With another disappointing 2018 season for Penn State, I think it’s time to consider James Franklin’s time here. He has posted disappointing numbers with the Nittany Lions he’s 2-3 in bowl games and can never seem to beat the big boys in Ohio State and Michigan posting a dismal 2-10 record against such opponents. I would think it’s safe to say Franklin’s tenure at Penn State is on borrowed time. No doubt the Nittany Lions are in trouble.
I would have to say his glaring weakness is simple game management and play calling one of the strongest examples I can give you is the Sept 29th game against OSU. Penn State was down 27-26 late in the 4th Mcsorley is moving the ball down the field with ease. They get stuffed for three plays, and it’s 4th and 5 and what does Franklin call yep you guessed it a read option, and they get stuffed resulting in a loss.
One of the glaring weaknesses Franklin also possess is his lack of execution with star talent. At one point and time, Franklin had one of the most electric player’s college football has ever seen since Tim Tebow and that mans name is Saquon Barkley. 2016 was the closest Saquon ever got to a national championship if it wasn’t for again a terrible loss against a sub-par team in Pitt.
Going into this season, we see blunders losing four commits in the recruiting class most notably four-star linebacker Derek Wingo to Florida. I’m not sure if it was overconfidence or a lack of attention to detail, but slowly we can start to see the slippery slope that is Penn State. I hope Sandy Barbour (The Athletic Director) opens up her eyes and finds a suitable replacement at HC and maybe just maybe return to the upper echelon of the college football world. Are the Nittany Lions in trouble?
