Terry Smith on Drew Allar: “Our system wasn’t built for him.”

bdgan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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I mean, we all knew this, but it’s wild to hear Terry Smith say it out loud…

Quite often it seemed like Allar was playing tight but he looked much better when we were behind with time running down or late in the half. I definitely agree that Allar was best when he spent less time thinking about stuff. It drove my crazy watching the amount of time he spent reading his wristband in the huddle. In that sense I definitely agree with Terry Smith.

That said Allar came up short in big games even when things opened up. He made some great plays to bring PSU back vs Oregon in the BiG title game but threw a costly pick at the end. He threw a horrible pick to end the Notre Dame playoff game. He threw a pick that ended the double OT loss to Oregon last year. Two years ago he threw an INT that Harrison Wallace should have caught vs OSU, but in the final drive he threw and INT in the end zone to end the game. Some of that tightness could be coaching but a lot of it has to also be Allar.
 

nittanyfan333

All-American
Oct 6, 2021
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I really never understood the QB deal at PSU under Franklin. His system always worked with a QB that was really mobile and was a bit of a scrambler/playmaker. Trace, Cliff (to an extent, one could argue Levis was a better fit). And when he got Allar, instead of keeping Pribula for his system (seemingly a perfect system QB for Franklin), he doubled down on the QB that wasn't designed for his system, then tried to force him into it. I mean... was it a 5* thing?? I get Allar was a MY recruit for HIS system, and a highly touted recruit, but man, like Tengwall's video says, square peg round hole. never made ANY sense to me...
 

Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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Always amazed me ... BGJ was a QB in college and played the position all his life. Yet once again shows just because you played the game doesn't mean you can coach it. Really almost all the QB's under BGJ were average at best except for Trace. It was like he had no idea how to pick at OC and coach the position.
 

LMTLION

All-Conference
Mar 20, 2008
1,434
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To your point, I was amazed at halftime of a rutgers game in which Clifford played well and we were handling them, when interviewed at halftime, the reporter asked franklin what he wanted to see in the second half from clifford and he said "I'd like to see him slide and step out of bounce LESS, especially when in position to pick up the first down." I couldn't believe it considering how vital Clifford was to the offense, that you'd advocate for more direct hits on him.
I also remember he was very tough on Clifford to become more mobile. Sean was a sneaky good athlete, perhaps faster than Trace in a sprint, but his game was more so slinging the ball around rather than running the ball.
 

PSU4U

All-American
Aug 6, 2019
7,091
7,458
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It’s disgusting to hear this. With Allar, PSU should’ve run an offense like Dallas did with Aikman: a running back and full back, two wide receivers, and a tight end, and play bully ball. Instead, we ran a hodge podge of nothingness.
Most HC's and coordinators are among the most ego driven people on the planet. Not building your scheme around your talent is dumb and almost criminal to the players. That's why I believe multiple schemes on both sides of the ball are a necessity. You can have a base that is always present but you must be able to tweak that as your talent requires. It's either that or you have to recruit exceptionally well to your scheme every year. IMO most programs cannot do that.
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
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You're right, "weird" was the wrong term.
You are both right. Its weird cause its refreshing to have somebody be so blunt amd honest in their assessment of a former coach. I think we are so conditioned to hearing the PC coach speak that we're caught off guard when the cold hard truth comes out.
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
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Quite often it seemed like Allar was playing tight but he looked much better when we were behind with time running down or late in the half. I definitely agree that Allar was best when he spent less time thinking about stuff. It drove my crazy watching the amount of time he spent reading his wristband in the huddle. In that sense I definitely agree with Terry Smith.

That said Allar came up short in big games even when things opened up. He made some great plays to bring PSU back vs Oregon in the BiG title game but threw a costly pick at the end. He threw a horrible pick to end the Notre Dame playoff game. He threw a pick that ended the double OT loss to Oregon last year. Two years ago he threw an INT that Harrison Wallace should have caught vs OSU, but in the final drive he threw and INT in the end zone to end the game. Some of that tightness could be coaching but a lot of it has to also be Allar.
Drew needed to run a downfield offense far more than desperation time in big games. Why didn't we see that against the horribly weak OOC schedule and the weaker BIG teams. You cant expect Drew to miraculously find that when it wasnt ever put into the game plan.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,848
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James wants his QBs to be mobile and athletic. He pushed Clifford very hard to become more explosive on the ground. He pushed Allar to be more mobile as well. James is not comfortable with a pocket passer slinging the ball around. Pribula, while not nearly as talented as Allar, would’ve been a better option for James as the starting QB. He would have worked perfectly in the goofy AK offense. What James did to Drew was professional malpractice.
Professional malpractice eh? Clown post of the week.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
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Didn't Hackenberg say the same thing about CJF? That he wanted him to become this RPO guy in a single off-season? I seem to recall this.

I'm not sure, frankly, who the offense was built for. For example, I was never sure who was pushing for all of the BS gadget crap that they had inserted into the offense. Running Drew out wide for some really obvious, up the middle in a cloud of dust, 'wildcat' thing 4/5 times a game. Was this Kotelnicki or BGJ or both? Either way, it was stupid.

I appreciate that Terry tries to stand up for the players in a meaningful way.
Hack did not but then again he wasn’t an excuse maker.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,848
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Can we all agree Fraud Franklin had no system other than chasing shiny recruiting objects, hiring sycophants to feed his ego, and blaming others for his failures?

Big Game James is perhaps the best and most recent example of a narcissist.

Key Narcissistic Behaviors and Traits
  • Grandiosity & Superiority: A belief that they are special and superior, often bragging and exaggerating achievements.
  • Constant Need for Admiration:They require excessive attention, compliments, and validation to support their fragile self-esteem.
  • Sense of Entitlement: They expect unreasonable special treatment and automatic compliance with their wishes.
  • Exploitative Relationships: They take advantage of others, using people for their own gain without guilt or remorse.
  • Lack of Empathy: They are unwilling or unable to recognize or validate the feelings and needs of others.
  • Arrogance and Contempt:Behavior is often haughty, looking down on others, and demeaning those they perceive as inferior.
I can’t but then again I don’t suffer from incurable Franklin Derangement Syndrome like you. Despite last year’s meltdown which deservedly resulted in his firing Franklin won 1 Big Ten Championship and 2 playoff games while our new “savior” in the haters’ eyes before he coached a single game at PSU won zero championships and qualified for no playoff games in a weaker league. I genuinely hope Campbell, who I like, achieves the success Kraft promised but constantly trashing Franklin months after he is gone isn’t going to enhance Campbell’s coaching ability or help him win a single game.
 
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TheBigUglies

All-Conference
Oct 26, 2021
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Quite often it seemed like Allar was playing tight but he looked much better when we were behind with time running down or late in the half. I definitely agree that Allar was best when he spent less time thinking about stuff. It drove my crazy watching the amount of time he spent reading his wristband in the huddle. In that sense I definitely agree with Terry Smith.

That said Allar came up short in big games even when things opened up. He made some great plays to bring PSU back vs Oregon in the BiG title game but threw a costly pick at the end. He threw a horrible pick to end the Notre Dame playoff game. He threw a pick that ended the double OT loss to Oregon last year. Two years ago he threw an INT that Harrison Wallace should have caught vs OSU, but in the final drive he threw and INT in the end zone to end the game. Some of that tightness could be coaching but a lot of it has to also be Allar.
Terry also mentioned in this interview that decision making was taken away from Allar. That tells me that Allar was usually playing tentative. I have seen this at all levels of coaching where kids play tentative because they don't want to make a mistake for one reason or another.
 

IoffendwithTruth1

Sophomore
Feb 13, 2026
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I am going to play the devils advocate here, slightly. In regards to Hack, I agree, he was much better off in the BOB style offense. If Franklin would have stayed with that type of offense, I think it is safe to say Hack still would not have had a successful PSU career. Reason being, lets not forget that our oline was completely depleted from the bogus sanctions. Hacks success would not have changed IMO.
 
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rigi19041

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Apr 1, 2026
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I am going to play the devils advocate here, slightly. In regards to Hack, I agree, he was much better off in the BOB style offense. If Franklin would have stayed with that type of offense, I think it is safe to say Hack still would not have had a successful PSU career. Reason being, lets not forget that our oline was completely depleted from the bogus sanctions. Hacks success would not have changed IMO.


Hack was ranked near the bottom of the B10 with Bob.
 

TigersandLions

Redshirt
Nov 14, 2021
22
28
13
Very true, it was very evident that he played far worse under James than he did BOB.
Not disagreeing at all. But I always feel like comparing hack with BOB to Hack under Franklin is complicated by Allen Robinson. Hack's Freshman year - he could just throw that short out/almost screen pass to Robinson who would then rip off consistent yardage, or throw it up long and let Robinson go get it. Robinson's incredible talent high-pointing/coming up with the 50/50 balls overshadowed his fantastic run after catch skills IMHO.
 
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Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
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2 of the 3 system OC's didn't design their offenses around read option, until they got to PSU. Yurcich's success before and after PSU relies on pocket passers and some RPO, but not much read option. Ciarroca's preferred offense was run heavy but would go to more balanced according to WR talent, TOP dominate style with some RPO, but not much read option. He also didn't use TE's. Neither prioritized mobile QB's. Koltenicki, of course, ran a read option, mobile QB, gadget play offense.

So those 2 were successful before PSU, forgot how to coach at PSU, then remembered after? I have no doubts Allar would have had more success if they were allowed to run what they were successful with prior, rather than being told what to implement (read option). Someone dictated what he wanted them to do, instead of allowing them to do what they're best at.

This is what was so painfully obvious but when anyone mentioned it or tried to blame Franklin (to include called plays), you were shouted down and told 'FRANKLIN DOESN'T MEDDLE!!!' It's his team, his philosophy, his system, and now his coach telling everyone what we already knew.

Virginia Tech Hokie GIF
 

bwc

Senior
May 22, 2014
158
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You are both right. Its weird cause its refreshing to have somebody be so blunt amd honest in their assessment of a former coach. I think we are so conditioned to hearing the PC coach speak that we're caught off guard when the cold hard truth comes out.

I understand your point, but it should not be with Smith, imo. From the moment he was named interim HC, you could notice the difference and it was blatantly obvious. He was very straightforward in all of his sideline interviews, weekly press conferences, etc. I strongly agree that nowadays it's unique and refreshing.

From what's been said, he's the same way with the players. Direct and honest with them when they aren't living up to their capabilities, and at the same time, holds the same standard for himself. It's easy to see why he was given so much respect from the team when he took over.
 

84lion

All-Conference
Oct 7, 2021
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I thought the system that Franklin ultimately settled on was Joe Moorhead’s. There was a distinct deviation from the earlier Franklin offense when joe showed up. IMO, that was when Franklin had no real say in the offense as he was learning it, so Joe called most of his own game. Coincidentally we won and set all kinds of records on offense. Also, the greatest athlete in school history was in the backfield at that time, which probably made it look better than it was. Franklin looked like he adopted the Moorhead offense afterward, but without a Saquon or the guy who developed the system. So he tried to tweak it in weird, often nonsensical ways to confuse the other team. Because he never found another Saquon or because he didn’t understand how the Moorhead offense really worked or could evolve, he mutated the offense into something that it was never meant to be. I think he ended up just asking the players to out athlete the other team with this bastardized Moorhead system. the offense never found any sort of consistency or explosive effectiveness when out athlete wasn’t working.
Franklin's best years were 2016 and 2017 (Barkley) and 2022 - 2024 (Allar and Tyler Warren). 2019 was a good year too, close loss to Minnesota and then the home loss to Ohio State. Point being that Franklin did well when he had "generational talent" (and/or a weak schedule). Thing is, you can't rely on being able to recruit the talent you want. You have to adapt your "system" to the talent you have. "Out athlete" works great until you have injuries or other circumstances that remove your "athletes" from the picture. I give props for using Warren quite creatively, but many times, they used Barkley as a "decoy" and a lot of times, that trick didn't work.
 

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
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Franklin's best years were 2016 and 2017 (Barkley) and 2022 - 2024 (Allar and Tyler Warren). 2019 was a good year too, close loss to Minnesota and then the home loss to Ohio State. Point being that Franklin did well when he had "generational talent" (and/or a weak schedule). Thing is, you can't rely on being able to recruit the talent you want. You have to adapt your "system" to the talent you have. "Out athlete" works great until you have injuries or other circumstances that remove your "athletes" from the picture. I give props for using Warren quite creatively, but many times, they used Barkley as a "decoy" and a lot of times, that trick didn't work.

Moorhead was fine but Barkley did most of the heavy lifting on his own. That meant a tackle for loss or a 50 yard run at a 50/50 clip it seemed. Same for Warren, who Atlas'd that team on his own.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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I am going to play the devils advocate here, slightly. In regards to Hack, I agree, he was much better off in the BOB style offense. If Franklin would have stayed with that type of offense, I think it is safe to say Hack still would not have had a successful PSU career. Reason being, lets not forget that our oline was completely depleted from the bogus sanctions. Hacks success would not have changed IMO.
Maybe but we'll never know. Franklin didn't do Hack any favors....I think we can all agree there.
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
1,406
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Franklin's best years were 2016 and 2017 (Barkley) and 2022 - 2024 (Allar and Tyler Warren). 2019 was a good year too, close loss to Minnesota and then the home loss to Ohio State. Point being that Franklin did well when he had "generational talent" (and/or a weak schedule). Thing is, you can't rely on being able to recruit the talent you want. You have to adapt your "system" to the talent you have. "Out athlete" works great until you have injuries or other circumstances that remove your "athletes" from the picture. I give props for using Warren quite creatively, but many times, they used Barkley as a "decoy" and a lot of times, that trick didn't work.
Regarding Warren... He was a QB in high school (i believe), so he is probably better suited than many to run that offense. But realistically, you shouldn't need to put guys out of position like that nearly as frequently as JF did.
 

rigi19041

Redshirt
Apr 1, 2026
70
30
18
As a true freshman who would have been a top 5 pick if he was draft eligible


Hack stunk. Psu was in the middle of sanctions and you were happy having a team and going 7-5. Losses to Indiana, centralFlorida, minnesota. Ot vs illinois and michigan. Hacks claim.to fame was a jumpball to a nfl pro bowler.
 

rigi19041

Redshirt
Apr 1, 2026
70
30
18
Passing: 3rd
Comp: 2nd
Att: 2nd
Cmp%: 8th
Avg: 5th
TD: 4th
INT: 6th
Sack: 4th
RTG: 7th

Overall: 4/5th

Far from the bottom with BOB, super chief.
Hack stunk. Near the bottom.in 3rd down completion % and his qb rating was bottom half.

Needed Two OT wins just to get above .500. Zero top 10 wins. Funny how you don't care about that anymore.

You had low expe6and were happy going 7-5 with ot win vs Illinois and losing to centralFlorida. .
 
May 17, 2011
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Terry was, in fact, asked why he didnt say anything. His response was simply he wasnt the head coach at the time, so it wasnt his call.
100%. The moment Terry (defensive coach) complains about how the offense is being run or undermined the team by convincing the 5-star QB to leave, he’d be gone. He did the right thing, despite his obvious disagreement, attempting to rally the team to meet the head coach’s vision. And we’re better off because of it because Terry is still here and James Franklin is not.
 

bbrown

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
14,019
28,641
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Terry was, in fact, asked why he didnt say anything. His response was simply he wasnt the head coach at the time, so it wasnt his call.
I like Terry and thought he was and is great for Penn State but c'mon thats a lame excuse. You really think Franklin was going to fire you for suggesting some things?
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
1,406
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I like Terry and thought he was and is great for Penn State but c'mon thats a lame excuse. You really think Franklin was going to fire you for suggesting some things?
No idea. Im just typing what was said. But JF does like yes men. So perhaps he would have been asked to move on? Plus Terry was a Defensive coach. He had enough to deal with.
 
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94LionsFan

Junior
Sep 27, 2023
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I like Terry and thought he was and is great for Penn State but c'mon thats a lame excuse. You really think Franklin was going to fire you for suggesting some things?
Maybe he did suggest some things. Maybe he saw offensive staff suggest some things and get shot down. I don’t think we were going to get that far down in the weeds in an interview like this.
 
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