After picking up their first conference win last week, the Purdue Boilermakers travel east to Happy Valley for this week’s East+ Division Leaders Division match-up. To learn about our division foe, NLD caught up with Ryan Boilerdowd from BoiledSports.com and asked him some questions for this week’s Behind Enemy Lines: Purdue.
NittanyLionsDen.com: Purdue is known for being the BigTen’s passing team, but this year the Boilermakers are ranked 20th in the nation in rushing yards and 93rd overall in passing yards. What is different about the offense this year that is allowing the big numbers on the ground? Were the fans predicting this pre-season, or has the ground game surprised everybody?
BoiledSports.com: First off, Purdue’s passing game was non-existant last year…so I don’t think many Purdue fans expected much from the passing game coming into the season. At BS, we saw the running game as one of the strengths of the team because Bolden was a proven commodity (even coming off of injury) and there is great depth in the offensive backfield. Plus, the OLine is better than it was last year.
All that said, Purdue has gotten pretty fat off of SEMO and Minny, so the numbers are a bit inflated.
NLD: Purdue, much like this year’s Nittany Lions, has been playing two quarterbacks. Robert Marve has yet to throw an interception, but Caleb TerBush has seen at least half of the snaps over the past three games. How do the fans feel about the two-quarterback system? Has it worked so far in West Lafayette? What does each passer bring to the offense? Lastly, should we expect to see the two-quarterback system again this Saturday?
BS: Unless there’s a real, situational reason or unusual skillset from a second QB, we find the two-QB idea to be something that is generally a bad idea. There are a few exceptions, but teams that play multiple quarterbacks generally aren’t strong offenses and are striving to find an identity. This is Purdue right now. TerBush is a solid game manager who might be great if he had PSU or MSU’s offense on the other side of the ball…but he doesn’t. When he’s behind center, he’ll take costly sacks while holding onto the ball too long and tends to miss easy passes with regularity. Marve makes quicker decisions and has a much better arm, but a nagging knee injury has kept him from taking as many snaps as he needs to. Plus, he tends to call audibles and freelance a lot more than TerBush…Purdue’s coaches don’t like it and have been trying to reign him in for the last few weeks.
You should expect to see both Marve and TerBush on Saturday…for better or for worse.
NLD: The Boilermakers lost one of the best defensive players in the country over the off-season when Ryan Kerrigan was drafted by the Redskins. What did he mean to this team, both on field as a playmaker and off it as a leader? How has the defensive line fared so far without his presence?
BS: Kerrigan’s importance can easily be seen if you just watch Purdue for a series or two. The signature speed pressure off of the edge is nowhere to be found as Purdue’s DEs are struggling to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The corners and safeties are paying dearly in Kerrigan’s absence as they have to stay with their man much longer than previous seasons. Purdue’s defensive tackles are very solid, athletic and big…but without help on the outside, it doesn’t mean much.
Kerrigan was a pretty quiet leader, but the team fed off of his production…he’s missed greatly and Purdue is now in very unfamiliar territory as they don’t have a formidable DE for the first time in about 15 seasons.
NLD: The Purdue defense as a whole has held opponents to about 20 ppg, which ranks in the top 30 in the nation. What is the strength of this Boilermaker defense? Going into their first ever Leaders division match-up, which unit needs to step up if Purdue wants to start 2-0 in conference?
BS: Purdue’s defensive strength is in their corners and tackles. I think there’s a bit of fool’s gold in those stats as they can probably be attributed to the competition as much as anything. There are a ton of holes in Purdue’s defense that have been exploited from time-to-time this year. Don’t be shocked if the stagnant PSU offense finds rhythm on Saturday.
NLD: Lastly, how do you see this week-end playing out for the Boilermakers? What are some keys to the game for Purdue to pull off the upset? What predictions can you give regarding the score, or anything else related to this weekend’s match-up?
BS: I don’t see this weekend playing out well for Purdue. When Purdue has been physically challenged this season, they’ve failed…and they haven’t played a front 7 like PSU’s. Purdue has speed in some key skill positions, but they’re not the most physical team. Plus, play calling and defensive scheme have been laughable on multiple occasions. If Purdue doesn’t attempt to establish the run and tries to run the bubble screen early and often, Purdue will be in for a very long day. If Purdue’s linebackers are left covering WRs, Purdue’s defense will struggle to stop PSU…and if Purdue can’t get near the QB, Purdue’s safeties will be exploited…even by a QB that no one believes in.
You’ll probably know early in the game if Purdue is ready to play…and we don’t feel real good about this one. I look for Purdue to lose by at least two touchdowns.
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