IMO Brent Pry is in trouble because the defense has been struggling the last couple of years we can’t get off the field on 3rd and 4th downs and the few games we have lost the defense can’t get a nitty gritty stop when the games are on the line. We’ve also took a big step back on gettin turnovers. I believe the DB’s are ok if we could get any pressure on the QB. I’m not seeing it on defense and haven’t for a while but we was winning and when you’re winning it’s a little easier to overlook problems but when you’re 0-5 nothing can be overlooked. I like Pry but he just ain’t gettin it done. Just my opinion though
I totally agree Southern. I think Pry is an obvious weak link on this staff, but he's not the only one. IMO Franklin's recruiting efforts have been very good, but the position coaches he hires really aren't fully developing the potential these kids have. It's a shame to waste all that raw talent! I think he needs to rethink the "coaches book" he has and bring in some guys with solid experience and proven success. Sure it may take spending more money, but maybe he could forgo some of his mega bucks to sweeten the pot available to hire some quality assistants. I may be all wet, but I really believe what I'm saying.
I honestly have no idea what you guys are looking at. Yeah, this year has been bad... but "the last few years"???
2016: #37 in total defense
2017: #7 in total defense
2018: #23 in total defense
2019: #9 in total defense.
Really? We've been struggling??? I get that we need some better stops in key situations, but guys... come on now. Pry has had two top ten defenses, and one was last year. The way you sound it's like he's been terrible.
@roaminglion. Last good defense we had was 2017 regardless of what them stats say the defense was average in 2018 and 2019 and has been awful this year. This is just my opinion on what I see maybe you see something that I don’t. We haven’t got after the QB in a few years and that’s why we can’t get any game winning stops.
@rip. I like pry and I believe he can be a good DC he just needs a new stop because from what I see it just ain’t working at Penn St. sometimes change is good the dude ain’t forgot how to coach for some reason it just ain’t working out. Don brown at Michigan has been a great DC but he’s also lost it , it happens sometimes. Don Brown might be a good DC to go after. I believe a change is coming bob. Bob you’ve heard me say it and I’ll say it again, when you’re winning it’s easier to overlook things but when your 0-5 somebody has to take the fall lol
Unfortunately, stats don't win games.
Yeah, but they clue you into why you lost.
Minnesota last year? Guess what... we did get those key stops. Minnesota last 2 possessions they punted and fumbled. We also outgained them. People seem to remember that game very differently, we didn't lose it because of defense... we lost because Clifford threw 3 INTs.
Ohio State last year? Last 2 possessions our defense did the same thing... Forced a punt and got a fumble. Offense then did nothing. But yeah, defense is why we lost that one too. Toughest game OSU had all year, but again somehow it was our defense that lost the game.
Really?
@roaminglion. You got a good point about the offense in them 2 games we lost and Limegrover was the fall guy because he’s the one that got fired at the end of the season. I look for pry to take the fall this year. Roam, I like pry and I’m I’ve tried my best to find something to build on but watching our defense the first 5 games I’ve seen absolutely nothing positive to make me think it will be better next year man Illinois shut down Nebraska and we made Nebraska look like Alabama. I just don’t see it.
@southern-psu-fan If we can go from being pretty good last year, to a disappointing mess this year, surely it can turn back around just as easily next season.
Get on the bus SPF!
@been-there-ii. I’m still on the James Franklin train brother he just needs to tweak a few things and I’m sure he will. These kind of things happen and James Franklin has earned a right to try and fix it. When your 0-5 losing to Indiana, Nebraska and Maryland there’s a problem somewhere and it ain’t all on the pandemic it’s a few things and I’m sure James Franklin knows what it is.
Here's the thing... I think there is this weird narrative that Franklin is some horrible coach, as if winning 11 games in the Big Ten is some easy feat. Paterno's record in the Big Ten was never better than Franklin's span of 2016-2019, but to listen to people in here those years were failures and Franklin's horrible coaching is the only thing that kept us from going undefeated.
Here's the thing... I think there is this weird narrative that Franklin is some horrible coach, as if winning 11 games in the Big Ten is some easy feat. Paterno's record in the Big Ten was never better than Franklin's span of 2016-2019, but to listen to people in here those years were failures and Franklin's horrible coaching is the only thing that kept us from going undefeated.
Franklin is a good coach but will never be a great coach and that is obvious. What most people are trying to say is that if PSU wants to be great or elite they need somebody else at the top.
@psujoe. James Franklin is a very good coach will be great when he wins a NC.
Here's the thing... I think there is this weird narrative that Franklin is some horrible coach, as if winning 11 games in the Big Ten is some easy feat. Paterno's record in the Big Ten was never better than Franklin's span of 2016-2019, but to listen to people in here those years were failures and Franklin's horrible coaching is the only thing that kept us from going undefeated.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I never accused Franklin of being a horrible coach or considered his prior won-loss records a failure. This year is different. Something is wrong, seriously wrong. I hope he finds out what needs fixing and takes care of it, IMO. he should begin by taking a hard look at his staff.
@southern-psu-fanI don't see it happening Southern, he has made the same mistakes over and over
Here's the thing... I think there is this weird narrative that Franklin is some horrible coach, as if winning 11 games in the Big Ten is some easy feat. Paterno's record in the Big Ten was never better than Franklin's span of 2016-2019, but to listen to people in here those years were failures and Franklin's horrible coaching is the only thing that kept us from going undefeated.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I never accused Franklin of being a horrible coach or considered his prior won-loss records a failure. This year is different. Something is wrong, seriously wrong. I hope he finds out what needs fixing and takes care of it, IMO. he should begin by taking a hard look at his staff.
It's not his staff, they are mostly the same staff that was 11-2 last year and good the years before.
As for the 2 new coaches, I doubt we're 0-5 because of them either. Honestly I think people are just searching for answers we will just never know. It's so out of the norm that I am just chalking it up to an outlier season. It's nothing like anything we've ever seen from Franklin, or for that matter I can't remember this type of thing anywhere else either. I guess that's why I'm not especially worried... because it's so far outside the norm.
If things don't get better next year then we will surely fire Franklin and move on.
@roaminglion Once again I will tell you that there are people known as PSU insiders claiming that there's locker room issues. You think it's just a coincidence that PSU is #1 in portal entries,recruiting takes a dip and then the team starts 0-5? The issues aren't something that fix themselves in one offseason.
You're right Roam, we'll never know for sure. I still think the staff is suspect. Just my opinion, but the personnel losses to injury, opt out, etc. exposed the lack of coaching in fundamental football evident in the back-ups and younger kids. I believe the unnecessary penalties, turnovers and poor tackling bear this out. The one that really sticks in my craw is Ford's losing TD. Anyway, I'm not going to worry about it today, Happy Thanksgiving to all!
On the defense I would like to see a guy like Dan Connor become the linebackers coach. I know he is coaching at Widener now. Or was recently. He is a guy that has done great things at the position. Plus could take some pressure off Pry. Also Connor might help with recruiting.
Here's the thing... I think there is this weird narrative that Franklin is some horrible coach, as if winning 11 games in the Big Ten is some easy feat. Paterno's record in the Big Ten was never better than Franklin's span of 2016-2019, but to listen to people in here those years were failures and Franklin's horrible coaching is the only thing that kept us from going undefeated.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I never accused Franklin of being a horrible coach or considered his prior won-loss records a failure. This year is different. Something is wrong, seriously wrong. I hope he finds out what needs fixing and takes care of it, IMO. he should begin by taking a hard look at his staff.
I sure wish my wife would take a hard look at my staff. Or is it a look at my hard staff?? Yeah, that's the one.
I cant say that Pry is on the hot seat as of yet but Terry Smith's DB's have made some average QB's look like Heisman trophy winners over the years. He is an excellent recruiter and I'd hate to lose him in that capacity but he's sorely lacking in the coaching aspect of his job.
Hope all you gents had a wonderful bird-day and all the butterballs you stuffed were turkeys!!!
@rockatansky76: Rock, what are your thoughts on Terry Smith?? I'm wondering if he'll be the next one to be shown the door. Dan Connor would be an excellent addition.
I believe the DB’s would be much better if we got some pressure on the QB. When you make all QB’s look like Drew Breeze you have a problem. Miller Time was the last dominant DE we’ve had. We’ve got to get some nasty studs on the Defensive line and start gettin after the QB like we use to do. Illinois shut down Nebraska and Nebraska run all over us. With Parsons jumping ship I understand the setback at LB’r but they still have a lot of work to do.bottom line is our defensive front is killing us.
