WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The question that has alluded everyone, outside of Kozuch Football Performance Complex, is when Purdue will name its starting quarterback and who will trot out onto the field first against Ball State at the end of the month. The Boilermakers are inching closer toward their season opener and the clock is […]
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The question that has alluded everyone, outside of Kozuch Football Performance Complex, is when Purdue will name its starting quarterback and who will trot out onto the field first against Ball State at the end of the month.
The Boilermakers are inching closer toward their season opener and the clock is ticking on a decision about the quarterback position for Barry Odom and company. As Purdue’s fall camp approaches a fourth week next week, could a verdict come down sooner rather than later?
“Every day, have conversations about who did well, the guys that need work on specific areas, what they need to do. We’ll take the next two days and then after Saturday night, and look at the body of work, and be ready to make a decision, or not,” Odom said.
The second scrimmage of the fall for the Boilermakers marks an important one. Purdue will be under the lights of Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time as a group and the session could also offer more clarity at the quarterback spot. There will also be the potential for other positions to do the same, as Odom looks to get his depth chart dialed in following the scrimmage.
“We’ll get through the scrimmage on Saturday night and then we’ll start putting together a depth chart. I think there’s great competitive battles, really, at every single spot,” Odom said.
That was a possibility after the first scrimmage, which was last Saturday, but since then, Ryan Browne, Malachi Singleton, Evans Chuba and Bennett Meredith have remained mixing and matching with different groups during practice. Odom views that as a benefit to ensure each quarterback gets their reps and has familiarity with as many pass catchers, offensive linemen and running backs as possible.
“You’ve seen the way we’ve rotated. They’re playing with every group, so I think that’s healthy. There’s good and bad with each of them. It’s our job as coaches to make sure we get the right guy in the right spot, in every position, including the quarterback, and we will,” Odom said.
That steady rotation could still remain on the heels of Saturday nights scrimmage, however. The Boilermakers are not in a rush to assert their starter and potential clarity is dependent upon someone stepping up in a mock game setting in Ross-Ade Stadium.
“I hope so, and it’ll all be on how the guys compare and compete tomorrow and Saturday,” Odom said.
“We’re not in game week prep mode yet. We’ll have practice tomorrow and Saturday, Sunday will be off. We’re still in camp, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. The following Thursday, we’ll do a bonus Monday practice on our first opponent in Ball State, and then that Friday, we’ll do a bonus Tuesday practice. So it’ll be some clarity, at least moving into that one kind of eliminating some reps or adding to it to somebody,” Odom said.
What did Odom learn about the quarterback room after last weekend’s scrimmage? That the Boilermakers have options, which still leaves the starter question in limbo, but offers optimism for the Purdue head coach.
“You bet. Yeah, we got a group of guys that are making progress, and we’re going to be able to play winning football, whoever that guy is,” Odom said.
Ball State and Southern Illinois offer a softer launch to the season for the Boilermakers on paper, which could have paved the way for an in-season battle amongst signal callers for the top spot. That’s on paper though. Odom sees no such easy road despite the Boilermakers being the heavy favorite over their MAC and FCS counterparts.
“Game one is our Super Bowl,” Odom said. “We’ve got to get ready to go play our best ball game one. And whoever the best 11 are, they need to go play to win. And then as soon as that game is over, win, lose or draw, it’s a sprint to get to game two. And we’ll focus on that there… We have zero room for error. We got to go be really good here in 15 days.”
Purdue’s biggest question mark, from a personnel perspective, is closer to finally reaching a short-term conclusion, but the timetable for the quarterback battles’ close has still yet to be determined.
Category: General Sports
