Purdue Football: Wake Up! The Coffee is Ready!

Welcome back to another exciting edition of PURDUE BOILERMAKER FOOTBALL.

The homestanding Boilermakers begin their “worst P4-team in 2024” redemption tour in less than four hours, and I’m about to go out on a limb.

I guarantee this season will be better than last season!

In these uncertain times, a guarantee isn’t something to take lightly, but I’m making this iron-clad promise as the esteemed and highly respected co-manager of a team-specific blog. Now, I can’t guarantee it will be significantly better. Purdue is currently in the “stop digging” phase of the rebuild, but I do anticipate a little climbing by the end of the season. Regardless, there is hope, and I assure you that the odds of Barry Odom crying at a press conference are less than the odds of our previous coach selling his McMansion.

When we reach the Big 10 portion of the schedule, we’ll have more in-depth game previews, but the truth is, I have no idea what either team will look like today. I’m not sure either coach knows what the team will look like today. Purdue didn’t put out a depth chart on Monday because Coach Odom didn’t want it to be inaccurate, and I believe him. He’s probably sitting in the locker room right now with a dry-erase board, trying to figure out the offensive line as I’m typing this post.

While we have no idea how this thing is going to go, Garrett and I do have some things that we would like to see, and we’d appreciate it if Coach Odom shared this with the team right before they head out on the field and then acknowledge our contribution to the victory with a game ball and the opportunity to rummage through the lost and found bin in the locker room.

My wife is currently hassling me to wrap this up so we can head to the Farmers’ Market, because something strange happened over the last 25 years, and I guess I’m old now? Anyways, I’ll put off my existential crisis until after this is completed so Ledman doesn’t drive down to Georgia and break my leg for not getting this out in time (he’s tough, but fair and I need the extra motivation).

What We Want to See from Purdue Today.

Offense

Garrett:

So we’re shifting to an RPO, right? I need to see quick releases from Browne. Your RPO offense in short-yardage-that-can-turn-into-big-gains plays require a quick release. In this, I also need to see tailbacks who can block one initial impact, which I trust in the running back room right now. I want to see a rover or safety bite on a play fake so the quarterback can read his keys quickly.

I’m usually an indecisive person when it comes to the concept of “keys to the game,” but Purdue really needs Browne to look decisive and have a quick release on short routes. I think he has the tools to run something just outside (ha) the concept of a traditional outside zone, to where a Mike linebacker over-commits to the A-gap. Then you can beat a DE with your TE, you can get a slant route to the receiver on the outside hash, you can check down to good ol’ Crazy Legs Mockobee. If Browne gets the ball out on time and to the correct receivers, I don’t see how they lose this game.

Drew

I need to see clean football. Last season, we were so caught up in trying to out-scheme the other team that it didn’t look like we practiced stuff like blocking, or snapping the ball in a timely manner, or really anything that you can build an offense upon. You can’t build a house without a foundation.

I want to see Purdue line up against a team with inferior talent and punch them in the nose until they quit. I want Ball State’s defense to wake up tomorrow morning and feel bad about themselves. I know Purdue can out talent our friends from Muncie, but I want to see them physically dominate the line of scrimmage and leave no doubt.

I’ll leave the X’s and O’s to Garrett. I want to see the offensive line push the defense’s face in the dirt and not let them get up all game. I want to see intensity, focus, and controlled violence.

Defense

Garrett:

This one is much less of a football chess match and more of a football fist fight.

I want to see toughness and closing speed. I want to see patience from the secondary and our rover in a new defensive scheme, followed by brute force from the defensive line and pure linebackers (I missed those last year, glad to have them back).

I want to see the Boilers do the basic fundamental things right, and an easy victory will be had. I want to see proper tackling paired with the proper balance of hesitation versus engagement with corners and safeties.

Make them have to beat us over the top.

Make them have to tire themselves out before our train stops rolling.

I want to see every single “coach speak” concept that you can hear coming from a defensive coordinator, the week before a game you should win put into action.

Drew:

I’m with Garrett on this one. Much like with the offense, this game is all about setting a tone. That tone is, “you’re going to have to earn it now.” Purdue didn’t make the other team earn it last season. The schedule was demanding, but teams used the Boilermakers as a prep week for their next opponent.

I want the defense to make as much of a statement against a team like Ball State as possible.

I need sound tackling.

I need edge defenders to actually set the edge.

I need the secondary to not lose focus and cut someone loose twice a drive.

I don’t care about the big, brained stuff, and that’s unusual for me. Purdue shouldn’t have to scheme against Ball State. They should come out, physically dominate the line of scrimmage, and end the game before halftime.

I want a Pee-Wee football game plan with Big 10 executionand physicality.

I could continue listing things, but I think you get the point, and my wife is now making frustrated sounds outside of my office.

Garrett and I will be hanging out in “the feed” about an hour before kick, talking football and shooting the breeze. Feel free to join us.