2017 First Glance: Purdue Boilermakers
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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
We have reached the end of our First Glance series which means we wrap it up with a look at the Purdue Boilermakers as the Hoosiers go for their fifth-straight win in the Old Oaken Bucket Game. This year’s edition will be on the road at Ross-Ade for just the second time since 2010.
Week Thirteen: Purdue Boilermakers
Date & Time: Saturday, November 25th, TBA
Venue: Ross-Ade Stadium (57,236)
TV: TBA
Boilermakers at a Glance
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm
Entering his 1st year at Purdue, 4th season Overall
Overall Record: 30-10
At Purdue: 0-0
Purude Last Season: 3-9(1-8)
Boilermaker Returning Leaders
Passing: David Blough (57.1 pct. 3,352 yards, 25 TDs, 21 INTs)
Rushing: Markell Jones (616 att. 625 yards 4.0 YPC 4 TDs)
Receiving: Cole Herdman (35 rec. 344 yards, 9.8 YPR, 3 TD)
Tackles: LB Markus Bailey (97 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 2 PBUs 4 INTs)
Pre-Season Predictions
Athlon’s: 6th in the Big Ten West
Lindy’s: 6th in the Big Ten West
Street & Smith’s: 7th in the Big Ten West
Phil Steele: 6th in the Big Ten West
Impact Newcomers For The Boilermakers
1. T.J, Jallow, CB- Purdue needs immidate help at corner and Jallow is coming in from East Mississippi Community College and could give them the veteran help they need to improve in the West. At EMCC Jallow played in 11 games and made 43 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and broke up seven passes.
2. Jalen Jackson, OL- Another hole Purdue has to fill in 2017 is along the offensive line and Jalen Jackson could be ready to step in should an upperclassman fail. Jackson was in for spring practice and found his way on to the two-deep. He is a little under-sized at six-foot-two and 265 pounds, but is talented enough to crack the lineup.
3. Kai Higgins, DE- Another junior college transfer who was brought into shore up a soft spot. Higgins played the 2016 season at Chaffey College and appeared in nine games making 25 tackles and three sacks.
Why Purdue Could Reclaim the Bucket
Jeff Brohm was brought to West Lafayette to inject some life and excitement into the Purdue Football program, which had fallen into the Big Ten basement since the departure of Joe Tiller after the 2008 season. While Purdue was still OK with Danny Hope, Darrell Hazell hit, what Boilermaker fans hope is, rock bottom.
Brohm, who orchestrated some great offenses in four years at Western Kentucky, has some offensive weapons at his disposal. Quarterback David Blough has one of the best arms in the Big Ten, tight end Cole Herdman is one of the better tight ends in the conference and the reintroduction of D.J. Knox to the running game should help take some of the load off of Markell Jones. If some of the receivers Brohm has brought in from the JUCO ranks and as freshman can step up and try and replace the production lost, Purdue’s offense could be deadly.
On the defensive side of the ball, Purdue’s strength is in its linebacking corps where they return seniors Danny Ezechukwu and Ja’Whaun Bently along with sophomore Markus Bailey who picked off four passes a year ago. If these three players stay healthy it’s as good of a starting group as any in the Big Ten West and could give the Hoosiers fits.
Until recently, Ross-Ade Stadium has been a brutal place to play. The Boilers are 278-184-13 (.599) at home including a 38-22-5 mark against the Hoosiers. I don’t expect Ross-Ade to be sold out for the Bucket Game like it used to be before the Big Ten moved the season finale to Thanksgiving weekend, but Jeff Brohm’s arrival should be enough to draw a decent crowd.
Why The Hoosiers Will Keep the Bucket for the Fifth-Straight Year
Indiana has won the last four Bucket Games, and two of the last three in West Lafayette, and on paper this Hoosier team is just deeper and more talented at nearly every position on the field. IU will also likely have a bowl-bid locked up or need this one to secure one, so there may be more on the line.
While Purdue does have some talent, they do have some gaping holes. They have major concerns along the offensive line and at wide receiver and while they have some solid running backs, it won’t do them any good if the line cannot open any holes. Add in the fact that running backs Knox and Jones have battled injuries and you can see a banged up rushing attack by the season’s final game.
On defense, the line has to replace Jake Replogle and if they can’t it’ll force the linebackers to come in on blitzes more leaving the Indiana receivers in man coverage against an inexperienced and overmatched secondary.
Final Analysis
It may take a season or two for Purdue to catch up to Indiana’s depth and talent. While the game is at Purdue, Indiana’s talent level and depth is just that much better in 2017. The Hoosiers will be chasing history as well going for their third-straight bowl berth, a potential winning season and an unprecedented fifth-straight win over the Boilers. Everything points to an IU win.