James Franklin Wednesday press conference: Penn State vs. Maryland
Penn State head coach James Franklin met with the media on Wednesday night ahead of the team’s upcoming home game against Maryland. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don’t miss any of Franklin’s comments.
Penn State offensive line under the microscope again
The Penn State offensive line was the main topic of conversation on Wednesday, with the rash of injuries that have befallen the starting unit. Media asked about left tackle Drew Shelton and how the group has looked this week.
“He played really well for a true freshman. We’ve been excited about him for a while. We think he’s a multiple-position guy. We think he can play tackle, guard. He’s actually done some center as well. He’s a smart guy. He’s a mature guy. He’s picked it up fast. But he played well. Typically with offensive linemen, if you’re not talking about them, that’s a good thing. We’ve been very impressed with him. We’d still like to redshirt him if we could. I don’t know if that will be feasible.”
Shelton started at left tackle for the injured Olu Fashanu, who is week-to-week, according to Franklin. Penn State is currently down both starters on the left side of the offensive line with left guard Landon Tengwall undergoing season-ending surgery.
Press conference rundown
00:00 Press conference start
00:05 What stood out to you about Drew Shelton against Indiana, and how has he carried that over?
00:42 You’ve been familiar with Taulia Tagovailoa for a while. How has he evolved?
01:28 Has Chop Robinson had any reaction to playing his old team?
02:15 When making decisions about Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu playing this week or the rest of the season, is it strictly medical? Or does the draft have an impact?
02:50 Do you know if you’ll have Curtis Jacobs and Tyler Elsdon on Saturday?
03:17 Does Keon Wylie have a chance to play down the stretch?
03:51 Was there a certain scheme or matchup that helped you get sacks against Indiana?
04:19 How has Shelton handled the additional coaching and attention from other Penn State players?
05:04 Do you feel you’ve built the depth you were determined to build early in the year?
06:00 Why do you feel Penn State has been successful recruiting Maryland?
06:53 What does the progress up front on the offensive line mean to you?
07:50 Have you prioritized size along the line of scrimmage? Will you change anything?
09:00 How has Khalil Dinkins progressed?
09:23 When you’re playing a team that throws screens, does that change your personality going into a game defensively?
