Opening Statement: Like always, appreciate everybody getting on here and covering Penn State football.
Before I get into a brief Indiana game review, I would like to let everybody know, as you know, I don't typically get into injuries unless they are season ending injuries. Noah Cain will be will be out for the remainder of the 2020 season. Love Noah, so much respect for Noah, he really had an unbelievable offseason and worked really hard for this opportunity. So, we met with Noah ahead of time and felt like this was the appropriate thing to do to give you guys all a heads up, but Noah will be will be out for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Getting into Indiana. I think first and foremost, you got to give Indiana credit. They played well and you've got to give them credit. They did some good things on Saturday.
I think for us, you know, defensively, I thought that was as good as we had defended Indiana over the last couple years when you take the totality of the game, in terms of rushing yards and in terms of pass defense, in terms of pressure on the quarterback and things like that.
You know, obviously the end result is, defensively we got to hold them to one less point than our offense scores but the totality of our defense, you know, we did we did some good things. Caused a couple turnovers and was able to pressure the quarterback. But we were more successful than we had been defending them over the last couple years. Thought our defensive ends did a really good job of getting pressure on the quarterback and getting sacks. I thought our secondary, our pass defense was improved and we were able to defend the run against, you know, what we think is a good Big Ten back.
We weren't as consistent on offense. I think if you look back over our six years here at Penn State, I think we have averaged, you know, 4.4-4.5 penalties per game. As a team, I think we had 10 with some of them being on offense. And then turnovers, I think was the other story of the game. I think we've averaged 1.4 turnovers over the previous six seasons and we had three in that game and doing that on the road in the Big Ten, it's going to make things really challenging. So we started out with the opening drive, did some good things, went for it on fourth down, was able to get a score on our opening drive and then we went into a lull with some turnovers and penalties and then were able to play better late in the game in the fourth quarter.
And then on special teams, you know, we've been pretty consistent in that area as well; kickoffs, punts and field goals and we weren't able to do that. So you know, we really made mistakes that we had not made. We've got to get those things cleaned up, but you've got to give Indiana credit. A combination of they played well and we didn't play the way we normally play, our normal style, our winning formula here at Penn State when it comes to penalties and turnovers.
Getting into Ohio State, obviously, a tremendous opportunity. A well-respected program nationally and within the Big Ten coming into Beaver Stadium, a place that we have played extremely well over the last couple years. Our home record is as good as anybody in the country. Looking forward to the opportunity. Obviously you look at, you know, what they've been able to do offensively with Justin Fields. What they were able to do against Nebraska, you know, they are dynamic at the wide receiver position, they are big and physical on the offensive line, they always seem to have at least one or two running backs that that can hurt you, not only on the perimeter, but between the tackles as well. I think Justin started out 17-17, or something like that, and threw for like 95 percent in the game and was able to create some explosive plays, not only with his arm, but with his feet as well.
Defensively, you know, still a very similar plan, even though they have a new defensive coordinator in coach Kerry Combs, still a very similar plan. They don't do a lot, but what they do, they do really well. They have enough variations in there to keep you honest and they're extremely, extremely skilled.
And then on special teams, you know, I think they take a similar approach. They're very talented, they get their players in position to make plays, they keep things simple. They take somewhat of a conservative approach in some areas, like punt return, but they've been really effective. It's going to be a tremendous challenge. We look at it as also a tremendous opportunity.
We've had some great battles with Ohio State and we're one of the few teams to beat them over the last couple years. I know our staff and our players are motivated for this game this weekend, like we always are.
Q: There have been a couple instances in 2017 and 2018, where your first loss of the season, you followed with another loss. What did you learn from those experiences on how to bounce back from a tough loss? And what have you seen just in the last couple 36 hours?
A: Yeah, so you know, obviously, looking at our facility and our team and the people in the Lasch building, on Saturday night and Sunday, there's hurt, everybody's hurt. That's understandable and that's natural. But I do think that the staff led and our captains led, you know, with the right mentality and approach on Sunday and we were able to move on from it. So I think I think we are doing a better job of that, you know, you invest so much that, you know, you got to find a way to move on and move on quickly, no matter the results, you got to learn from it, you got to grow from it and then and then you got to move on, you got to flush it and move on. That's and that's whether you were successful or not. I think we're doing a better job of that. I think our captains have been a big part of that. I think staff has been a big part. Sunday was good. Monday's an off day. And then, obviously, today is going to be important going out there and practicing. But I think you know, obviously, Ohio State's going to be a tremendous challenge. I look at this situation a little bit different than maybe some of those other situations. But I think your point is fair.
Q: Are you planning to use maybe three running backs? What's your thinking there?
A: Yeah, I think it might be similar to what we did on Saturday, we played all three of those backs on Saturday. Devyn [Ford] got the majority of the carries, but you know, Keyvone [Lee] and Caziah [Holmes] played well as true freshmen. Obviously, you know, our circumstances have changed and everybody's dealing with this to a degree. We came into the season with our running back room, you know, considered maybe one of the strongest running backs in the country, and now, at least at this time, we've lost Journey Brown, you know, so those guys are going to need to step up and be ready to play. We have to create a little bit more explosive plays. You know, that was something that we felt like Journey and Noah were going to bring to the table for us. But, you know,this is just the nature of where we're at right now, a combination of injuries and COVID have got us to this point. When I talk about COVID, I'm talking about all of it, Micah Parsons, you know, all the ramifications of that.
Q: You got your first look at Keyvone and Caziah in game action. Were they ready for this role?
A: Well, I think, although you tell everybody to approach things as if you're going to be the starter, that doesn't always happen. When we got started with this, those guys, if I'm doing my math correctly, I think were fourth and fifth on the depth chart. You know, so now we're in a situation where they're going to play prominent roles and we've seen flashes of really good things from them during practice and training camp and meetings and things like that, but we thought we'd have a little bit of time to let them gain some experience, maybe in not-so-big moments and meaningful moments; maybe early on, let them let them grow into that. But here's where we are. They're both extremely talented. We have a lot of belief and confidence in them. But experience matters and we've got to speed up that maturation process a little bit for them.
Q: Can you discuss the adjustment factor with Kirk [Ciarrocca] in his first game? Did the communication flow the way you wanted? Were there any issues at the end of the game?
A: You know, I don't think there was an issue in either of those circumstances. But yeah, I think whenever you have a new staff, and you have some changes, that you're still working through those things and getting comfortable, I don't think there's any doubt about that. I don't think those two circumstances played out that way. I think we talked about this a little bit already after the game. Will we be better in game two, just getting more comfortable with everybody and how Kirk calls a game and how we operate and all those types of things? Yeah, I think that's natural. But I don't think that those two situations played a part in that.
Q: Over the years, you've had offenses that have operated pretty quickly. It seems like you have an offense that can do that four to seven minute better, but maybe it's not as quick strike. What is the trade-off there between getting better at one thing, but maybe not having that other asset?
A: Yeah, I think you have to be able to do both. I think that's the point you're getting to, is you're going to have to be explosive. You know, we lost two of the more explosive athletes in the country, before the season started, you know, depending on how this whole thing plays out. And then I think the other thing I would say is, we have some opportunities for some explosive plays in the running game. Breaking a few more tackles and sustaining a few more blocks. We've got to find a way to create more explosive plays in the passing game. That's something that we have to do a good job of. We've done that at times. And then you know, then we got to be able to get into some formations and obvious running situations and be able to run the clock out. I do think we're in a position now, with what we're doing offensively to be able to do both and do both well and be an explosive offense in 2020. A lot of it deals with being able to make plays on the perimeter. If you're going to be put in one on one situations, you've got to be able to make people pay for that. If you get a light box, then you need to be able to create explosive plays there. And then there's going to be times in the game, whether it's four-minute or whether it's short yardage, that you need to be able to run when everybody in the stadium knows you're going to run. Those were the conversations that I think me and Kirk had beforehand and since then, and is our objective.
Q: As far as Devyn Ford, it was the first time we got a chance to see him as a feature back. How do you think he did overall for that first big shot? What's the biggest thing you think he will grow from going forward from that first game?
A: Yeah, you know, I thought he did some really nice things. I thought his mentality was really good. You know, there's a difference between being a guy who's rotating in, with two other backs, and being the guy and in the Big Ten, a very physical conference, very good defenses in our conference, and the style of offense we're running. So yeah, I think he did some really good things, his leadership is going to be key with those younger guys as well. But I just think, you know, you're gonna have to change your mentality. It's one thing when Noah was the starting back and Devyn was going to rotate in and be a complimentary piece to now being the guy. I think he'll grow into that. There's no doubt that he has the talent to do that. There's no doubt that we believe in him, you know, but there is a difference. There is a difference between being the lead dog and a rotational piece.
Q: How special has been the competitive nature of your games against Ohio State? What have the range of emotions been like for you going from a 2016 victory to a pair of one point losses the last two years?
A: I look at the whole spectrum of it. I look at scores that Ohio State, you know, puts up against people and I look at some of the scores before we got here and I look at how our games have gone. And, you know, we've found a way to beat them, when very few people have, and we have played them to the wire and sometimes, you know, those games to the wire, they're probably the most painful on everybody; the coaching staff, the players, the fans, but I wouldn't trade that, obviously. We've had opportunity to win some of those games right down to the wire and, and, in one year, we were able to step up and get it done and other years they were able to so, you know, we're going to continue to build on that. We look forward to having a tightly-contested game on Saturday. But it's a challenge, there's no doubt about it. Got a lot of respect for their program, got a lot of respect, you know, for their history and what they've been able to do and, obviously, they're as talented of a roster as maybe any roster in the country.
Q: I know you've been slightly optimistic about Journey Brown's status. Is there an expectation for when you could receive word on whether or not his status would change?
A: Yeah, as you guys know, with injuries, until we know for sure that things are finalized for a season, then then we don't come out typically and make those types of announcements. We want to we want to protect the information and we want to protect the privacy of the student-athlete and our program. So we don't we don't get into those details.
Q: You guys get a game going on Saturday, being played in front of a crowd few fans. What do you think you'll learn from that experience? And do you think it'll be different at Beaver Stadium where you normally would have had the maybe the best home field advantage in the country, to have so few fans there this weekend?
A: Yeah, it's gonna be different. Obviously, this 2020 in general, is different for everybody. I think your point, in general, is a good one, that it's magnified for some programs compared to others. Some conferences, compared to other conferences, there's no doubt that this this factors in. But once again, this is the reality of it, we've known that this is the reality of it and we need to embrace it and be ready for it. Our practices will reflect that.
Would you love for this community to have a White Out? Would you love for our fan base to have a White Out, and our players and, specifically, our seniors? Yes, I think it's one of the things that's special about college football. But again, we're also appreciative of the sacrifices and the compromises that were made to allow us to have a season.
Q: Typically, the White Out is obviously a big recruiting weekend for you guys. How does that pose challenges now? Because everybody's dealing with the same thing. You don't have that marquee visit weekend that you normally would?
A: Yeah, and I think it's magnified for places like Penn State, when we're not an easy place to get to, unless you're planning to come here. I think it magnifies it. When we can get people on campus for whether it's a spring game, or whether it's a White Out game, or just get here and be able to interact with our staff and our players and this community, that's been a strong selling point here at Penn State for 100 years. But it's unique, it's different than a lot of places, and it's something that you need to come and experience firsthand. And the people that do usually fall in love. So it's a challenge, there's no doubt about it. And I think what makes this place so special is how different and how unique it is. But also in a time like this, it creates challenges.
Q: Even at a loss, how significant was it for Pat Freiermuth to break that record that tight ends career touchdown record, and did you ever see him kind of take in that moment, despite the loss?
A: I think Pat would tell you himself, he would trade that record for a different result on Saturday. For us, with team success comes individual recognition. And I think that's how our players approach it. I think that's how our staff approaches it. For us, it's everything we possibly can do, to get a win, and to be 1-0 each week. At the end of the season, when people are recognized by the media or by fans or by their peers, or coaches, then obviously, we want that for them, as well. But I think that's what makes football the ultimate team game is it's about the success of the whole and then the individual recognitions are great. Obviously, we had a lot of confidence that Pat was going to break that record just based on his track record.
Q: Is there a way you can go about perhaps trying to replicate or if not replicate, then at least maybe reproduce a little bit some of the environment so that the players and the families are getting at least a sense of what a White Out is?
A: I would make the argument that you want to avoid that. This is the reality of what we're in and you just want to embrace it. And as we all know, because there are programs all over the country that are trying to recreate what we have in Beaver Stadium for a White Out, it's hard to do under normal conditions. So, for us we're just going to embrace that this is what the 2020 season is, we're excited about the opportunities and gonna make most of it.
Q: I just wanted to ask you about Justin Fields as a runner. Can you address maybe the challenge of limiting that impact of his game?
A: I think that's a big part of his game. I think they try to limit it as much as they can, but it is just naturally what he does. I think your point is a good one, it may not even necessarily be the actual runs, but his ability to extend plays with the dynamic receivers that they have, that's challenging.
I mean, if you look across college football, and now in the NFL, it's similar. It's hard to stop all the different things that offenses are doing now. You got the traditional running game, you got the traditional pass game, and then you got the RPOs. And then you got the designed quarterback runs, as well. It's challenging, and that's why being able to score points on offense and special teams and being able to create turnovers and limit offenses as much as you can - that's 2020 football.
It's gonna be a focus point for us this week and it's gonna be a challenge. He's one of the best players in college football.
Q: What are the implications of COVID been on how you staff officials at practice? If at all? And do you feel like that had any impact on Saturday?
A: If you look at our history, we've had officials at practices pretty much routinely through training camp and through the season, with the majority of our practices. With COVID, here at Penn State, we're not doing that. We usually have a full crew. And we've only had two officials at maybe a handful, maybe five or six practices, where we normally probably would have had 40 practices with officials and getting feedback constantly from them.
So does it play a part in it? Possibly, I think that's a fair point. I think it's a fair question. But again, it is what it is, and ultimately, I'm responsible to make sure that we play the way we typically play. And, all of us have to pay attention to that myself, the staff, the players, and make sure that we're taking the feedback and making the adjustments, but I think it's a fair correlation to make based on what we've done in the past and, and as you know, every state is different and every school is different in how they're handling different things. So maybe other programs are still able to do that.
Q: How tough was it to lose Jesse Luketa for that rest of that fourth quarter? And then how tough will it be to replace what he does for a whole half against Ohio State?
A: Yeah, I mean, significant. I watch, not only obviously our games and all our cut-ups, but then I watch opponents, and there's a lot of college football players being ejected from plays, and I get it, and I support the rule. But I also know there's just some times when an offensive player drops his pads - and I think you guys have heard me say this in the past - there's a point where if you're going to drop your pads as low as the offensive player to make the tackle, and to stop them, there's a point where you can't keep your helmet up. If you guys sit there and try it in your living room, there just comes a point where you can't keep your head up. Once you get your pads down, down that low. So there's some players getting ejected that I think clearly are trying to make the hit with their shoulder. But there's still some contact with the heads, I do see a change in behaviors of college football players trying to make the adjustment how they're tackling so they don't get ejected. But it's still happening. You know, I heard some announcers this weekend just talking about, is there an argument to go back to a little bit like the facemask penalty where you had a 5-yard facemask and a 15-yard facemask? To me there's a big difference in the targeting penalties, as well when somebody truly launches to use the helmet as a weapon and clear head to head contact and the other ones that happen that technically are still targeting penalties, but it's clearly obvious that the defender was trying to make the hit with his shoulder. So that's hard. I get what we're trying to do. We're trying to protect the game and trying to protect the student athletes, and that's the most important thing. But I think it's also hard, to see some of these defenders get penalized for play that they were really trying to follow the rules. It's difficult. I do think Jesse falls into that category. I think he was trying to. But I also get it. I think it's obviously magnified this year, especially in the Big Ten, with the amount of games that we have. It's made the penalty even more significant.
Q: When you're playing a team the caliber of Ohio State, is it important to make a team like that maybe sweat a little bit early? Or maybe cast some doubt that they can be beaten in a game? I mean, is that a mindset that you go into a game with trying to do that, even though I know fast starts are always obviously the objective in any game?
A: If you look at our history with them, we've done it a number of ways. We've won late with big plays, we've had early leads, and battle all the way to the last play of the fourth quarter. So I think at the end of the day, to beat this type of opponent, it's not just about a fast start, and it's not about finishing strong, you're going to have to play well for four quarters. And that's starting and that's finishing, and that's everything in between. To beat this type of team, it's not going to be pieces. It's going to be a whole because I think you would probably agree, we've really done both against this team in the past. And it's worked for us in one instance and it hasn't got it done in others.
Q: Graham Mertz from Wisconsin tested positive a second time for COVID-19, so he'll enter the Big Ten protocol. I just wondered when that 21-day protocol was presented to you as coaches, what your thoughts were about it, whether it was prudent, whether it was too much, that sort of thing?
A: Well, I think it's a couple things. There's the Saturday testing, that guys are getting false positives and missing a game. That's challenging and not just players, but coaches as well. I think that's a concerning point. And then like you're saying the positives and the 21 days that you're out, even though you probably could get all the required testing done in less than that, it's a 21-day minimum. I think we were at a point, as a conference that our commissioner and our presidents, wanted to make sure that we went above and beyond to keep the student-athletes as healthy as we possibly could. And with that, there were going to be some compromises, there were going to be some sacrifices, and there were going to be some circumstances that came about, that were hard to swallow at the moment. You know, we had a young man that wasn't able to play this weekend, because of a false positive test on Saturday morning. And his, dad called and was very upset, and more upset about his son, you know, just hurting for his son. And we talked it all through, and he understood. It was probably more venting than it was being upset with what the Big Ten decided. It was just more his son was hurting, and I want you to hear it coach. I would just say as administrators, I don't want to speak for the administration and the presidents, but the way I understood it, we were just putting health and welfare as the priority in a way that gave us a chance to have a season and try to balance those two topics. And neither one was going to be perfect, but try to balance it the best way we possibly could.
Q: What challenges did you notice in terms of communications with the players from the sideline while wearing masks?
A: For me it was really important – I talked to my entire staff before the game – that I wanted people that watch to watch the Penn State football game not just to be proud of what we put on the field, but I think at Penn State, our fanbase, our lettermen, our alumni, they want to be proud of everything they see on the field. For me, I wanted to make sure our staff wanted to know from the head coach's perspective that I wanted to be an example of a team that is doing it right. Not the mask that's below the chin the whole game. Not the mask that you pull down to talk.
And did that create challenges? Yes. Have we all realized that our hearing isn't as good as we thought it was because we were reading lips, as well as listening when we talk? Yes. When you are trying to scream something to a player on the field, is it easier to do without the mask on? Yes. I wanted people to watch Penn State football and say look at their sideline, look at their coaches and look how they're going about it, and they're trying to do it the right way under very challenging circumstances.
Now at the end of the day, is anybody talking about that? No, everybody's talking about the results on the field, and I get that. But to me as the head football coach at Penn State, our goal is to try and do it all and do it the right way, and that's in the best interest of our student-athletes and staff. Ultimately, I have a responsibility to keep everybody healthy and safe.
That's what we were trying to do. Are there problems that come with that? Yes. But we made that decision that we were willing to make those sacrifices.
Q: You had the long offseason and the way you guys lost that first game, do you expect your guys to be more energized or attentive, with all things considered.
A: What I would tell you is I watched the tape and we played hard. It's not we look back at that game and we didn't play hard. We played HARD. We played with passion. We didn't always smart, again with the turnovers and the penalties and things like that. I think we'll play hard again and we'll obviously learn from some of the mistakes we made in Week 1, and we're going to have to. I don't necessarily feel like that some of the statements you made in your question are going to show up this week and they weren't there last week. We made mistakes that we typically haven't made, which are the turnovers and the penalties, which we preach all the time are things that get you beat since the beginning of time. Especially the penalties. The other was explosive plays and we were able to limit those, but we didn't make enough of them ourselves.
