We couldn't find a good picture of Coach Tiller, so we used this...yes, Tiller looks a whole bunch like Wilford Brimley (it's really not clever)
Letter to Coach Tiller
Purdue's offense looks broken...no doubt about it. In their last two games, 21 of their 28 points have come during the last 3 minutes of the contests...During both contests, Purdue had LESS THAN 125 yards of TOTAL OFFENSE mid way through the third quarter. Painter's TD to INT ration has taken a pretty big hit, not to mention the fact that he can't seem to make any throws when under pressure. Dorien Bryant has dropped more dimes than Jonathon "Bud" Mackey...and the offensive line looks simply terrified. So what to do?
First thing Coach, get UM & OSU off of the schedule. OK, that's finished. Next, bench Selwyn Lymon (while you're at it, take away his #1 and give him either #99 or #0...it's a joke that he got it in the first place) and give the starting nod to former walk-on Jake Standeford. This will help a few things- First, Jake completes his routes, second, Jake catches passes that hit him in the hands, third Jake blocks, fourth (according to you, coach), Jake reads defenses better than any other wideout on Purdue's team.
After making that personnel change, tell Curtis that he's not benched...but he has a half to get the offense kick-started. If we see another first half like the last two weeks, Elliot or Panfil, or Tardy will run the offense...it honestly couldn't get a whole lot more anemic. I like Painter, and I don't think he's the problem, but the entire unit needs a shot in the arm...and God knows this Purdue team wasn't built around the idea of the defense winning games for it.
Next, I'd implement more two-tight end sets...use Adams as a more typical tight end and free Keller up, move him around. Let him run flat routes, seam routes, posts, fly routes, heck, put him at flanker and let him run slants. I'm pretty sure no DB can take away a route from him. I'd even like to see Keller lined up at full or half back from time-to-time. He's that much of a weapon and has earned it, in my opinion.
Then, I think I'd make the two-back rotation Halliburton & Taylor. This will help a few things out. First, while Sheets is a weapon, he's also a liability. I think he's lost 5 fumbles this season...plus (and you can confirm this, coach), rumor has it that he's been arriving late to practice- not a good thing for the team. Halliburton should help create more time for Painter by simply being another blocker. Also, he runs vertically...if he's a threat to get the ball, it will cause more attention to be directed to the center of the field. Lastly, Taylor should be pretty close to 100% in the next few weeks. If he starts getting carries this week he'll get back to being the all-positive yardage guy we've come to know and love.
Lastly, I think Coach Legg needs to hand the play-calling over to Coach Z. Legg's playcalling is extremely predictable...I think this would help a lot.
8 comments:
Good points. Definitely agree about Lymon. He has been horrible.
I think much of the reason for Purdue's struggles the last two weeks is due to playing really talented teams. I think we can get back on track versus Iowa.
I agree we have played talented teams, but by god we at least used to be competitive against them...
What are we going to do next year when a good Oregon team comes to Ross-Ade AND we have to travel to Notre Dame where we always struggle before the conference season even starts?
If things keep going as they are, we will lose. That's what our Boilers are going to do.
Remember how we used to rag on Minnesota about blowing out crappy teams then going to bowls because of the weak schedule? Well, looks like that is what we have become.
Okay, I need your opinion on something. Do we go with those little butter mint candies or mixed nuts on the tables before the Official Joe Till Retirement Party? I've found a supplier that can get me a ton of the butter mint things for a good price (and they are tasty), but I hear Joe likes the mixed nuts.
Oh, the main course will be chick of some sort. Sorry, the Union charges way too much for the bacon wrapped steak. Maybe if it were a smaller party...
I'd put bowls of ice chips...Joe likes that.
I think the comparison w/ Minnesota is pretty accurate, at this point.
If Purdue finishes 9-3 (losing @PSU), would you guys consider that a successful season? I sure would.
It's damn hard to beat OSU and Michigan any given year. If we judge our program by those games, we are going to be disappointed more often than not.
Sure it was embarassing how we lost those games, but there is no penalty for losing ugly.
This team should beat every team remaining on its schedule except for PSU.
Matt, it depends on the bowl performance in the 9-3 scenario.
If they're 9-3 with another ass-kicking in the bowl, I'd call that season unsuccessful. All I'm asking for is they have the opportunity to win...may not always get it done, but they need to be in the position to win.
There is a penalty for losing ugly- The perception of the program becomes that it's a pretender, in turn recruiting is hurt and TV is hurt (which hurts the fans in the long run). Case in point- University of Minnesota under Mason was NEVER on primetime.
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