Takeaways from James Franklin’s Ohio State week press conference

It’s here, folks. Ohio State week is underway with James Franklin’s weekly press conference.

The head coach of the No. 2 Nittany Lions touched on Urban Meyer, the Big Ten East Division and much more with reporters on Tuesday.

Here are five highlights from Franklin’s presser.

▪  In his opening statement, like he normally does when addressing the opposition, Franklin said he respects Meyer and the program he’s running at Ohio State.

He reiterated that later his press conference, though, when discussing Penn State’s formula: Keeping the focus weekly and enjoying wins for a night before discussing the next team on the schedule.

When interviewed by ESPN’s Maria Taylor on the field after beating Michigan on Saturday, she asked, “How do you build on this going into Ohio State week?” After talking about reviewing film and making corrections, Franklin added, “You said we play who next week?”

More than a few Ohio State fans didn’t care for Franklin’s comment, taking it personal or believing it was bogus that he “forgot” who was next up.

“It’s funny because whenever you do anything like this, other fan bases and nationally they, they’re looking for reasons to go crazy,” Franklin said Tuesday. “I could not have more respect for Ohio State, their program, and Urban Meyer, but I mean literally the game just ended, can I talk about Michigan, can we enjoy Michigan for a half hour before we move on to the next opponent?”

▪  According to Franklin, sometimes strength coach Dwight Galt will say that Penn State has the strongest offensive line in the country.

“I’m like, ‘Whoa, where are you getting this data from?’” Franklin said.

Galt may believe that, but before Franklin says anything definitive he wants to have researched it plenty — which is why, when asked, he didn’t say flat-out that the Big Ten East Division is the toughest in college football.

“I think that you can’t have a discussion without us being a part of that discussion, obviously our side with Penn State and with Michigan State and with Michigan and Ohio State all in the same side of the conference, it’s up there,” Franklin said. “Obviously someone that maybe has SEC ties is going to feel about that or someone who has ACC ties is going to feel that or the Pac-12 or Big 12 there’s going to be arguments made. But I think for the people that study the game nationally, without being biased, we’re going to be a part of every single one of those debates and conversations and I think that’s all really you care about.

“But I would be making that argument. I would be making that argument.”

▪  Punter Blake Gillikin and placekicker Tyler Davis shared the team’s weekly special teams honor. The former boomed a 56-yard punt to help fend off an easy Michigan score, and the latter connected on all six extra points and averaged 62.4 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks.

Franklin also praised gunner Irvin Charles, who made the tackle on Gillikin’s long punt.

“Irvin Charles I think is probably playing as elite of a level as you possibly could play as gunner,” the coach said. “The combination of Blake’s punts and Irv going down there, you see a guy who is 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and running down the field like that, he’s been tremendous. ... I think that Gillikin and Irvin Charles are really playing at a high level right now.”

▪  The last time Meyer lost a game coming off a bye week was 2001. He was coaching at Bowling Green, and the Falcons fell by three to Miami (Ohio) — led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Since then, he’s 20-0 while defeating five top-25 opponents.

“It helped us last week and it’s going to help them this week. There’s no doubt about it,” Franklin said of the bye week. “But again we control the things that we can control and this isn’t one of them.”

▪  After letting up 13 tackles for loss at Northwestern and 13 total sacks in their previous three games, Penn State’s offensive line held its own against the Wolverines. The Nittany Lion blockers allowed only seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

Franklin, who complimented the offensive line Saturday night, watched the film on Sunday and provided more praise Tuesday.

“They’re getting better,” Franklin said. “I know everybody wanted in the beginning of the season for every position, every unit just to be kind of hitting on all cylinders, but that’s just not how it works. Just got to love those guys and keep developing them and keep coaching them and they’re getting better. ... They’re going to have to continue to grow because I think everybody realizes the type of respect and the type of players that Ohio State has up front.

“It’s going to be another challenge.”

This story was originally published October 24, 2017 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Takeaways from James Franklin’s Ohio State week press conference."