Barnum's Leash

[ManOfVision]

How short is Barnum's leash? If we don't win more than a couple of games this year, does he still come back? I know he survived his mini-scandal this offseason, but that can't help him if he's not getting the job done on the field for a second season in a row. In other words, how many years does that great 2015 season buy him?

 

[GreenGiant]

This loss was a much bigger loss than a casual observer would suspect. With the tough schedule ahead, he has shortened his potential tenure by at least half. This is a talented group of players. Yes, there is some youth, but that is the great coach cop out......oh we're young. How many years has Portland state said they were young?

A win against Davis would have given some leeway to potential losses against UM and other Big Sky perennial powers. The reality is the Big Sky is wide open this year. A win would have shown sustained improvement and put the other schools on notice that PSU is for real. Now, it looks like they came out sprinting in a 5K race.

That was a pathetic performance against UC Davis (not taking anything away from them) and I think it starts at the top. The defense obviously was not prepared. Maybe it was a wake up call. I hope so.

 

[faithinviks]

First year at UCD, Hawkins and Speckman...those are two very good coaches with Oregon roots. UC Davis is going to be at the top of the conference for years to come after going 2-9, 2-9, 3-8 the last 3 years. Leadership is always the key to success and to establishing winning traditions. Leadership on the sideline and leadership on the field are almost unbeatable.

#1 Put in Kraght. He is a respected leader who knows how to motivate and lead and makes very few mistakes. OK, so coaches think he's not the best QB athlete...he is unquestionably the best leader. Let the young kid learn from Kraght how to lead and win in the years ahead.

#2 We had a great year in 2015 with Burton's recruits, the same offensive game plan and a new QB transfer who was a leader. 2016, sure I'll buy the "we were injured and young". 2017...This is the year we will know if we have leadership on the sideline. In fact we will have a fairly good idea by the end of our next game...

 

[ManOfVision]

I used to bemoan Tim Walsh's knack for being good, not great. However, at this point, I'd give anything for a string of 6-5 and 7-4 seasons. If Walsh could do that back in the day with fewer resources than a PSU coach has now, there's no reason for us to be content with losing.

 

[bigskyconf]

This team is still set up to be great next year, not this year. If the team is still struggling at this point next year, then there should be some concern regarding Barnum. I'd say he is safe this year.

 

[Grant H]

This team is still set up to be great next year, not this year. If the team is still struggling at this point next year, then there should be some concern regarding Barnum. I'd say he is safe this year.

I don't know that that's really true though, we do have a lot of young guys, but also a lot of seniors in key roles. Dade, Will Dawson, Duronslet, Seisay, Olumba, Foreman, Cyphers, Summers, Mitch Thompson, Mosley, Crecelius, Outslay, Bach, Kraght, Darnell Adams and Khalil Dawson are all seniors that start or play quite a bit.

I'm not saying those gaps can't be filled, but the Junior class this year is pretty small so I don't know that you expect the team to be better next year without some impact transfers. It will really be two years from now when Barnum's first recruiting class are juniors and seniors.

That being said I think this could still be a good year, we have a lot of talent. The Davis game was a mess, but we'll know if that was an aberration or not after the Montana game

 

[faithinviks]

Agree with @GrantH. This is one of the best Olines we will have for awhile. Get Kraught in there at QB. Run the ball behind that good Oline. Put in some short passing plans 6-10 yards. Stop looking for the deep ball. We've got two really good CB. Load up the box and stop other teams from running and force them to throw. We do have the talent. Use it wisely. Barnum says he is a blue collar guy. Then play blue collar football.

 

[Jay Fend]

Young or not, we gotta get something going. I suspect the Big Sky will be especially unforgiving this year. Look, we got beat at home by UCD, one of only two BSC teams we beat last year. The other BSC team we beat last year was ISU who beat FBS Nevada. Luckily we don't play SUU this year because if they can knock out mighty UNI, the reigning champ T-Birds are on a run to defend the title.

I agree with @faithinviks: Run the ball and plan for short passes. Time to get old-school yard on the game!

And SPECIAL TEAMS! Gotta do something about that! Two blocked punts and missing so many field goals?!

 

[bigskyconf]

How short is Barnum's leash? If we don't win more than a couple of games this year, does he still come back? I know he survived his mini-scandal this offseason, but that can't help him if he's not getting the job done on the field for a second season in a row. In other words, how many years does that great 2015 season buy him?

I just think you are setting a terrible example if you let a coach go two years after he led you to your 2nd playoff appearance in 21 years. I don't see any quality coach wanting to come here with those types of expectations. I'd say the playoff appearance has given Barnum at least two more years to get this going.

 

[Jay Fend]

How short is Barnum's leash? If we don't win more than a couple of games this year, does he still come back? I know he survived his mini-scandal this offseason, but that can't help him if he's not getting the job done on the field for a second season in a row. In other words, how many years does that great 2015 season buy him?

I just think you are setting a terrible example if you let a coach go two years after he led you to your 2nd playoff appearance in 21 years. I don't see any quality coach wanting to come here with those types of expectations. I'd say the playoff appearance has given Barnum at least two more years to get this going.

I agree. Let Barny build a program.

 

[GreenGiant]

I was never a fan of Barnum as a play caller under Burton. Having said that, I like him as a head coach and hope that he gets the ship righted this week. I am not advocating for any sort of change in leadership, what I hope is that they pick a game plan and stick to it. Barnum is a very predictable play caller. If they move the ball on the run with ease, need a 4th and two he tries to "outsmart" the other coach by calling some sort of trick play or pass. RUN THE BALL. Throw some little slants to keep the defense honest. Get behind those horses up front and ride them all the way.

 

[bigskyconf]

I was never a fan of Barnum as a play caller under Burton. Having said that, I like him as a head coach and hope that he gets the ship righted this week. I am not advocating for any sort of change in leadership, what I hope is that they pick a game plan and stick to it. Barnum is a very predictable play caller. If they move the ball on the run with ease, need a 4th and two he tries to "outsmart" the other coach by calling some sort of trick play or pass. RUN THE BALL. Throw some little slants to keep the defense honest. Get behind those horses up front and ride them all the way.

Tend to agree. I have seen many coaches, at all levels, outthink themselves in terms of play calling. When it works, the coach looks like a genius, but more often than not, it turns out to be what the youngsters today call a WTF moment (I hope I said that right).