Football
Big Ten Season Previews - Number 9, Purdue
Tony "Page 88" GerdemanPredicted Finish 6-6 (2-6)
Two-Cent Overview
Purdue returns prolific quarterback Curtis Painter and a full backfield. But the receivers are gone, baby gone. The offensive line is experienced and talented. The defensive line has the potential to be very disruptive. The linebackers are fast, but not very deep. The secondary is in a bit of flux, but there are players here. Shoes need to be filled, but the Boilermakers may lack a sufficient number of feet.
Schedule
Sept. 6 Northern Colorado (W)
Sept. 13 Oregon (W)
Sept. 20 Central Michigan (W)
Sept. 27 at Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 4 Penn State (L)
Oct. 11 at Ohio State (L)
Oct. 18 at Northwestern (L)
Oct. 25 Minnesota (W)
Nov. 1 Michigan (L)
Nov. 8 at Michigan State (L)
Nov. 15 at Iowa (L)
Nov. 22 Indiana (W)Goal
A fond farewell for Joe Tiller. That could mean a great record, a strong finish, or just a complete blowout of Michigan.
Five Questions Looking For Answers
1. Can the Boilermakers finally finish a season strong.
2. Is Greg Orton the only receiver on the roster that could be considered "good"?
3. Is there a disruptor at defensive end per usual?
4. Can linebacker Anthony Heygood improve upon his dramatic emergence last season as a relentless attacker?
5. How will the team respond to Joe Tiller in his last season as the Boilers' head coach?Something To Look For
Despite losing four of their top five pass-catchers, Joe Tiller is convinced this offense will move the ball as well as any of his previous teams. They've got the quarterback to find the targets, now they just have to get open. Fortunately, they will be returning perhaps the most talented running game in the Tiller Era, so if there is some delay in receiver production, it can hopefully be buffered by a steady running game.
Returning Starters
Six on offense, six on defense and the kicker.
Best Player
Quarterback Curtis Painter. For reasons that I can't fully grasp, people are saying that Painter is a legit first round NFL Draft prospect. (Of course, this time last year, so was Kentucky's Andre Woodson.) Be that as it may, Painter is clearly one of the better players in the conference and the best thing going for the Boilers right now. After throwing 19 interceptions as a sophomore, he took that number down to 11 last season while increasing his touchdown total from 22 to 29. Given the turnover in the receiving corps and perhaps a little more emphasis on the running game, it's hard to imagine Painter with bigger numbers than last season. He will need to lead this team through adversity at some point this season and how he responds to that will speak louder than anything his stat sheet has to say.
Second-Best Player
Linebacker Anthony Heygood. Heygood was the surprise of the season last year and much is expected of him this season. In 2007, he finished with 81 tackles, including 14 for loss. He was a missile at times, bursting into the backfield, sometimes blowing up a play, sometimes whiffing in the midst. This season, expect him to be a little more in control--but not too much, as that may take away from what he ultimately brings to the defense--chaos.
Best Chance For a Big Loss
At Ohio State. The Buckeyes generally don't blow the Boilermakers out, however, they present an incredibly difficult matchup for Purdue. The Ohio State defense should suffocate the Boiler offense and it's doubtful that Beanie Wells and Co. can be contained at home.
Most Important Game
Penn State. This is the conference opener and if Penn State comes into Ross-Ade and walks out with a win, it's going to be a bad sign. There is really only one nearly unwinnable game on this schedule, and that's the trip to Columbus. A win over Penn State would go a very long way in guaranteeing an upper-division finish and would get them one big step closer to a bowl game below the Mason-Dixon Line.
Best Road Game To Pack Up The Family Truckster And Travel To
At Notre Dame. Everybody should take the trip to Notre Dame at least once in their lifetime if for nothing else than to get there and say, "Meh".
Best Reason They Won't Be Undefeated
The offense. Yes, Joe Tiller says this offense will be as good as any other he's had, but many times those same offenses bogged down when they faced a quality defense. With so many questions at wide receiver, there's no reason to think this year will be any different.
Best Reason They Will Be Undefeated
They get overlooked. Ohio State plays at Wisconsin the week prior to hosting the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes haven't won the game following the Wisconsin game since 2003.
Game They Shouldn't Lose, But Could
Michigan. Joe Tiller is 1-6 against Michigan in his career, so there's a definite pattern here. With the Wolverines coming into West Lafayette, there's no way the Boilermakers should lose this game in Tiller's last season. However, Michigan's kinks will be worked out as much as they can be by the time this game rolls around and they'll actually have a pretty good grasp of what they're supposed to be doing.
Player People Are Expecting Too Much From
Wide receiver Greg Orton. Orton is the sole returnee from last year's receiving corps, so much is expected from him. However, people need to remember that he is a possession receiver. He is not a guy who will make plays after the catch. Yes, he can slip behind a defender and beat somebody down the sidelines, but his game is more chain-moving, not play-making.
Player People Will Be Pleasantly Surprised By
Defensive tackle Alex Magee. Purdue coaches are throwing around the term "best ever to play at Purdue" when talking about Magee, so apparently we should expect a whole bunch out of him this year. Defensive coordinator Brock Spack calls him a future multi-millionaire and Magee spent much of the offseason putting in the effort to have those accolades appear somewhat prophetic.
Best Newcomer
Safety Dwight McLean. McLean is a junior college transfer who was a two-time all-conference performer at Fullerton Community College in Fullerton, CA. McLean made a name for himself over the summer and has already been penciled in as the starter at free safety. It's still early on in camp, but the Purdue coaches are hoping that he can step up and be the player that they need. If he can, this will allow the coaches to keep Brandon King at cornerback, after moving from the free safety position that he manned in 2007.
Something They Do Well
Distribute the football. Six different Boilermakers caught at least 30 passes last season.. This season, there will be ample opportunity for any number of Boilermakers to make their way into Curtis Painter's good graces. And if they get open, they will be found.
Something They Don't Do So Well
Hold onto the football. Purdue fumbled the ball 24 times last season, losing 13 total. They fumbled at least once in every game and had seven games of at least two fumbles. In the spring, Joe Tiller had last year's back-up running back Jaycen Taylor listed at the top of the depth chart because returning starter Kory Sheets was, as he said, "a reckless ball-carrier".
What's Improved?
Speed at linebacker. Everybody is looking forward to seeing what a healthy Jason Werner can do for this defense. Werner was moved from safety and has dealt with back issues for a while now, so it's unsure just how long the Boilermakers will have him this year. However, when he's on the field, along with whoever wins the middle linebacker job, there will be linebackers who will be able to pursue and make plays. The danger for the Boilers comes if there are any injuries, because right now Joe Tiller feels that there are only four Big Ten caliber linebackers on the roster.
What's Gotten Worse?
Experience on offense. I've been harping on it, but the losses at tight end and receiver are dramatic. The Boilermakers have to replace 230 receptions and 20 touchdowns gathered by Dorien Bryant, Dustin Keller, Selwyn Lymon and Random Standeford. However, this is really the only area on offense that is inexperienced. Purdue brings back both offensive tackles (though they'll be switching sides) and their starting left guard. And the likely starters at right guard and center both got tremendous experience last season.
Anything Else We Should Know About?
The secondary is more experienced than it looks. Right now, the two cornerbacks listed at the top of the depth chart have a total of eight career starts at the position. However, one of the starters is Brandon King, who started all thirteen games for the Boilermakers last season at free safety. And top backup Royce Adams has eighteen starts to his credit in his first two seasons. Strong safety Torri Williams has been listed on many a depth chart, but injuries and grades have kept him off of the field for the most part, but he knows what he's doing. The other starter is free safety Dwight McLean, who comes over from junior college, so even the new guy still has a couple of years experience.
Anything Else?
Along with Joe Tiller's feelings about this team, Brock Spack has said that he feels this is the best Boilermaker team in a while. So they've got that going for them.
One Prediction
Purdue linebacker Anthony Heygood will lead all Big Ten linebackers in tackles for loss.
Did you know (Media Guide factoid)
Jim Colletto is the eighth-winningest coach in Purdue football history with 21wins.
Coach Speak
What Joe Tiller says: "For maybe the first time since we have been at Purdue, we have no academic or injury issues on the first day of camp."
What Joe Tiller means: "These $@#%!@# wait until my last year to stay healthy and out of trouble!?!? Unbelievable.
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