Here’s how James Franklin gets Penn State Football back into CFP Conversation
By Andrew Adair
Developing talent
It’s one thing to bring in elite talent. It’s another to develop that talent.
In eight seasons in Happy Valley, James Franklin has proved he can develop certain positions at an elite level.
Penn State Football has kept “Linebacker U” ticking while also putting defensive linemen into the NFL. Most of the development comes down to your position coaches in college. Brent Pry(Defensive Coordinator & LB), John Scott Jr.(Defensive Line), Joe Lorig(Outside LB), Terry Smith(Cornerbacks), and Anthony Poindexter(Safties) are all great at getting the most out of their players. Manny Diaz will replace Brent Pry and provide Franklin with an easy transition.
On the offensive side of the ball, Penn State regularly develops Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, and Running Backs. Longtime position coaches Taylor Stubblefield(WR’s) and Ja’Juan Seider(RB’s) are responsible for the success of their respective positions. The problem lies with the Offensive Line and Quarterback developments.
James Franklin proved to have a quick trigger when he released Offensive Coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca after last season. He saw an opportunity to improve play-calling and Quarterback development with new Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich.
In Yurcichs’ first season, we did see a vast improvement of Quarterback Sean Clifford. With an underperforming offensive line, the offense became one-dimensional. Yurcich is also making his impact on the recruiting trail. Top Quarterback recruit Drew Allar made it known that Yurcich was important in his commitment to Penn State.
While Penn State regularly puts offensive linemen in the NFL, they never have a dominant, cohesive unit. James Franklin has tried to address this issue with the hire of highly respected Phil Trautwein. In Trautweins’ two seasons with the Nittany Lions, Penn State has become one of the worst rushing teams in the Big Ten. In Trautweins’ short tenure, the recruiting of highly-ranked offensive linemen has improved, but on-field production is at an all-time low.
The offensive line development is the biggest issue that Penn State has. Phil Trautwein will be under the microscope next season. If that position group doesn’t perform, a change is likely coming. If Coach Franklin can find a solution with Trautwein or someone else, the program will be trending towards being elite.