Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/906973
N O V E M B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 7 C O A C H S P E A K • E X C E R P T S F R O M J A M E S F R A N K L I N ' S P O S T G A M E P R E S S E R OPENING STATEMENTWhen you're able to travel on the road and get that type of support, I think it's special. A couple of other things, from a discipline standpoint and some of the things we try to win each game: field position, we were able to win that. Turnovers, we were able to win that battle. Penalty battle, we had two penalties. We won that. And then the explosive-play bat- tle. Obviously, when you're able to win statistics like that you have a chance. A couple things that stood out to me: I thought Josh McPhearson played really well on special teams. It seemed like he made every tackle on special teams. One of the things that is kind unique in my career: Dae'lun Darien played of- fense, defense and special teams tonight, which was pretty cool. We had a lot of guys be able to get into the game and get some experience and played up to the standard, which was really good to see. ON THE TEAM'S DEVELOPMENT Whenever you can play well at the end of the season and feel like you're trend- ing in the right direction, it's positive. Right now, we need some time off. It'll be good for the players to get some down time. It's been a long season. The Big Ten and this side of the conference are especially brutal. ON THE STAFF'S UPCOMING SCHED- ULEThere's no time off for the staff. Our weeks are already scheduled now. Every possible bowl we could go to, we already have the entire schedule of when we're practicing, when we're recruiting. We've already got it all set. There are probably about nine different variations right now that we think we could play, but that's already been set. That's al- ready been emailed to the players, that's already been emailed to the coaches' wives, so that's allowed us to plan where we are going. We're on the road tomor- row. The guys will have time to finish strong academically, and then we'll start working some practices in there as well. Then I'd assume by next Sunday or so we'll know where we're going, but the plan has got to start. We can't wait. ON TOMMY STEVENS We have pack- ages for him in certain zones and down- and-distances. We have something in each game, and depending how the game is going, Joe [Moorhead] feels comfort- able putting him. Obviously, when you're in control like we were tonight, that helps. It's typically a red zone pack- age for him, and it's down-and-distance situations that make sense.