What did interim Penn State head coach Terry Smith say at his first news conference of Indiana week?

Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith held his first news conference of Indiana week on Monday. He started with a brief opening statement. Then, he answered questions for about 20 minutes as the Lions look to end their five-game losing streak this weekend. You can read everything he had to say below.

Opening statement

TERRY SMITH: I thought we played with great effort on Saturday oops. You know, first half kind of played out how we imagined to play. We didn’t execute the game plan in the second half in order to win the game.

Some positives offensively, you know, we won between the snaps. We had great communication. You know, the crowd noise wasn’t a factor for the game. We had two red zone scoring touchdowns. Obviously the second one we capitalized off a turnover from the defense.

Opportunities for growth. Up front we have to continue to strain in our blocking in the run game. The second half that became an issue. And then also pass protection was an issue in the second half as well. Then obviously pushing the pass game down the field.

Defensively positives were I thought the defensive line really played stout. For the most part they were good in run game. They put a lot of pressure on quarterback, 15 pressures. You know, and then we also set up a score right before the half.

Opportunities for growth. The ball continuously went over our head. That was a point of emphasis that it couldn’t happen and it did. We didn’t actually get home to get any sacks as well.

Special teams we were penalty free. Gabe had a tremendous day flipping the field, and then we eliminated their kick return team with some touchbacks.

Opportunities for growth. We continue to have some decision making issues with the return guys on the kick return.

We have a great opportunity this week to play a great Indiana team. Curt Cignetti is a friend of mine. He reached out to me when all this went down, so I am appreciative to him. He’s a Pittsburgh guy and we go way back from his dad being a coach at IUP, and I know the whole family.

It’s a great relationship, and just looking forward to being home in Beaver Stadium in front of our fans.

On why the Penn State pass rush is struggling

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, there is a couple different reasons. You know, it’s a completely different defense. This defense is more gap control. Last year’s defense was more vertical push up the field.

It’s just a different philosophy.

Another reason is we don’t have Abdul Carter as well. That’s a major factor.

And so we felt like we got a lot more pressure this weekend. We have to continue to develop that and get more pressure on the quarterback.

On fixing the pass defense struggles

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, we definitely got get it fixed this week. Those two receivers they have in Indiana have more touchdowns than the Ohio State guys, so it doesn’t get any easier. Very similar in their style and approach with RPO, play-action, take a shot.

You know, it’s my job to get back more involved with the corner room to make more points of emphasis. I think one of the reasons it happened is our guys, the style of play that they play, they were sitting on routes a little bit too much.

You know, some will say a lack of respect for who their opponent was. But when you play guys that can run routes and have speed like these guys, you have to get more into your pedal and stay on top of receivers. We have to make sure we make a point of emphasis of staying on top of those guys.

On playing Penn State receivers Tyseer Denmark and Koby Howard more to help in the pass game

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, we’re continuing to exam that. You know, you also sound like a broken record, right? We keep saying that.

It’s my job to make sure it gets changed. It will get changed this week. I’m talking with the offensive staff. We’re going to push the ball a little bit further down the field. Obviously the stat that’s running around is we had I guess 102 YAC yards from the game, 145 or so total, which means the ball is still going horizontally.

We have to develop the play-action, we have to develop the intermediate game which is that 12- to 18-yard range and just take more shots there. And then obviously you got to take selective five, six, seven shots vertically down the field. I have to get it fixed. We will throw the ball down the field this week.

On the Caleb Down targeting call that was overturned

TERRY M. SMITH: You know, the referees get paid to do a job. You know, from our naked eye it looked like the definition of targeting.

In regards to the reaction of it, we play a violent game and hits happen all the time. That’s called discipline. We’re not going to react to what type of hit it was. You know, you got to lineup and play the next snap. Let the referees referee.

On the Penn State quarterback room situation

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, Ethan continues to grow. I think he’s getting better. I thought he was better game two than game one.

We have to give him more opportunities. He did miss a dig one time to Kyron Hudson that came open there. Those are the type of throws we have to have him make.

He also threw a couple critical third down plays. So he’s continuing to grow. We just have to give him more opportunity to show and develop.

On the NCAA passing and then putting on hold a rule that allows college athletes to bet on pro sports

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, the simple conversation was the rule was supposed to pass this past week and it’s delayed, so obviously if anyone is thinking of, you know, placing bets, don’t do that right now.

We just continue to educate these guys on the pros and cons of things, and if they’re choosing to do that how to go about doing it so it doesn’t affect their career.

On the team pulling together amid its losing streak

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, I am super proud of this team. Super proud of the leadership. These guys could have packed it in weeks ago. They could have laid down and quit. They refused to that.

When you see what Vega did coming up the ramp and to jump across the banister and help out like that, it just — it’s a testimony to the guys that we have here in this locker room, it’s a testimony to Penn State. It’s a testimony to the program of how things are run here.

So we have got a locker room full of guys like that, guys willing to do things like that and just do things the right way. Obviously we’re going through some tough times right now, but doesn’t change our character.

On what’s keeping Penn State freshman Koby Howard from playing more

TERRY M. SMITH: The challenge with any young player, especially freshmen, is learning the system completely. You know, we have tons of plays with a ton of different options off each particular play, so a lot of times with young receivers they may run routes short or they are not quite where they’re supposed to be where the quarterback wants them.

So a lot of times the coach doesn’t have confidence to put them in because they may make that mental error. You know, what Koby does best is he competes. This guy loves football. You know, he got in this week, got in last week against Iowa.

You know, I think his two catches might be the two longest catches we had in both those games. We got to get him an opportunity to get out there and shine.

You know, that’s my job, and Koby is going to be on the field on Saturday.

Would Penn State go to a bowl game if it reaches six wins?

TERRY M. SMITH: We haven’t as a team, but my mindset is we’re trying to win this week. As we continue to win, why wouldn’t we want to play football? This is what we signed up to do.

We want to take advantage of every opportunity in front of us. We clearly will talk with the players as well. My feeling based on how they’re performing right now, if we win enough games to get to bowl eligibility, I think they would play. They haven’t laid down yet.

On the job Andy Kotelnicki has done over the last two weeks

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, obviously whether or not you look at statistics being there is always room for improvement. That’s what we’re having conversations every week about, how do we improve the pass game, get the ball pushed down the field.

You know, I think our perimeter pass game is pretty good. Obviously 102 YAC yards. That’s an extension of run game. But I think obviously I’ve said before, we have to continue to figure out ways to push the ball down the field.

He’s aware of that and we’re making conscious efforts to get that done this week.

On if he expected Howard and Denmark to play more than they did

TERRY M. SMITH: No. There is — you know, the challenge is with how we do things on offense with personnel groups, right? So there is 50 different personnel groups and it’s certain guys you want for certain plays, so you just can’t plug-and-play.

Once again, to my explanations earlier, the young guys don’t know the entire playbook. You have to be selecting what plays they can handle, and that’s the challenge with those guys.

So we have to do a great job of tutoring these guys and giving them some added meeting time to get them caught up to speed so they’re available for more opportunities.

On whether or not he is re-recruiting the Penn State roster

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, they’re very difficult. Reality is no one knows who is going to be here. When the next head coach is hired that person could wipe the whole building out.

We just try to stay grounded, keep our feet on the ground, and be professionals. The young men in the locker room, they deserve that. They’re showing up to work every single day, so us as coaching and as a staff, we have to give our 110 percent for these guys.

That’s what we’re going to continue to do, and focus is on trying to beat Indiana this week.

On losing Liam Cliffor as a gadget player as the wildcat quarterback

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, you know, I thought it gave us a little bit of a spark, a little bit of a different look. I thought he caught the one third down ball based on that personnel group. Just gives us some variety. You know, we’re going to continue to try to be creative. You know, just trying to figure out ways to move the ball down the field.

On the job Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, he’s an outstanding coach. His entire family, they’re just all men that have been coaching. You know, he has a methodical approach to things. He’s a player developer.

You know, he runs a great program. Obviously at JMU and all the places he’s been, Elon, just everywhere he’s had success. Guys buy into the program, and once you get buy-in and trust, you go do some special things.

That’s what he’s doing right now. He’s got those guys playing as good as anyone in the country. I respect everything he’s doing and he’s doing it the right way.

On the snap counts for Alex Tatsch, Andrew Rappleyea, and Anthony Donkoh at Ohio State

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, in regards to Tatsch, we want to get him more involved. At the linebacker play we just didn’t have enough depth, so we put in a couple personnel will packages for him to get on the field more; thought he did a really good job against Ohio State.

And then with Rapp, we just felt like we wanted to go a little bit more bigger bodies. Rapp is a big, strong, tough guy, so wanted to get him involved a little bit more.

Then up front, we do have six or seven guys we can play up front that we can move around. Just wanted to take advantage of that.

What the 2025 Penn State team could learn from the 1991 team that Smith was a captain of

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, that team lost two games during that season, you know, so wasn’t a perfect season, you know, but I would inject the finish. We finished that season great. I think we went and won the Fiesta Bowl that year I think against Tennessee.

But we have to just press forward. Again, I keep making this statement: We’re in the storm. We can’t run from it. We have to embrace it and we have to fight it and the only we can do it is together.

I feel like our locker room is till together. Sooner or later this will turn and this too will pass. So it’s a great group of guys in the locker room.

I have so much respect for the players and how they’re handling this. We’re going to play hard again on Saturday and we’re going to try to do a couple things differently to create a different outcome.

On the lack of production from the Penn State tight ends

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, been conversations. You know, is it’s a strong room, that we need to get them guys more involved. That’s part of the play-action game. The run game has been the best part of what we’re doing and we want to continue to run the football.

Nick Singleton got going a little bit on Saturday. Kaytron had a good year. You know, it’s time to develop some of the play-action off that and hit those tight ends with some crossing routes and things like that.

It is a point of emphasis. We just got to get the passing game as a whole, those guys included and going.

On what he’d need to see to consider making staff changes

TERRY M. SMITH: It’s not as easy as saying I want to make a change. When you make that change it’s going to flip things upside down again, the players, their camaraderie, their belief, their trust, and you have to have answers, solutions beyond that.

So it’s challenging. I am examining that every single day, losing sleep because I’m just trying brainstorm how to fix it.

With the staff, you know, right now I just don’t feel it’s necessary. We’ll continue to examine it and make the best decision possible.

On the kickoff returner situation

TERRY M. SMITH: Yeah, so Nick is the return guy. He started the game and that’s what we wanted. If they were going to have returns, we would like to get it in his hands. It’s another opportunity for him.

As the game wore on and how it played out, we wanted to get some younger guys opportunities. You know, obviously there was two kick returns that we kind of made bad decisions, and two young guys that we would like to see what they have and their ability, and sometimes that’s what happens with young players.