If you’re into reading the tea leaves with James Franklin, then it was obvious after Penn State’s loss to Michigan that the end might be near for Mike Yurcich.
“We’ve got to do a better job of calling a game to allow our quarterback to get into rhythm. That is critical,” he told reporters after the game. “We’ve got to find easy completions for a quarterback to get into rhythm. That’s what everybody does.”
I don’t think anyone thought it was coming this soon, though. I mean, John Donovan got to the end of the season. (Although, that’s a conversation for another day.)
Sunday afternoon’s firing might have been the most aggressive move of Franklin’s career at Penn State, but it was the right one if he wants to make the most of the Drew Allar experience.
We’re two games away from the second season of Allar’s much-hyped career being over.
One more season and he could leave for the NFL.
But let’s pump the breaks on that quite a bit. He’s been far from an NFL quarterback. He also hasn’t looked the way he was promised to look. Who was making those promises? Well they just kind of happened in the desperate hope for a better quarterback because Sean Clifford wasn’t good enough for some of you.
But there’s still clearly hope for Allar. I’m not ready to give up on Allar yet. You’re not ready to give up on Allar yet. Penn State’s not ready to give up on Allar yet. Most importantly, Franklin isn’t ready to give up on Allar yet.
When Allar has clicked this season, he’s clicked well. Look at the throw to win the game against Indiana. Look at his management of the offense against Iowa. Even look at the night he had against Maryland. As czar of the Clifford loyalist club, I challenge anyone to find me three Clifford throws better than the some of touchdowns Allar had against the Terrapins.
Yet when it mattered most against Ohio State and a do-over against Michigan, the coaching staff failed the quarterback as much as the quarterback didn’t look like a five-star prospect.
That goes back to the quote from Franklin after the game.
He’s right. Penn State’s playcalling didn’t do what it needed to support the quarterback or get him into rhythm or get him going at all.
Allar is Penn State’s best player on the field that touches the ball.
But against Michigan and Ohio State, he was not that best player.
Really I’m not sure anyone was on offense. Penn State look woefully unprepared with the ball – especially compared to Penn State’s defense who allowed just 24 and 20 points in those games. Those are point margins that Penn State should overcome with a quarterback like Allar. They did not. And that’s why we’re here.
At times in Columbus, Penn State found the rhythm it needed – and then got away from what was working for no reason. There were momentum swings and then mind-bendingly confusing trick plays to the short side of the field – once again taking the ball out of the best player’s hand.
That day, Penn State finished just 1-for-16 on third down, abandoning many of the practices that had them rack up at least 30 points in every game to that point in the season.
Against the Wolverines, it was [insert your favorite repeat cliche here]. Penn State barely used its tight end, probably the only real pass catching threat on the field, as they racked up four catches for just 35 yards. After Kaytron Allen bowled his way over Maryland, Nicholas Singleton surprisingly started and kept playing, mustering just 3.3 yards per carry on 13 touches. Meanwhile, Allen provided a run 34 yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry while looking like the more confident back. Yet the duo split playing time relatively evenly because everyone’s too anxious to lose a player in the transfer portal era.
These decisions made no sense. Moreover, they made Allar’s job harder as he finished with just 70 yards of passing and 10 completions. Asking him to do it all is too much as he’s still in year one as the starter. Bad playcalling led to his struggles and there was no rhythm. There was no groove. There were only a combined 27 points in those two games and it cost Penn State a chance at the College Football Playoff.
Now with Penn State entering the end of 2023 – with games that it should win – and 2024 – with games that it needs to win so the head coach can keep his job – the head coach has to make sure Allar gets the best crack at achieving what he is supposed to.
That’s why this next hire becomes a monumental decision.
Franklin isn’t just making this decision because Penn State’s offense went quiet against Ohio State and Michigan. He’s also making this decision because he now knows Yurcich couldn’t elevate Allar.
This was part of the agreement in rightfully starting Clifford for his sixth season while still playing Allar when they could. That was fine because it gave Penn State the best chance to win. They did, too, winning 10 regular season games plus a Rose Bowl in a season most thought they’d win eight.
But Allar had to be ready for 2023.
At times, he has been ready. At the times it mattered most, he has not.
With that, someone has to fall on the sword and it’s certainly not going to be the guy with the $60 million-plus buy-out.
To make sure he keeps earning that big contract, Franklin has to make the most of this next hire. He has to wear the blame of getting the Yurcich hire wrong by fixing a mess his hire caused. That’s why the next offensive coordinator at Penn State needs to make Allar better.
His mechanics are there. His brain is there.
It just doesn’t always click. But there are flashes – more than any other quarterback we’ve seen in quite some time at Penn State.
Allar can still be the guy that gets the job done and Franklin realizes that.
If Franklin can get the right coordinator, then Penn State – and Franklin – can achieve the things that so many had hoped for this season on the back of the quarterback that is supposed to be the guide to all of it.
If Franklin can’t, then it will be more than a missed opportunity. It will be a total failure.
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