I couldn't do a better synopsis than kitchel, so I won't really try. But I do have a few thoughts to convey. Basically, I don't feel this game will be close. Our defense is just bad, although I was pretty happy their performance holding PSU to 20 pts. If our kicker doesn't miss 2 field goals, an extra point, and PSU doesn't score a TD on "5th" down...that could be a very different game. Tiller seems to be coaching like he is ready to go fishing already. Typical 3rd and 4th quarter conservativeness when we have the lead at half (see Oregon), which has cost us games and will continue to. I figured this being his last year and with one RB out(Taylor) and only one "big play threat" WR in Orton, that he would open up the playbook a little more. Not really. As far as Painter goes, I would bench the kid in favor of Joey Elliott. Time to start looking at the future. Painter is a 5th year senior (3 year starter) and hasn't really shown any improvement over last year. In fact he looks worse than last year. Missing open receivers, he often throws the ball over their heads or into the grass by their ankles. He has had problems lately with "tunnel vision" staring down the receiver he wants to go to, then either panics when he isn't open and doesn't know what to do, or throws it anyway for a pick or incompletion. Some QB's have "it" and some don't. He doesn't. It makes me sick whenever they say "he high on Kiper's list" (hopefully not anymore) or show the graphic on ESPN or ABC with Purdue's cradle of Quarterbacks: Greise, Danielson, Brees, Orton, etc and include Painter. Looks as if he may break some of Brees passing records, which is a damn shame. Just because he has started for 3 years and piled up the yards and TD's against weak opponents and struggle against good ones. As you can see I'm already starting to think about next year. Or better yet, basketball season!
OSU 38,
Purdue 10