed a lot preseason. Lots of tOSU "experts" were saying how hard Knowles D is to learn.
The problem on the O is the O-line with a secondary WR problem. Sadly, our TEs haven't helped (several drops and an unsportsmanlike penalty).
No excuse on the punt/safety.
CJF said in his opening statement that it is his fault. He hired the staff and recruited the players. He took full responsibility. And if you fire Andy K, are you going to promote the WR coach? Fire knowles do you promote Connor? You change the staff after the season, not now.
You can't fire Knowles if they aren't yet playing his defense right yet. The main problem on offense is favoring Singleton, in my view. The same OL looks good with Kaytron running.
He has been a HUGE disappointment. Agree that he is the main cause of the issues, is he would be able to get positive runs it would open up the deep passing game. Right now he cant hit hole and defense only needs 6 in the box to stop him because he runs in to his own OL.
Knowles and Penn State needs linebackers. Franklin truly dropped the ball on LBs and WRs. It's a big, big reason I question Franklin's football acumen and competence.
I didn't listen and glad I did not. Changes need to be made but I don't think Franklin has the balls to do it. I am not talking about firing Knowles or AK but there have to be personnel changes, schematic changes. Having tough conversations with players AND coaches. Knowles is probably a pretty intimidating guy but Franklin has to get in his face. Not yell at him or belittle him but in no certain terms tell him Saturday was unacceptable and can't happen again. Leaders take action, they lead with boldness and confidence. Franklin has to do this.
WeR0206
Well-known member
re: Knowles defense that might be true but how would the players not knowing his defense impact him not putting a spy on the QB until the 4th freaking quarter and constantly calling the same failed blitz play over and over....or playing man when he should be playing zone, etc....Knowles looked like a rookie def coordinator for crying out loud. He got completely owned by a guy who was calling an offense for the first time. Embarrassing.
See this analysis for more detailed breakdown:
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
Agree. But at the same time, gave up 42 to ucla.
LionDeNittany
Well-known member
LionDeNittany
Well-known member
We can't blame Knowles after a full preseason and 4 games losing to an entire new coaching staff who just fired the HC.
Laughing oit loud
Wesauking Lion
Member
The thing about these Franklin teams is they dont seem to improve over the season. I see little if any improvement from game 1 to game 5. With UCLA we have stepped back. No big jump between game 1 and 2 like other teams. Teams play us better at the end of the season because we do the same thing, do not improve, and do not change out plan game to game.
I hate reverting back to Joe but No one wanted to play PSU in November... the teams were dialed in. Franklin is awful in this manner.
I hate reverting back to Joe but No one wanted to play PSU in November... the teams were dialed in. Franklin is awful in this manner.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
As usual, a great job in the video. A little bit of everything went wrong. Nico played the game of his life against us. He made three amazing throws in that video. Add to that a little confusion on our coverages, some poor tackling, not having Rojas, some missed tackles, and the DE not containing the QB and you've got 42 points to overcome. (plus a turnover and a missed onside kick).
I think the D was exhausted by the middle of the third quarter.
There was a question in the PC about firing assistants. Franklin said his job is to hold people in the building accountable. I asked in the On3 Lion's Den if he's holding himself accountable. One poster got mad at me, and TF Carr asked Franklin's supposed to do that in a public press conference. I suggested he could say he's doing some self-reflection to see if there are things he can be doing differently. I can see in his body language and answers that he's pointing blame outward, regardless of whether he says it starts with me.
All true, but this kind of post mortem would be foreign to the likes of OSU, UGA, ND, etc. The answer may simply be that 3*s and 4*s rarely get coached up and can only work out if the coaching is superior.
LionDeNittany
Well-known member
You didn't mention the offense. Putrid against a terrible defense during an entire half.
He's limited, a narcissist, and defensive. It might be that the players are catching on.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
I did, actually. In the first half, Penn State only had THREE possessions. The first was a long drive for a TD. The second was stopped when a WR dropped a ball that hit him right in the chest (Gary Danielson blamed that on Alllar, go figure). The third stopped on downs with around :30 to go in the half.
So the PSU drives went like this: zero (onside kick), ten plays 75 yards for a TD, 3 plays for 4 yards, and eight plays for 28 yards.
UCLA had drives of 10/75/TD, 7/40/FG (onside kick), 17/75(TD), 6/68 (TD), and 3/17 (FG).
To recap, and If you do the math, PSU only had 21 plays in the first half to UCLA's 43. This is most due to a) allowing drives of 75, 40, 75, 68, and 17 and b) a horrible onside kick turnover.
And it really extended into the 3rd qtr as Luke Reynolds fumbled on the third play of the 3rd Qtr. Defense stiffened there, though. We also gave up a drive of 75 yards for a TD in the 3rd Qtr as well.
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