2009 Purdue Boilermakers Game Preview
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Preface
The Boilermakers named Danny Hope to succeed Tiller as head football coach after the 2008 season, in the same manner that Wisconsin designated Bret Bielema prior to Barry Alvarez's final season. Danny Hope was the O-Line coach during the first 5 years of the Tiller era at Purdue, then was briefly the offensive coordinator at Louisville before leaving in 2002 to become the head man as his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky. After winning the home opener against Toledo, Hope's Boilermakers have dropped 5 straight games.
Joe Tiller was one of only three head coaches since World War II to have a winning record at Purdue. Jack Mollenkopf went 84-39-9 (.670) from 1956 through 1969, and his 1968 team held the #1 ranking until they were downed 13-0 in Columbus, by the SuperSophs team that went on to win a National Championship. Jim Young's teams went 38-19-1 (.664) from 1977 through 1981, before he went to coach Army. But none of the head men will ever threaten the career the mark of Knowlton "Snake" Ames, who went 12-0 in 1891-92.
In the 15 years prior to Tiller's arrival, Purdue's overall record was 54-107-5 (.340). During his 12 seasons, Tiller had a mark of 87-62 (.584), and led the Boilers to 10 of their 15 bowl appearances. He's now watching football and enjoying fishing, at least until it gets colder in Wyoming, based on what he said last year: "When I'm done coaching at Purdue, my wife and I will return to Wyoming. Many people don't understand the weather in Wyoming, but it's clear and still - the snow is clear up to your butt and still coming down."
Purdue's highest final ranking in the major polls is a #5 spot in 1943. That 9-0 mark under Elmer Burnham is one of two perfect records they've had since 1900, the other being an 8-0 record in 1929, the last year under Jimmy Phelan.
They had a strong run in the late '60s, finishing 6th, 9th, and 10th respectively in 1966, '67, and '68. Their only other top-10 finish was a 10th place spot in the final poll of the 1979 season. Their 10-2 record that year marks the only time the program has ever had a 10-win season.
Their only outright Big Ten championship was in 1929. They have shared 7 other conference titles, with the Drew Brees team that went to the Rose Bowl after the 2000 season being the only one since 1967.
The Boilermakers are 5-25-2 all-time in games played in Columbus. They also claim another win in the state of Ohio due to their 30-7 victory in Cleveland in 1943. In West Lafayette, Purdue is 6-12 against the Buckeyes, including a recent win in 2004 and a memorable win in 2000 (Drew Brees to Seth Morales) that sent them to the Rose Bowl. In between those two games was the 'Holy Buckeye' game of 2002.
In last year's game in Columbus, QB Curtis Painter became only the fourth quarterback in Big Ten history to pass for over 10,000 yards. Before his career ended, he surpassed Northwestern's Brett Basanez (10,580) and Iowa's Chuck Long (10,461), and his final total of 11,195 passing yards trails only fellow Boiler Drew Brees (11,792),
Painter was drafted by the Colts, and was the latest in a long line of successful QBs at Purdue, following in the footsteps of Bob DeMoss, Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Mike Phipps, Gary Danielson, Mark Herrmann, Jim Everett, and Brees.
If the Buckeyes win this game, they'll tie the all-time record of 17 straight Big Ten conference road wins, set by TSUN from 1988-92.
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Time: Noon ET Kick-off
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium - (West Lafayette, IN)
Constructed: 1924 (Renovated in 2003)
Seating Capacity: 62,500 (Originally 13,500)
Playing Surface: Bermuda Grass, Prescription Athletic Turf System
Time: Noon ET Kick-off
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium - (West Lafayette, IN)
Constructed: 1924 (Renovated in 2003)
Seating Capacity: 62,500 (Originally 13,500)
Playing Surface: Bermuda Grass, Prescription Athletic Turf System
Events:
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: BTN: Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), Chris Martin (analyst), Rebecca Haarlow (sideline)
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (WBNS 97.1 and 1460TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
2009 Purdue Boilermakers Offensive PreviewBroadcast Information:
TV Broacast: BTN: Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), Chris Martin (analyst), Rebecca Haarlow (sideline)
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (WBNS 97.1 and 1460TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
Returning starters: 5
After dominating Wisconsin and their power run offense for much of the game en route to a 3-0 start in conference play, the Buckeyes next face an entirely different type of offense as they travel to Purdue. Sadly for the Boilermakers, the "basketball on grass" of the Drew Brees era has been called for a few double dribbles in recent years, as the success of the offense, and of the team in general, has declined since their Rose Bowl berth in 2000, totaling 9 wins only one time since then. Since the 2000 loss, the Buckeyes have only lost to Purdue one other time, a 24-17 loss in 2004. In the 5 wins over Purdue this decade, the Buckeyes have been very good defensively, allowing a total of only 38 points in those 5 games. Still, the Boilermakers can pile up yards and points in bunches on occasion...their problem this season has been that those spurts usually have lasted a quarter or less, interspersed with extensive periods of mediocre production and turnovers that have let the opposing team climb back in the game or take a commanding lead. The offensive numbers aren't bad, in fact they're pretty good, but the personnel they have at this stage can't seem to control the game tempo enough to dictate the pace for 60 minutes, or score quite enough points to finish games off, or hang on to the football enough.
Purdue can still throw the ball all over the field, throwing for 265 yards per game, good for 22nd nationally. The running game also hasn't been too bad, gaining 145.2 yards a contest good for 64th in the country. Collectively, their 410.2 yards a game ranks 37th nationally, a very respectable number. Purdue has also put up 28.5 points per game, good for 55th nationally, scoring at least 20 every game. Their 118 total first downs ranks tied for 37th in the country, while their 41.5% conversion rate on 3rd down is also a nice number, good for T35th nationally. There's no doubt that Purdue is capable of moving the football, but the interesting thing will be how consistent they are able to play against the ferocious Buckeye defense. Also, the Purdue turnover margin is a disastrous -9 overall, ranking near dead last in the NCAA (115th). Given that the Buckeye defense has been channeling their inner Baltimore Ravens recently, converting turnovers directly into points, this is one stat that the Boilermakers will absolutely have to improve on Saturday to have any chance of keeping the game close.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Joey Elliott (6-2, 216, SR, Harrison HS, Evansville, IN)
Elliott first saw action as a Boilermaker in 2006, so he has been around a long time and brings a lot of leadership to the team. He has had to wait patiently, throwing a total of only 49 passes in 3 seasons coming into this year. Given his opportunity, he has made the most of it, leading the offense as a team captain in his final season, though he has found the opposing team a few more times than he and the Purdue faithful would like. He has thrown for 1575 yards and 12 TDs thus far, with 9 INTs and 9 sacks. His completion percentage is respectable (60.1%), and he has been one of the team's better offensive players, significantly contributing in each and every game. In their only win in the opener, he threw for 220 yards and 3 TDs. He threw for 266 yards and a TD against Oregon, ran for 68 yards and 2 scores against Northern Illinois (throwing for just 188 yards), threw for 289 and 3 scores against Notre Dame, threw for 313 and 3 scores against Northwestern, and threw for 299 and 2 TDs last week in the loss to Minnesota. Despite these very impressive numbers, he has also been streaky with his accuracy and prone to interceptions, something he needs to keep working on if Purdue wants to make a late push at a bowl game. He has thrown at least 28 passes in every game (and up to 47), so expect a healthy does of distribution on Saturday. He isn't a major threat on the ground, but he is the team's 2nd leading rusher and he can pick up a key first down with a scramble.
The backup is freshman Caleb TerBush (#19). He has not attempted a pass all season.
QB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State QBs
Elliott: 128/213 (60.1%), 1575 yards, 12 TDs, 9 INTs, 132.3 rating; 39/127, 2 TDs
Pryor: 72/128 (56.3%), 948 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs, 132.3 rating; 65/333, 3 TDs
Elliott has kept his team in games with his offensive production. He can throw the ball all over the field, and he is good at distributing the ball around, as evidenced by 4 receivers having at least 16 catches this season thus far. He has also thrown for at least 250 yards against the 4 best teams he's faced, demonstrating his ability to perform against quality opposition. He is prone to turnovers, but he also has stretches where he is very difficult to stop. Pryor played poorly for a good portion of the game last week and really needs to step up his play for the Buckeyes as they enter the meat of their schedule. Given Purdue's defensive struggles, this would be a good week to work some kinks out and get some things established. The Buckeyes are almost dead last in the NCAA in passing offense (108th), so it's hard not to like Elliott in this matchup based on production, despite Pryor's explosive running ability.
Edge: Purdue
Running Backs
TB #23 Ralph Bolden (5-9, 194, SO, Charlton County HS, Folkston, GA)
Bolden is a fast and shifty runner that fits this offense very well. After sparse duty in 2008 (16 carries), he is the feature back this season. Though his production has somewhat plateaued after starting out on fire, he is a very nice player for the Boilers, amassing almost 600 yards thus far and on pace to beat the 1131 yards that Kory Sheets gained last season. Bolden came barreling out of the gate, torching Toledo for 234 yards and 2 TDs on just 21 carries. He followed that up with 129 yards and 2 more scores against Oregon the following week. Since then, he has failed to break the 100 yard mark, with 12-18 carries and 50-70 yards per game, which is still very solid production in a passing-oriented offense. He has also caught at least 1 pass in every game and amassed 11 receptions on the season thus far, so he is a nice safety valve out of the backfield for Elliott as well. Among his accomplishments in this regard are 52 yards and a TD receiving against Oregon and 62 yards on 4 receptions against Northern Illinois.
The backup is senior program veteran Jaycen Taylor (#33). He was heavily involved in the offense in 2006 (677 yards) and 2007 (560 yards) before sitting out last season. This year, he started the year with 81 yards and a TD against Toledo, but has just 12 carries for 37 yards since. He also had a 38 yard TD catch against Notre Dame. He is a capable and experienced player who fits the same mold (5-10, 180) as Bolden and who could easily step in if necessary.
RB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State RBs
Bolden: 115/599 yards, 4 TDs, 5.2 YPC; 11 rec/173 yards, 1 TD, 15.7 YPR
Taylor: 26/118 yards, 3 TDs, 4.5 YPC; 2 rec/42 yards, 1 TD, 21.0 YPR
Saine: 63/349 yards, 0 TDs, 5.5 YPC; 9 rec/103 yards, 0 TDs, 11.4 YPR
Herron: 66/241 yards, 5 TDs, 3.7 YPC; 5 rec/34 yards, 0 TDs, 6.8 YPR
Despite being different types of backs, the numbers here are very similar to those from Wisconsin's backs, with the caveat that the Purdue backs are significant weapons out of the backfield in the passing game. Bolden has quickly established himself as a feature back, and Taylor is a veteran who provides production, experience, and valuable depth. On the Buckeye side, Saine continues to be the new featured back, though he struggled against Wisconsin save a 31 yard draw play. Herron was bitten by the injury bug again and can't seem to establish a rhythm or stay healthy long enough to do so thus far. The Buckeyes also have some promising freshmen and have more than their share of talent in the backfield, but there appears to be little doubt which team has gotten more production from their backs thus far. Bolden's YPC and YPR are both very impressive. Despite his production leveling off the past few weeks, he has still been the more productive of the backs on a consistent basis. Taylor also provides nice depth.
Edge: Purdue
Wide Receivers
WR #8 Keith Smith (6-2, 226, JR, Shoemaker HS, Fort Hood, TX)
WR #17 Aaron Valentin (6-1, 205, SR, Freeport HS, Freeport, NY)
WR #1 Keith Carlos (6-1, 200, JR, Central HS, Bridgeport, CT)
Purdue lost 3 of their top 4 receptions leaders from last season, with Smith being the lone holdover after catching 49 passes for 486 yards and 2 TDs last season. He has already exceeded his yardage and TDs from last season, and has established himself as one of the conference's better receivers. His production has been both impressive and consistent, catching at least 7 passes and gaining at least 100 yards in 4 games each. He opened the season with 8 catches for 117 yards and a score against Toledo, and followed that with 4 catches for 68 yards against Oregon and 5 receptions for 37 yards against Northern Illinois. He bounced back from that game to have 3 very big games coming into the Ohio State game. He caught 11 passes for 136 yards and a TD against Notre Dame, caught 7 for 101 and a score against Northwestern, and last week he caught 7 for 126 and a TD against Minnesota. He is big, strong, fast, uses his body well, and runs good routes. He is also multi-dimensional, as he has carried the ball one time and even threw a 15 yard TD pass. Smith is arguably the best player in this offense, and has very much established himself as a contender for conference honors at the end of the season.
Valentin also saw some action in 2008, catching 11 passes for 224 yards and a pair of TDs. This season, he is 2nd on the team with 29 catches and he leads the team with 5 receiving TDs. He is another good-sized target with strong hands that has created matchup problems in the red zone this season. After a slow start (3 rec/18 yards), he caught 8 passes for 82 yards against Oregon. He had 2 more games with limited production (5 rec for 39 yards against Northern Illinois and a single 36 yard TD catch against Notre Dame) before stepping up his production once conference play started. He caught 4 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs against Northwestern in the opener and followed that up with 8 catches for 80 yards and a TD against Minnesota last week. More impressive is that he has stepped up his production without a corresponding dropoff by Smith, indicating how valuable of a 2nd weapon Valentin has become. The 3rd starting receiver is Keith Carlos, who has stepped in for an injured Royce Adams. His production has been more limited, but he has chipped in 16 catches for 196 yards and a TD thus far, highlighted by his 6 catch, 64 yard game against Northwestern in the conference opener. This unit as a whole has increased their level of play once the Big Ten slate started, which should be heartening to the Purdue faithful.
Not surprisingly, Purdue employs several backups at receiver as part of their rotation. These include junior Cortez Smith (#81), sophomore Waynelle Gravesande (#3), and freshman Antavian Edison (#34). Smith has gotten the most work, catching 4 passes for 30 yards thus far. Edison also has a catch. The backups aren't as big as the starters (average weight 175), but they seem to have upside despite limited production.
WR Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State WRs
Smith: 42 catches, 585 yards, 4 TDs, 13.9 YPR
Valentin: 29 catches, 356 yards, 5 TDs, 12.3 YPR
Carlos: 16 catches, 196 yards, 1 TDs, 12.3 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 16 catches, 326 yards, 4 TDs, 20.4 YPR
Posey: 21 catches, 268 yards, 3 TDs, 12.8 YPR
Carter: 8 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD, 7.3 YPR
Smith has established himself among the elite receivers in the conference. He is consistently good and seems to produce big numbers every time out, despite whatever coverages are thrown at him. Valentin has ratcheted up the production in recent weeks as well and appears to be a weapon that Purdue will use more of. Carlos also appears capable and could cause problems if too much focus is placed on Smith and Valentin. It is clear that the Buckeye front 7 has to pressure Elliott, because if he has time to find these receivers they can do damage against any defense. On the Buckeye side, Sanzenbacher continues to be the best player, with Posey and Carter developing as they go. All 3 have been somewhat hindered by the struggles of Pryor, but they should be able to increase their production over the next 3 weeks. Production and experience favor the Boilermakers here, and depth doesn't appear to be a significant strength of either side. Call this one for Purdue on the strength of Smith alone.
Edge: Purdue
Tight Ends
TE #85 Kyle Adams (6-4, 251, JR, Westlake HS, Austin, TX)
Adams may not have the hype or pedigree of Wisconsin's Garrett Graham, but he is a big, solid player who contributes to the passing game and also blocks effectively when Bolden gets the ball. He has a large frame and can find open space when zone defenses are focusing on Purdue's highly effective receivers. He is also a very smart player and provides quality leadership. Fellow junior Jeff Lindsay (#88) has also been involved, catching 5 passes thus far. He caught one pass against the Buckeyes the last time these teams played.
TE Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State TEs
Adams: 16 catches, 132 yards, 0 TDs, 8.3 YPR
Ballard: 7 catches, 77 yards, 0 TDs, 11.0 YPR
Adams and Lindsay are solid players who block well and contribute to the passing game also. Many feel the Buckeyes don't use the TE position enough.
Edge: Purdue
Offensive Line
LT #68 Dennis Kelly (6-8, 291, SO, Marian Catholic HS, Chicago Heights, IL)
LG #75 Zach Reckman (6-5, 297, SR, Indian Hill HS, Cincinnati, OH)
C #54 Jared Zwilling (6-4, 293, SR, Central HS, Evansville, IN)
RG #73 Ken Plue (6-7, 322, SO, Milford Academy, Rensselaer, NY)
RT #61 Zach Jones (6-5, 312, SR, Plainfield HS, Plainfield, IN)
This is another good-sized line that offers a nice combination of power, mobility, experience, and youth. The line is anchored on the right side by Jones, a former walk-on who now has made 30 consecutive starts over 3 seasons and has been one of Purdue's more reliable players up front. Also providing leadership is Ohio product Reckman, who has started at both left tackle and left guard in his career. He is 2nd on the offense to Jones with 23 career starts and he has started 5 of 6 games this season. At center, Zwilling has patiently waited for his opportunity after converting from DT and has taken advantage of it once presented, making 4 starts at LG last season before moving to center and starting all 6 games this season. His perseverance has paid off and he is a nice success story, as well as being one of the team's smartest players. He was also elected a team captain, showing the respect he commands in the locker room. At RG, Plue started the final 6 games last season and has started every game this season. He is a physical specimen with good athletic ability and a lot of upside. LT duty falls to Kelly, who won the job outright after playing sparingly last season. All 5 players are tall with good wingspans, which help make them adept at pass blocking. They have allowed just 9 sacks this season, not a bad number considering the number of passes the offense puts up.
The backups are primarily young players. Freshman Rick Schmeig (#76) started one game at LG this season and could see the field Saturday. He is the primary backup across the interior. Fellow freshman Peters Drey (#67) and Monroe Brooks (#56) are the backups at LT. Junior Justin Pierce (#72) also offers some experience. Pierce started 8 games over the past 2 seasons at RG. Fellow junior Ryan Prater (#77) is the backup at RT.
OL Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State OL
This is a decent line that has some experience and continuity. There aren't any players that stand out as superstars here, though Jones and Reckman are solid and have been mainstays in the lineup. The unit has remained solidly intact throughout the season thus far, so they have the advantage of playing together extensively. Ohio State's offensive line struggles have been well documented, and the line didn't play especially well last weekend. In terms of raw talent, the Buckeyes would probably get a clear edge, but the Purdue line is a scrappy bunch that has generated solid production for most of the season as well. On paper, this one goes to Ohio State, but until they establish themselves they way they appear capable of doing, call it even.
Edge: Even
Overall Offensive Analysis
The Purdue offense continues to move the ball effectively as in the successful years of the past. The main differences seem to be their sporadic periods of production and their high penchant for turnovers (11 fumbles, 9 INTs). If they are able to move the ball as they have been doing and can stop shooting themselves in the foot on a consistent basis, then Purdue could have a more successful second half of the season. Unfortunately for them, they face a defense this week that gets heavy pressure on the QB, eats up solid but unspectacular lines like Wisconsin's, and feasts off turnovers. None of those things especially play into Purdue's hands, thought they've played the Buckeyes tough in recent years. Look for Purdue to have at least some moderate success on offense at some point in the game (Wisconsin moved the ball some when Tolzien hung in strong and completed some passes last week), the question being whether they can sustain it and keep from turning the football over. They will face by far their biggest test of the season this weekend...at 1-5, that is not a particularly good sign.
Overall Offensive Rating: B
2009 Purdue Boilermakers Defensive PreviewPurdue can still throw the ball all over the field, throwing for 265 yards per game, good for 22nd nationally. The running game also hasn't been too bad, gaining 145.2 yards a contest good for 64th in the country. Collectively, their 410.2 yards a game ranks 37th nationally, a very respectable number. Purdue has also put up 28.5 points per game, good for 55th nationally, scoring at least 20 every game. Their 118 total first downs ranks tied for 37th in the country, while their 41.5% conversion rate on 3rd down is also a nice number, good for T35th nationally. There's no doubt that Purdue is capable of moving the football, but the interesting thing will be how consistent they are able to play against the ferocious Buckeye defense. Also, the Purdue turnover margin is a disastrous -9 overall, ranking near dead last in the NCAA (115th). Given that the Buckeye defense has been channeling their inner Baltimore Ravens recently, converting turnovers directly into points, this is one stat that the Boilermakers will absolutely have to improve on Saturday to have any chance of keeping the game close.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Joey Elliott (6-2, 216, SR, Harrison HS, Evansville, IN)
Elliott first saw action as a Boilermaker in 2006, so he has been around a long time and brings a lot of leadership to the team. He has had to wait patiently, throwing a total of only 49 passes in 3 seasons coming into this year. Given his opportunity, he has made the most of it, leading the offense as a team captain in his final season, though he has found the opposing team a few more times than he and the Purdue faithful would like. He has thrown for 1575 yards and 12 TDs thus far, with 9 INTs and 9 sacks. His completion percentage is respectable (60.1%), and he has been one of the team's better offensive players, significantly contributing in each and every game. In their only win in the opener, he threw for 220 yards and 3 TDs. He threw for 266 yards and a TD against Oregon, ran for 68 yards and 2 scores against Northern Illinois (throwing for just 188 yards), threw for 289 and 3 scores against Notre Dame, threw for 313 and 3 scores against Northwestern, and threw for 299 and 2 TDs last week in the loss to Minnesota. Despite these very impressive numbers, he has also been streaky with his accuracy and prone to interceptions, something he needs to keep working on if Purdue wants to make a late push at a bowl game. He has thrown at least 28 passes in every game (and up to 47), so expect a healthy does of distribution on Saturday. He isn't a major threat on the ground, but he is the team's 2nd leading rusher and he can pick up a key first down with a scramble.
The backup is freshman Caleb TerBush (#19). He has not attempted a pass all season.
QB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State QBs
Elliott: 128/213 (60.1%), 1575 yards, 12 TDs, 9 INTs, 132.3 rating; 39/127, 2 TDs
Pryor: 72/128 (56.3%), 948 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs, 132.3 rating; 65/333, 3 TDs
Elliott has kept his team in games with his offensive production. He can throw the ball all over the field, and he is good at distributing the ball around, as evidenced by 4 receivers having at least 16 catches this season thus far. He has also thrown for at least 250 yards against the 4 best teams he's faced, demonstrating his ability to perform against quality opposition. He is prone to turnovers, but he also has stretches where he is very difficult to stop. Pryor played poorly for a good portion of the game last week and really needs to step up his play for the Buckeyes as they enter the meat of their schedule. Given Purdue's defensive struggles, this would be a good week to work some kinks out and get some things established. The Buckeyes are almost dead last in the NCAA in passing offense (108th), so it's hard not to like Elliott in this matchup based on production, despite Pryor's explosive running ability.
Edge: Purdue
Running Backs
TB #23 Ralph Bolden (5-9, 194, SO, Charlton County HS, Folkston, GA)
Bolden is a fast and shifty runner that fits this offense very well. After sparse duty in 2008 (16 carries), he is the feature back this season. Though his production has somewhat plateaued after starting out on fire, he is a very nice player for the Boilers, amassing almost 600 yards thus far and on pace to beat the 1131 yards that Kory Sheets gained last season. Bolden came barreling out of the gate, torching Toledo for 234 yards and 2 TDs on just 21 carries. He followed that up with 129 yards and 2 more scores against Oregon the following week. Since then, he has failed to break the 100 yard mark, with 12-18 carries and 50-70 yards per game, which is still very solid production in a passing-oriented offense. He has also caught at least 1 pass in every game and amassed 11 receptions on the season thus far, so he is a nice safety valve out of the backfield for Elliott as well. Among his accomplishments in this regard are 52 yards and a TD receiving against Oregon and 62 yards on 4 receptions against Northern Illinois.
The backup is senior program veteran Jaycen Taylor (#33). He was heavily involved in the offense in 2006 (677 yards) and 2007 (560 yards) before sitting out last season. This year, he started the year with 81 yards and a TD against Toledo, but has just 12 carries for 37 yards since. He also had a 38 yard TD catch against Notre Dame. He is a capable and experienced player who fits the same mold (5-10, 180) as Bolden and who could easily step in if necessary.
RB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State RBs
Bolden: 115/599 yards, 4 TDs, 5.2 YPC; 11 rec/173 yards, 1 TD, 15.7 YPR
Taylor: 26/118 yards, 3 TDs, 4.5 YPC; 2 rec/42 yards, 1 TD, 21.0 YPR
Saine: 63/349 yards, 0 TDs, 5.5 YPC; 9 rec/103 yards, 0 TDs, 11.4 YPR
Herron: 66/241 yards, 5 TDs, 3.7 YPC; 5 rec/34 yards, 0 TDs, 6.8 YPR
Despite being different types of backs, the numbers here are very similar to those from Wisconsin's backs, with the caveat that the Purdue backs are significant weapons out of the backfield in the passing game. Bolden has quickly established himself as a feature back, and Taylor is a veteran who provides production, experience, and valuable depth. On the Buckeye side, Saine continues to be the new featured back, though he struggled against Wisconsin save a 31 yard draw play. Herron was bitten by the injury bug again and can't seem to establish a rhythm or stay healthy long enough to do so thus far. The Buckeyes also have some promising freshmen and have more than their share of talent in the backfield, but there appears to be little doubt which team has gotten more production from their backs thus far. Bolden's YPC and YPR are both very impressive. Despite his production leveling off the past few weeks, he has still been the more productive of the backs on a consistent basis. Taylor also provides nice depth.
Edge: Purdue
Wide Receivers
WR #8 Keith Smith (6-2, 226, JR, Shoemaker HS, Fort Hood, TX)
WR #17 Aaron Valentin (6-1, 205, SR, Freeport HS, Freeport, NY)
WR #1 Keith Carlos (6-1, 200, JR, Central HS, Bridgeport, CT)
Purdue lost 3 of their top 4 receptions leaders from last season, with Smith being the lone holdover after catching 49 passes for 486 yards and 2 TDs last season. He has already exceeded his yardage and TDs from last season, and has established himself as one of the conference's better receivers. His production has been both impressive and consistent, catching at least 7 passes and gaining at least 100 yards in 4 games each. He opened the season with 8 catches for 117 yards and a score against Toledo, and followed that with 4 catches for 68 yards against Oregon and 5 receptions for 37 yards against Northern Illinois. He bounced back from that game to have 3 very big games coming into the Ohio State game. He caught 11 passes for 136 yards and a TD against Notre Dame, caught 7 for 101 and a score against Northwestern, and last week he caught 7 for 126 and a TD against Minnesota. He is big, strong, fast, uses his body well, and runs good routes. He is also multi-dimensional, as he has carried the ball one time and even threw a 15 yard TD pass. Smith is arguably the best player in this offense, and has very much established himself as a contender for conference honors at the end of the season.
Valentin also saw some action in 2008, catching 11 passes for 224 yards and a pair of TDs. This season, he is 2nd on the team with 29 catches and he leads the team with 5 receiving TDs. He is another good-sized target with strong hands that has created matchup problems in the red zone this season. After a slow start (3 rec/18 yards), he caught 8 passes for 82 yards against Oregon. He had 2 more games with limited production (5 rec for 39 yards against Northern Illinois and a single 36 yard TD catch against Notre Dame) before stepping up his production once conference play started. He caught 4 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs against Northwestern in the opener and followed that up with 8 catches for 80 yards and a TD against Minnesota last week. More impressive is that he has stepped up his production without a corresponding dropoff by Smith, indicating how valuable of a 2nd weapon Valentin has become. The 3rd starting receiver is Keith Carlos, who has stepped in for an injured Royce Adams. His production has been more limited, but he has chipped in 16 catches for 196 yards and a TD thus far, highlighted by his 6 catch, 64 yard game against Northwestern in the conference opener. This unit as a whole has increased their level of play once the Big Ten slate started, which should be heartening to the Purdue faithful.
Not surprisingly, Purdue employs several backups at receiver as part of their rotation. These include junior Cortez Smith (#81), sophomore Waynelle Gravesande (#3), and freshman Antavian Edison (#34). Smith has gotten the most work, catching 4 passes for 30 yards thus far. Edison also has a catch. The backups aren't as big as the starters (average weight 175), but they seem to have upside despite limited production.
WR Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State WRs
Smith: 42 catches, 585 yards, 4 TDs, 13.9 YPR
Valentin: 29 catches, 356 yards, 5 TDs, 12.3 YPR
Carlos: 16 catches, 196 yards, 1 TDs, 12.3 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 16 catches, 326 yards, 4 TDs, 20.4 YPR
Posey: 21 catches, 268 yards, 3 TDs, 12.8 YPR
Carter: 8 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD, 7.3 YPR
Smith has established himself among the elite receivers in the conference. He is consistently good and seems to produce big numbers every time out, despite whatever coverages are thrown at him. Valentin has ratcheted up the production in recent weeks as well and appears to be a weapon that Purdue will use more of. Carlos also appears capable and could cause problems if too much focus is placed on Smith and Valentin. It is clear that the Buckeye front 7 has to pressure Elliott, because if he has time to find these receivers they can do damage against any defense. On the Buckeye side, Sanzenbacher continues to be the best player, with Posey and Carter developing as they go. All 3 have been somewhat hindered by the struggles of Pryor, but they should be able to increase their production over the next 3 weeks. Production and experience favor the Boilermakers here, and depth doesn't appear to be a significant strength of either side. Call this one for Purdue on the strength of Smith alone.
Edge: Purdue
Tight Ends
TE #85 Kyle Adams (6-4, 251, JR, Westlake HS, Austin, TX)
Adams may not have the hype or pedigree of Wisconsin's Garrett Graham, but he is a big, solid player who contributes to the passing game and also blocks effectively when Bolden gets the ball. He has a large frame and can find open space when zone defenses are focusing on Purdue's highly effective receivers. He is also a very smart player and provides quality leadership. Fellow junior Jeff Lindsay (#88) has also been involved, catching 5 passes thus far. He caught one pass against the Buckeyes the last time these teams played.
TE Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State TEs
Adams: 16 catches, 132 yards, 0 TDs, 8.3 YPR
Ballard: 7 catches, 77 yards, 0 TDs, 11.0 YPR
Adams and Lindsay are solid players who block well and contribute to the passing game also. Many feel the Buckeyes don't use the TE position enough.
Edge: Purdue
Offensive Line
LT #68 Dennis Kelly (6-8, 291, SO, Marian Catholic HS, Chicago Heights, IL)
LG #75 Zach Reckman (6-5, 297, SR, Indian Hill HS, Cincinnati, OH)
C #54 Jared Zwilling (6-4, 293, SR, Central HS, Evansville, IN)
RG #73 Ken Plue (6-7, 322, SO, Milford Academy, Rensselaer, NY)
RT #61 Zach Jones (6-5, 312, SR, Plainfield HS, Plainfield, IN)
This is another good-sized line that offers a nice combination of power, mobility, experience, and youth. The line is anchored on the right side by Jones, a former walk-on who now has made 30 consecutive starts over 3 seasons and has been one of Purdue's more reliable players up front. Also providing leadership is Ohio product Reckman, who has started at both left tackle and left guard in his career. He is 2nd on the offense to Jones with 23 career starts and he has started 5 of 6 games this season. At center, Zwilling has patiently waited for his opportunity after converting from DT and has taken advantage of it once presented, making 4 starts at LG last season before moving to center and starting all 6 games this season. His perseverance has paid off and he is a nice success story, as well as being one of the team's smartest players. He was also elected a team captain, showing the respect he commands in the locker room. At RG, Plue started the final 6 games last season and has started every game this season. He is a physical specimen with good athletic ability and a lot of upside. LT duty falls to Kelly, who won the job outright after playing sparingly last season. All 5 players are tall with good wingspans, which help make them adept at pass blocking. They have allowed just 9 sacks this season, not a bad number considering the number of passes the offense puts up.
The backups are primarily young players. Freshman Rick Schmeig (#76) started one game at LG this season and could see the field Saturday. He is the primary backup across the interior. Fellow freshman Peters Drey (#67) and Monroe Brooks (#56) are the backups at LT. Junior Justin Pierce (#72) also offers some experience. Pierce started 8 games over the past 2 seasons at RG. Fellow junior Ryan Prater (#77) is the backup at RT.
OL Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus Ohio State OL
This is a decent line that has some experience and continuity. There aren't any players that stand out as superstars here, though Jones and Reckman are solid and have been mainstays in the lineup. The unit has remained solidly intact throughout the season thus far, so they have the advantage of playing together extensively. Ohio State's offensive line struggles have been well documented, and the line didn't play especially well last weekend. In terms of raw talent, the Buckeyes would probably get a clear edge, but the Purdue line is a scrappy bunch that has generated solid production for most of the season as well. On paper, this one goes to Ohio State, but until they establish themselves they way they appear capable of doing, call it even.
Edge: Even
Overall Offensive Analysis
The Purdue offense continues to move the ball effectively as in the successful years of the past. The main differences seem to be their sporadic periods of production and their high penchant for turnovers (11 fumbles, 9 INTs). If they are able to move the ball as they have been doing and can stop shooting themselves in the foot on a consistent basis, then Purdue could have a more successful second half of the season. Unfortunately for them, they face a defense this week that gets heavy pressure on the QB, eats up solid but unspectacular lines like Wisconsin's, and feasts off turnovers. None of those things especially play into Purdue's hands, thought they've played the Buckeyes tough in recent years. Look for Purdue to have at least some moderate success on offense at some point in the game (Wisconsin moved the ball some when Tolzien hung in strong and completed some passes last week), the question being whether they can sustain it and keep from turning the football over. They will face by far their biggest test of the season this weekend...at 1-5, that is not a particularly good sign.
Overall Offensive Rating: B
Returning Starters: 7
Donn Landholm is now 6 games deep into his first year as Purdue's defensive coordinator. Landholm is a native of Bristow, Neb.. The 53 year old former Wayne State linebacker began his coaching career at Plainview (Neb.) High School, first as an assistant (1979 - 1981) and then two seasons as the head coach. His first college coaching experience came on the offensive side of the ball, coaching running backs at Central Missouri (1984-1985) before taking the same position at Montana State in 1986. From Montana State, Landholm moved over to the defensive side of the ball with Arizona State, where he coached from 1987 to 1991 as a graduate assistant with the defense for two years and then three more as a volunteer assistant with the linebackers. After a year back at the High School ranks, (PSJA North HS in Pharr Texas), he moved back to the offense; from 1993 to 1996, Landholm was the offensive line coach at Blinn (Texas) Junior College, the last two teams won back-to-back junior college national championships going undefeated both years. In 1997 Landholm joined the Eastern Kentucky staff, where he would serve five seasons under Danny Hope, before Hope came to Purdue. In his time at EKU Landholm coached linebackers, special teams, was defensive coordinator (2005 to 2007) and recruiting coordinator in 2008 in his 12 total seasons.
Stats.......|Score..|Tot.Yds..|Rush..|Pass..|INT.| Fum.|Sack.|1stD..|3rd D..|PCT...|Red Zone.|PCT.|RZ TDs.|PCT.|TOF..|
Purdue......|.30.5..|..379.7..|167.3.|212.3.|.6..| .5..|.13..|.126..|41-95..|43%...|.23-28...|82%.|.17-28.|61%.|33:00|
Ohio State..|.12.0..|..271.8..|.89.2.|182.7.|.10.|..4..|.18..|.126..|33-92..|36%...|.8-10....|80%.|.7-10..|70%.|30:23|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
To say it's be a rough first season is a bit of an understatement. Purdue has been dreadful against the run, with only Illinois giving up more yards per contest as of week 6. No team in the Big Ten surrenders more points, but the passing defense has been decent in terms of yards allowed. Of course, with teams able to gash the front 7 almost at will, the passing defense numbers might not be particularly instructive, though in fairness they have faced an average of 34.5 passing attempts per game (Ohio State has faced 33.0 on average), with opponents completing 20. This, of course, suggests that Purdue has a "bend don't break" philosophy, which is also supported by the huge numbers of opponent red-zone opportunities (28) against non-red-zone TDs (3). Of the 20 TDs scored on Purdue this season, only 5 have come through the air.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has continued to solidify itself as one of the top defenses in the nation, let alone the Big Ten. Against the Big Ten's best offense entering the week, and after spending 3 of 4 quarters on the field, the Buckeyes continue to shut opponents down both rushing and passing. Perhaps the biggest disparity is illustrated in the number of plays each defense requires of their opponent before yeilding a single point. Ohio State makes teams run 5.54 plays to gain 1 point (that's 38.8 plays before a team gets 7, by the way) whereas Purdue's opponents get a point every 2.5 plays (17.5 plays per 7 pts). Likewise, Buckeye opponents only get 1 point per every 22.7 yards of offense, while Purdue's defense yields a point every 12.4 yards. In other words, a team must move the ball 158.9 yards to obtain 7 points against the Buckeyes and only 86.8 yards to do the same against Purdue. In short, the Buckeyes will be fielding the superior defense by a wide margin.
Defensive Line
RE #97 Gerald Gooden (6-3, 235, So,)
DT #92 Mike Neal (6-4, 302, Sr.)
DT #93 Kawann Short (6-4, 310, rFr.)
LE #94 Ryan Kerrigan (6-4, 263, Jr.)
The relative strength of the D-Line comes from the Tackle positions. Neal is the lone Senior on the line and has the talent and potential to be All Big Ten, Despite his considerable bulk he is quick enough to play outside if necessary. He has 17 tackles, 5 for loss, a sack and 1 fumble recovery. While Neal is the leader in terms of experience, Short may be the line's leader in terms of production when all is said and done. A first year starter, he's still learning, but has shown flashes of brilliance and could develop into a serious force by the time his career at Purdue comes to an end. He has 30 tackles, 1 for loss and has 1 INT. A sophomore and a junior bookend the line. Undersized at 235 Lbs, Gooden isn't going to bully many opposing O-Lines. Nonetheless, he's got linebacker quickness off the edge and has 2 sacks to go along a fumble recovery and 14 Tackles. Kerrigan is a former TE who moved over to D-Line and earned Honorable Mention All Big Ten last season. Considered to be Purdue's best option at getting to the QB, Kerrigan currently leads the Boilermakers with 4 sacks, to go along with a D-Line leading 32 tackles with 7.5 of those coming in the backfield.
The reserves include: ends #58 Robert Maci 6-4, 236, rFr.) and #99 Nick Mondek (6-5, 283, So.), and tackles, #49 Adam Brockman (6-3, 255, So.) and #95 Keyon Brown (6-3, 241, Sr.). Mondek played interior line last season, but was less productive than it was thought he might be. He has decent quickness, but will have to develop a more consistent presence going forward. He has 6 tackles, 2 for loss with a sack thus far as he learns the outside. Maci, like Gooden, also brings more Linebacker type size and quickness to the line, but will have to establish he can beat the "big boys." He has 9 tackles in Purdue's 6 games this season. Brown has 6 tackles, 1.5 for loss, while Brockman has not yet recorded any tackles.
DL Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus OSU DL
The comparison of Ohio State's and Purdue's D-Lines starts with the huge difference in rush yards allowed and ends with the number of plays each unit has made behind the line of scrimmage. Purdue has been wet tissue against the run despite good size and quickness while Ohio State has been stopping teams cold, and even while rotating in true freshmen like Johnny Simon during meaningful game time. The Purdue Line has 19.5 tackles behind the LOS to the Buckeyes 25, and 8 sacks to Ohio State's 12.5. The Buckeyes are able to get relentless and constant pressure on opposing QBs with just 4, while Purdue has struggled to make QBs worry a great deal. While Kerrigan and Short both have more tackles than any OSU lineman, the reason for that is more likely due to Ohio State's superior depth and the "spreading out" of stops among a larger number of meaningful contributors. The plain fact is, while young, the Purdue line should be better than it has performed thus far, while Ohio State's line has dominated both Wisconsin and USC, possibly two of the top lines in the nation.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
WLB #30 Joe Holland (6-1, 220, So.)
MLB #47 Chris Carlino (6-2, 215, So.)
SLB #24 Jason Werner (6-4, 221, Sr.)
The defense's key playmaker is converted safety Jason Werner, who takes over for last season's leading tackler and now departed Anthony Heygood. Werner has the ability, but has struggled with back problems which kept him out all of last season. Healthy this year, he's been all over the field, leading the Boilers with 11 tackles for loss and with 50 total tackles, 39 of which have been solo. He is decent in coverage and has 1 INT this season, to go along with 3 sacks. Joe Holland also came to Purdue as a safety. While consistency can be an issue, Holland has the potential to become a force now that he's learned the position, particularly in pass coverage. He has 37 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, and a pick. Rounding out the LB corps is MLB Chris Carlino, Indiana's Mr. Football runner-up 2 years ago. While undersized at 215, Carlino demonstrated "can't keep him off the field" ability as a true freshman last year while he worked his way into the starting role for 5 games. In his first full season as starter, he has 37 stops, 2 for loss, a pick and a fumble recovery.
Second string linebackers are; #11 DeVarro Greaves (6-2, 216, So.), #3 Dwayne Beckford (6-3, 223, Fr.), and #5 Antwon Higgs (6-3, 248, Fr.) Of the reserves listed on Purdue's 2 deep, Freshman Dwayne Beckford has the most potential, and has been the most productive. The New Jersey native was a force in High School, and recorded 27 sacks in his final two seasons. In his first year at Purdue, he has 12 stops, which leads the reserves. Greaves is the eldest of the reserve backers and is just a sophomore himself. He has seen action in 4 games and has just 1 tackles. Higgs has 5 tackles in 5 games with a sack.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus OSU LBs
Purdue is incredibly young with Werner being the only upperclassman in the two-deep. As a consequence, consistency is a big issue out of the corps, though there is reason to get excited as this talented group comes of age. That said, Ohio State's LB play has been consistent and superior in virtually ever facet of the position, led by Brian Rolle's and Ross Homan's 51 and 42 tackles respectively. While the Buckeyes aren't considerably older, they have been recruiting outstanding talents like Eteinne Sabino and Dorian Bell who both would be seeing considerable time in Purdue's system, if not starting, while they bide their time at Ohio State. The Purdue backers are asked to do more behind the LOS than Ohio State needs to, owing to the different lines in front of them. As a consequence, the Purdue middle can be open for yards - though Ohio State seems to ignore the tight ends which may benefit Purdue in the long run.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #7 Brandon King (5-11, 192, Sr.)
SS #4 Dwight Mclean (6-1, 210, Sr.)
FS #2 Torri Williams (6-2, 208, Sr.)
CB #9 David Pender, (6-1, 175, Sr.)
As indicated in the above intro section, the secondary is decent in yards against. While, as mentioned, this may be due in no small part to teams being able to run, some of it is no doubt due to an experienced bunch of seniors in the defensive backfield. Williams is a 6th year senior who has obviously struggled with injury over his career, including a knee injury and broken leg. Likewise, he's had some off the field problems, but has put that behind him enough to be a co-captain. On the field he leads the secondary with 42 tackles, with 1 INT. McLean is a former JUCO wide receiver who worked his way into the starter's role at SS last season. He's got great size and good quickness, but has not been especially productive when the ball's in the air. He has 32 tackles this season. 2 more seniors man the corners, lead by David Pender who also started last season after earning the job in 2007. An Honorable Mention All Big Ten player last season, Pender might be the fastest man on the Purdue side of the ball. He has 20 tackles, 1 for loss, and an INT to go along with 6 pass break-ups. King was a star QB in High School and came to Purdue as a WR, but now finds himself as a returning starting corner. After a solid 2008, Purdue fans have come to rely on King's ability to tackle in the open field. He has 21 tackles this season thus far, with 1 of those coming behind the LOS.
Behind the seniors are corners: #15 Charlton Williams (6-2, 200, So.), and #28 Josh Johnson (5-11, 185, Fr.), and safeties: #20 Gavin Roberts (6-1, 211, rFr.), and #32 Albert Evans (6-0, 206, So.). Evans has seen the most action of the reserves playing in each of Purdue's 6 contests thus far. He has 14 stops. Williams was supposed to be a force last season, but did not see any action at all after a 4 tackle freshman year. He's got speed, but has just 1 stop in 5 games this season, while Roberts has 1 stop in 3 games. Johnson has 3 stops in 5 games.
DB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus OSU DBs
The Purdue secondary has the expierence and has done a good job relatively speaking. It's hard to know for sure, however, if that's more related to their skill or if it's again related to a weaker performance from the front 7. Still, there's no question that the secondary is the strength of the defense and will continue to be so as long as none of the starters go down. While good, there is no Kurt Coleman or Jermale Hines in this unit. Coleman leads the Buckeyes secondary with a team second 43 stops, and has picked off two passes this season, one of which was an 89 yard return for TD last week, while Hines is 4th on the team in tackles and, not to be outdone, recorded his own athletic pick six last weekend, like Coleman, his 2nd INT of the year. The Buckeye corners, as the yards against attest, have locked their men down better than Purdue's have and there is little question that the Buckeyes have better depth with the likes of Andre Amos and former starter Anderson Russell coming off the bench.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Purdue's defense gives up a ton of points and gets gashed way too often on the ground. While they do not seem to give up many big play touchdowns, they also don't do an outstanding job of applying the "don't break" part of the "bend don't break" philosophy. As Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor continues to try and develop the throwing part of his game, he'll get a good look from Purdue's senior laden group. But, he should also have plenty of time to take that look, as Purdue's front 7 has not been particularly disruptive. If Pryor decides to run there will be plenty of green available for him to do so, and if he does so early, the passing game might better open up as the DBs pay closer attention. Likewise, regardless of what Pryor does, Ohio State should anticipate a big day out their running backs. As the season has gone forward, Branden Saine has developed in to the force fans thought he might be when he joined the team. Running fast and hard, he might have a career day on Saturday, especially since Boom Herron will sit to recover from a tweaked ankle against Wisconsin.
Overall Defensive Rating: B-
2009 Purdue Boilermakers Special Teams PreviewStats.......|Score..|Tot.Yds..|Rush..|Pass..|INT.| Fum.|Sack.|1stD..|3rd D..|PCT...|Red Zone.|PCT.|RZ TDs.|PCT.|TOF..|
Purdue......|.30.5..|..379.7..|167.3.|212.3.|.6..| .5..|.13..|.126..|41-95..|43%...|.23-28...|82%.|.17-28.|61%.|33:00|
Ohio State..|.12.0..|..271.8..|.89.2.|182.7.|.10.|..4..|.18..|.126..|33-92..|36%...|.8-10....|80%.|.7-10..|70%.|30:23|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
To say it's be a rough first season is a bit of an understatement. Purdue has been dreadful against the run, with only Illinois giving up more yards per contest as of week 6. No team in the Big Ten surrenders more points, but the passing defense has been decent in terms of yards allowed. Of course, with teams able to gash the front 7 almost at will, the passing defense numbers might not be particularly instructive, though in fairness they have faced an average of 34.5 passing attempts per game (Ohio State has faced 33.0 on average), with opponents completing 20. This, of course, suggests that Purdue has a "bend don't break" philosophy, which is also supported by the huge numbers of opponent red-zone opportunities (28) against non-red-zone TDs (3). Of the 20 TDs scored on Purdue this season, only 5 have come through the air.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has continued to solidify itself as one of the top defenses in the nation, let alone the Big Ten. Against the Big Ten's best offense entering the week, and after spending 3 of 4 quarters on the field, the Buckeyes continue to shut opponents down both rushing and passing. Perhaps the biggest disparity is illustrated in the number of plays each defense requires of their opponent before yeilding a single point. Ohio State makes teams run 5.54 plays to gain 1 point (that's 38.8 plays before a team gets 7, by the way) whereas Purdue's opponents get a point every 2.5 plays (17.5 plays per 7 pts). Likewise, Buckeye opponents only get 1 point per every 22.7 yards of offense, while Purdue's defense yields a point every 12.4 yards. In other words, a team must move the ball 158.9 yards to obtain 7 points against the Buckeyes and only 86.8 yards to do the same against Purdue. In short, the Buckeyes will be fielding the superior defense by a wide margin.
Defensive Line
RE #97 Gerald Gooden (6-3, 235, So,)
DT #92 Mike Neal (6-4, 302, Sr.)
DT #93 Kawann Short (6-4, 310, rFr.)
LE #94 Ryan Kerrigan (6-4, 263, Jr.)
The relative strength of the D-Line comes from the Tackle positions. Neal is the lone Senior on the line and has the talent and potential to be All Big Ten, Despite his considerable bulk he is quick enough to play outside if necessary. He has 17 tackles, 5 for loss, a sack and 1 fumble recovery. While Neal is the leader in terms of experience, Short may be the line's leader in terms of production when all is said and done. A first year starter, he's still learning, but has shown flashes of brilliance and could develop into a serious force by the time his career at Purdue comes to an end. He has 30 tackles, 1 for loss and has 1 INT. A sophomore and a junior bookend the line. Undersized at 235 Lbs, Gooden isn't going to bully many opposing O-Lines. Nonetheless, he's got linebacker quickness off the edge and has 2 sacks to go along a fumble recovery and 14 Tackles. Kerrigan is a former TE who moved over to D-Line and earned Honorable Mention All Big Ten last season. Considered to be Purdue's best option at getting to the QB, Kerrigan currently leads the Boilermakers with 4 sacks, to go along with a D-Line leading 32 tackles with 7.5 of those coming in the backfield.
The reserves include: ends #58 Robert Maci 6-4, 236, rFr.) and #99 Nick Mondek (6-5, 283, So.), and tackles, #49 Adam Brockman (6-3, 255, So.) and #95 Keyon Brown (6-3, 241, Sr.). Mondek played interior line last season, but was less productive than it was thought he might be. He has decent quickness, but will have to develop a more consistent presence going forward. He has 6 tackles, 2 for loss with a sack thus far as he learns the outside. Maci, like Gooden, also brings more Linebacker type size and quickness to the line, but will have to establish he can beat the "big boys." He has 9 tackles in Purdue's 6 games this season. Brown has 6 tackles, 1.5 for loss, while Brockman has not yet recorded any tackles.
DL Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus OSU DL
The comparison of Ohio State's and Purdue's D-Lines starts with the huge difference in rush yards allowed and ends with the number of plays each unit has made behind the line of scrimmage. Purdue has been wet tissue against the run despite good size and quickness while Ohio State has been stopping teams cold, and even while rotating in true freshmen like Johnny Simon during meaningful game time. The Purdue Line has 19.5 tackles behind the LOS to the Buckeyes 25, and 8 sacks to Ohio State's 12.5. The Buckeyes are able to get relentless and constant pressure on opposing QBs with just 4, while Purdue has struggled to make QBs worry a great deal. While Kerrigan and Short both have more tackles than any OSU lineman, the reason for that is more likely due to Ohio State's superior depth and the "spreading out" of stops among a larger number of meaningful contributors. The plain fact is, while young, the Purdue line should be better than it has performed thus far, while Ohio State's line has dominated both Wisconsin and USC, possibly two of the top lines in the nation.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
WLB #30 Joe Holland (6-1, 220, So.)
MLB #47 Chris Carlino (6-2, 215, So.)
SLB #24 Jason Werner (6-4, 221, Sr.)
The defense's key playmaker is converted safety Jason Werner, who takes over for last season's leading tackler and now departed Anthony Heygood. Werner has the ability, but has struggled with back problems which kept him out all of last season. Healthy this year, he's been all over the field, leading the Boilers with 11 tackles for loss and with 50 total tackles, 39 of which have been solo. He is decent in coverage and has 1 INT this season, to go along with 3 sacks. Joe Holland also came to Purdue as a safety. While consistency can be an issue, Holland has the potential to become a force now that he's learned the position, particularly in pass coverage. He has 37 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, and a pick. Rounding out the LB corps is MLB Chris Carlino, Indiana's Mr. Football runner-up 2 years ago. While undersized at 215, Carlino demonstrated "can't keep him off the field" ability as a true freshman last year while he worked his way into the starting role for 5 games. In his first full season as starter, he has 37 stops, 2 for loss, a pick and a fumble recovery.
Second string linebackers are; #11 DeVarro Greaves (6-2, 216, So.), #3 Dwayne Beckford (6-3, 223, Fr.), and #5 Antwon Higgs (6-3, 248, Fr.) Of the reserves listed on Purdue's 2 deep, Freshman Dwayne Beckford has the most potential, and has been the most productive. The New Jersey native was a force in High School, and recorded 27 sacks in his final two seasons. In his first year at Purdue, he has 12 stops, which leads the reserves. Greaves is the eldest of the reserve backers and is just a sophomore himself. He has seen action in 4 games and has just 1 tackles. Higgs has 5 tackles in 5 games with a sack.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus OSU LBs
Purdue is incredibly young with Werner being the only upperclassman in the two-deep. As a consequence, consistency is a big issue out of the corps, though there is reason to get excited as this talented group comes of age. That said, Ohio State's LB play has been consistent and superior in virtually ever facet of the position, led by Brian Rolle's and Ross Homan's 51 and 42 tackles respectively. While the Buckeyes aren't considerably older, they have been recruiting outstanding talents like Eteinne Sabino and Dorian Bell who both would be seeing considerable time in Purdue's system, if not starting, while they bide their time at Ohio State. The Purdue backers are asked to do more behind the LOS than Ohio State needs to, owing to the different lines in front of them. As a consequence, the Purdue middle can be open for yards - though Ohio State seems to ignore the tight ends which may benefit Purdue in the long run.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #7 Brandon King (5-11, 192, Sr.)
SS #4 Dwight Mclean (6-1, 210, Sr.)
FS #2 Torri Williams (6-2, 208, Sr.)
CB #9 David Pender, (6-1, 175, Sr.)
As indicated in the above intro section, the secondary is decent in yards against. While, as mentioned, this may be due in no small part to teams being able to run, some of it is no doubt due to an experienced bunch of seniors in the defensive backfield. Williams is a 6th year senior who has obviously struggled with injury over his career, including a knee injury and broken leg. Likewise, he's had some off the field problems, but has put that behind him enough to be a co-captain. On the field he leads the secondary with 42 tackles, with 1 INT. McLean is a former JUCO wide receiver who worked his way into the starter's role at SS last season. He's got great size and good quickness, but has not been especially productive when the ball's in the air. He has 32 tackles this season. 2 more seniors man the corners, lead by David Pender who also started last season after earning the job in 2007. An Honorable Mention All Big Ten player last season, Pender might be the fastest man on the Purdue side of the ball. He has 20 tackles, 1 for loss, and an INT to go along with 6 pass break-ups. King was a star QB in High School and came to Purdue as a WR, but now finds himself as a returning starting corner. After a solid 2008, Purdue fans have come to rely on King's ability to tackle in the open field. He has 21 tackles this season thus far, with 1 of those coming behind the LOS.
Behind the seniors are corners: #15 Charlton Williams (6-2, 200, So.), and #28 Josh Johnson (5-11, 185, Fr.), and safeties: #20 Gavin Roberts (6-1, 211, rFr.), and #32 Albert Evans (6-0, 206, So.). Evans has seen the most action of the reserves playing in each of Purdue's 6 contests thus far. He has 14 stops. Williams was supposed to be a force last season, but did not see any action at all after a 4 tackle freshman year. He's got speed, but has just 1 stop in 5 games this season, while Roberts has 1 stop in 3 games. Johnson has 3 stops in 5 games.
DB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Purdue versus OSU DBs
The Purdue secondary has the expierence and has done a good job relatively speaking. It's hard to know for sure, however, if that's more related to their skill or if it's again related to a weaker performance from the front 7. Still, there's no question that the secondary is the strength of the defense and will continue to be so as long as none of the starters go down. While good, there is no Kurt Coleman or Jermale Hines in this unit. Coleman leads the Buckeyes secondary with a team second 43 stops, and has picked off two passes this season, one of which was an 89 yard return for TD last week, while Hines is 4th on the team in tackles and, not to be outdone, recorded his own athletic pick six last weekend, like Coleman, his 2nd INT of the year. The Buckeye corners, as the yards against attest, have locked their men down better than Purdue's have and there is little question that the Buckeyes have better depth with the likes of Andre Amos and former starter Anderson Russell coming off the bench.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Purdue's defense gives up a ton of points and gets gashed way too often on the ground. While they do not seem to give up many big play touchdowns, they also don't do an outstanding job of applying the "don't break" part of the "bend don't break" philosophy. As Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor continues to try and develop the throwing part of his game, he'll get a good look from Purdue's senior laden group. But, he should also have plenty of time to take that look, as Purdue's front 7 has not been particularly disruptive. If Pryor decides to run there will be plenty of green available for him to do so, and if he does so early, the passing game might better open up as the DBs pay closer attention. Likewise, regardless of what Pryor does, Ohio State should anticipate a big day out their running backs. As the season has gone forward, Branden Saine has developed in to the force fans thought he might be when he joined the team. Running fast and hard, he might have a career day on Saturday, especially since Boom Herron will sit to recover from a tweaked ankle against Wisconsin.
Overall Defensive Rating: B-
Returning Starters: 2
Purdue Stats
Punting: #85, 24 for 941, 39.21 avg, 9 touchbacks
Punt Returns: #46, 16 for 168, 10.5 avg, 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: #96, 34 for 661, 19.44 avg
Punt Return Defense: #61, 9 for 80, 8.89 avg
Kickoff Return Defense: #87, 26 for 597, 22.96 avg
Ohio State Stats
Punting: #21, 24 for 949, 39.54 avg, 1 touchback
Punt Returns: #102, 17 for 78, 4.59 avg
Kickoff Returns: #8, 17 for 479, 1 TD, 28.18 avg
Punt Return Defense: #27, 2 for 10, 5.0 avg
Kickoff Return Defense: #47, 33 for 668, 20.24 avg, 2 Touchbacks
For the 7th consecutive week, the Buckeyes will play a team with poor special teams' statistics. The Boilers haven't beaten many opponents so far this year (1-5) and sure aren't doing it on special teams. This will be yet another week that the Buckeyes have the advantage.
SPECIALISTS
Punter #13 Chris Summers (6-1, 179, Sr., Fishers, IN)
Kicker #37 Carson Wiggs (6-0, 202, So., Grand Prairie, TX)
LS #96 John Finch (6-3, 245, Jr., Carmel, IN)
Hldr #87 Kris Staats (6-1, 197, Jr., La Porte, IN)
Punt Returns #3 Waynelle Gravesande (6-0, 182, So., Irvington, NJ)
and #17 Aaron Valentin (6-1, 205, Sr., Freeport, NY)
Kickoff Returns #17 Aaron Valentin (6-1, 205, Sr., Freeport, NY)
and #33 Jaycen Taylor (5-10, 180, Sr., Hawthorne, CA)
Purdue brings a good amount of experience in this year's game against Ohio State in the area of Special Teams. Half of the starters are seniors (2 5th-year Seniors) and 2 others are juniors. This hasn't translated to great success on the field however. The highest statistical unit of the special teams is the punt returners, who come in at 46th in the nation having returned 16 punts for 168, a 10.5 avg and 1 TD. The other units have been unimpressive, and their kickoff return unit has had trouble hanging onto the ball. Minnesota also returned a blocked field goal attempt for a TD last week.
ST Rating: D
Head-to-Head when tOSU punts: Gravesande/Valentin vs Thoma and the Ohio State Punt Return defense
The Buckeyes continue to do a tremendous job on punt return defense, having only allowed 2 punts to even be returned for only 10 yards total. Look for this to continue this week.
Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-Head when Purdue punts: Summers/Purdue Punt Return Defense vs Posey/Sanzenbacher/Small
Ohio State continues to struggle on punt returns, only averaging 4.59 yards on 17 returns. The Buckeyes are still waiting for Small to break one big. Purdue is allowing 8.89 yards per return, so this may be the week.
Edge: Even
Head-to-Head when Ohio State kicks off: Pettrey and the Ohio State Kickoff Return Defense vs Valentin/Taylor
The Buckeyes are doing a good job on kickoff return defense only giving up 20.24 yards per return with 2 touchbacks. The Purdue kickoff return team has not had great results so far this year, ranking only 96th in the nation with a 19.44 yd per return average, and losing fumbles in each of their last two games.
Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-Head when Purdue kicks off: Wiggs and the Purdue Kickoff Return Defense vs Saine/Herron/Thomas
Ohio State continued its massive improvement on kickoff returns by taking one to the house last week vs Wisconsin. The Bucks are averaging a fine 28.18 yards per return and have definitely helped the offense start in good field position. The Boilermakers are not enjoying much success on defending kickoffs, ranking 87th in the nation and giving up almost 23 yards per return. Look for those two trends to continue this week.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Special Teams Analysis
The Purdue Boilermakers haven't done much this year to impress on the Special Teams front. Outside of their 1 TD on a punt return, they have lost the important battle of field position through special teams' play every week. Look for the Buckeyes to continue their great year in kickoff returns and finally get on track with a long punt return (or two), and for Purdue to have ball security issues on their returns.
Overall Special Teams Rating: D
PredictionsPunting: #85, 24 for 941, 39.21 avg, 9 touchbacks
Punt Returns: #46, 16 for 168, 10.5 avg, 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: #96, 34 for 661, 19.44 avg
Punt Return Defense: #61, 9 for 80, 8.89 avg
Kickoff Return Defense: #87, 26 for 597, 22.96 avg
Ohio State Stats
Punting: #21, 24 for 949, 39.54 avg, 1 touchback
Punt Returns: #102, 17 for 78, 4.59 avg
Kickoff Returns: #8, 17 for 479, 1 TD, 28.18 avg
Punt Return Defense: #27, 2 for 10, 5.0 avg
Kickoff Return Defense: #47, 33 for 668, 20.24 avg, 2 Touchbacks
For the 7th consecutive week, the Buckeyes will play a team with poor special teams' statistics. The Boilers haven't beaten many opponents so far this year (1-5) and sure aren't doing it on special teams. This will be yet another week that the Buckeyes have the advantage.
SPECIALISTS
Punter #13 Chris Summers (6-1, 179, Sr., Fishers, IN)
Kicker #37 Carson Wiggs (6-0, 202, So., Grand Prairie, TX)
LS #96 John Finch (6-3, 245, Jr., Carmel, IN)
Hldr #87 Kris Staats (6-1, 197, Jr., La Porte, IN)
Punt Returns #3 Waynelle Gravesande (6-0, 182, So., Irvington, NJ)
and #17 Aaron Valentin (6-1, 205, Sr., Freeport, NY)
Kickoff Returns #17 Aaron Valentin (6-1, 205, Sr., Freeport, NY)
and #33 Jaycen Taylor (5-10, 180, Sr., Hawthorne, CA)
Purdue brings a good amount of experience in this year's game against Ohio State in the area of Special Teams. Half of the starters are seniors (2 5th-year Seniors) and 2 others are juniors. This hasn't translated to great success on the field however. The highest statistical unit of the special teams is the punt returners, who come in at 46th in the nation having returned 16 punts for 168, a 10.5 avg and 1 TD. The other units have been unimpressive, and their kickoff return unit has had trouble hanging onto the ball. Minnesota also returned a blocked field goal attempt for a TD last week.
ST Rating: D
Head-to-Head when tOSU punts: Gravesande/Valentin vs Thoma and the Ohio State Punt Return defense
The Buckeyes continue to do a tremendous job on punt return defense, having only allowed 2 punts to even be returned for only 10 yards total. Look for this to continue this week.
Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-Head when Purdue punts: Summers/Purdue Punt Return Defense vs Posey/Sanzenbacher/Small
Ohio State continues to struggle on punt returns, only averaging 4.59 yards on 17 returns. The Buckeyes are still waiting for Small to break one big. Purdue is allowing 8.89 yards per return, so this may be the week.
Edge: Even
Head-to-Head when Ohio State kicks off: Pettrey and the Ohio State Kickoff Return Defense vs Valentin/Taylor
The Buckeyes are doing a good job on kickoff return defense only giving up 20.24 yards per return with 2 touchbacks. The Purdue kickoff return team has not had great results so far this year, ranking only 96th in the nation with a 19.44 yd per return average, and losing fumbles in each of their last two games.
Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-Head when Purdue kicks off: Wiggs and the Purdue Kickoff Return Defense vs Saine/Herron/Thomas
Ohio State continued its massive improvement on kickoff returns by taking one to the house last week vs Wisconsin. The Bucks are averaging a fine 28.18 yards per return and have definitely helped the offense start in good field position. The Boilermakers are not enjoying much success on defending kickoffs, ranking 87th in the nation and giving up almost 23 yards per return. Look for those two trends to continue this week.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Special Teams Analysis
The Purdue Boilermakers haven't done much this year to impress on the Special Teams front. Outside of their 1 TD on a punt return, they have lost the important battle of field position through special teams' play every week. Look for the Buckeyes to continue their great year in kickoff returns and finally get on track with a long punt return (or two), and for Purdue to have ball security issues on their returns.
Overall Special Teams Rating: D
BB73's prediction: 30-13, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 42-3, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 27-6, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 35-10, Ohio State
JCOSU86's prediction: 42-7, Ohio State
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual scores versus predicted scores. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 31, Wiscy 13)
(083) BB73's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (8 + 075 last week = 083)
(083) Bucky Katt's prediction: 30-17, Ohio State (5 + 078 last week = 083)
(086) JCOSU86's prediction: 27-10, Ohio State (7 + 079 last week = 086)
(103) jwinslow's prediction: 37-17, Ohio State (10 + 093 last week = 103)
(103) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 34-14, Ohio State (4 + 099 last week = 103)
(114) Bucklion's prediction: 34-16, Ohio State (6 + 108 last week = 114)
(123) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 41-14, Ohio State (11 + 112 last week = 123)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 42-3, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 27-6, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 35-10, Ohio State
JCOSU86's prediction: 42-7, Ohio State
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual scores versus predicted scores. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 31, Wiscy 13)
(083) BB73's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (8 + 075 last week = 083)
(083) Bucky Katt's prediction: 30-17, Ohio State (5 + 078 last week = 083)
(086) JCOSU86's prediction: 27-10, Ohio State (7 + 079 last week = 086)
(103) jwinslow's prediction: 37-17, Ohio State (10 + 093 last week = 103)
(103) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 34-14, Ohio State (4 + 099 last week = 103)
(114) Bucklion's prediction: 34-16, Ohio State (6 + 108 last week = 114)
(123) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 41-14, Ohio State (11 + 112 last week = 123)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
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