Know Your Opponent: Purdue Boilermakers

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Head Coach: Jeff Brohm

Overall: 4th Season, 19-25 (.432) Overall

Bowl Appearances at Purdue: 2

2019 Record: 4-8 (3-6, Big Ten West)

Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 11 (4-7)

Mascot: Boilermaker Special, Purdue Pete

Colors: Old Gold and Black

Outfitter: Nike

National Titles: 1 Unclaimed (1931)

Conference Titles: 12

Heisman Winners: 0

2020 Record: 2-4

Last Week: LOSS vs Nebraska, 27-37

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Jack Plummer (88-124 passing (71.0%), 938 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs)

Rushing: Zander Horvath (89 rushes, 442 yards, 5.0 YPC, 2 TDs)

Receiving: David Bell (53 receptions, 625 yards, 8 TDs)

Tackles: Derrick Barnes (54 tackles, 40 solo, 1 PD, 1 INT)

Stat of the Week:

Purdue’s Talking Points

1. Plummer has to get the ball to Rondale Moore and David Bell. Preferably, downfield.

Jeff Brohm locked down the Purdue head coaching job mainly because of his knack for offensive scheming, but that hasn’t been as visible this year. Much of this has been due to a step down in quarterback play, going from David Blough and Elijah Sindelar to Aidan O’Connell and Jack Plummer. Plummer will again have the starting job Saturday after O’Connell is now out for the season due to injury.

Plummer has to do a better job of stretching a defense vertically. Purdue’s star players – All-Americans Rondale Moore and David Bell – combined for 23 of Plummer’s 33 completions this past Saturday, but both were mostly limited to dump-downs underneath or horizontal short crossing patterns. Defenses are scheming against allowing these two to get open downfield, but when they have their opportunities, Plummer needs to start delivering accurate throws.

“Defensively, they know who our best two players are and they’re going to line guys over top of them, they’re gonna have help over the top, and when you’re down early on they’re going to play the pass even more,” said Jeff Brohm during media availability Monday. “You’ve gotta find ways to get them the ball.”

Additionally, if they can start connecting downfield, this should open up lanes for their run game, which was limited to negative two rushing yards against the Cornhuskers.

In preparation for these two star receivers, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said, “I think, when you play a team like that that is as dynamic as they are in the passing game, it is a collective effort. I think what their coaching staff does a phenomenal job in terms of finding ways to get their players the ball in space…and we got to be up to the challenge.”

2. Defense has been gashed.

Nebraska came to Ross Ade Stadium last weekend having yet to record a passing touchdown on the season and averaging under 200 yards passing per game. Enter the Purdue defense, who has allowed every opposing offense to look like world-beaters.

Nebraska headed to the locker room at halftime having already scored more points than in any other game this season. When all was said and done, they finished with 364 yards, 253 of which came through the air. They were better on third down than the Boilermakers, had more first downs, and won the time of possession. The defense will have to be better this weekend against a much stronger Indiana offense.

“I think our guys when they’re lined up, and playing aggressive, and they’re in the proper spot before the ball is snapped, we give ourselves a chance,” added Brohm about his defense. “We’ve just gotta be more consistent.”

3. Watch out for trick plays.

When it’s the Bucket game, you can go ahead and throw out the records of the two teams throughout the rest of the year. Each team is going to get the other’s best, and each team is going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the other to end the game celebrating with the Bucket in their locker room. For Purdue, this means the Indiana defense needs to be as disciplined as possible, because Brohm loves to throw trick plays at an over-aggressive defense. He hinted at this possibility a couple times during his press conference today.

“Anything to get us momentum, we want to do. It’s definitely not out of the realm to play two quarterbacks next game.”

“We have to find ways to beat them, because they’re not going to beat themselves.”

Expect Brohm’s best creative genius to come out this week, as an otherwise tough season can always be made up for with a Bucket game victory.