Thursday, March 13, 2008

Reason For Optimism?

(I intentionally avoided saying Hope up there)
This morning, I tripped upon the prognostication for the NFL draft...for 2009. I know, I know, like most premature sports foretellings, this one's pretty useless. OK, completely useless. That said, I couldn't help but notice that #8, the highest-rated QB, mind you, was none other than Curt Painter. In the 40s was Purdue's relatively new-to-the-position LB, Anthony Heygood. An anchor from the defense, and one from the offense could help provide the leadership & balance that this team has needed for years.

Let's be honest, since a guy named Drew left, Purdue hasn't been a "World Beater". In fact, our alma mater's been pretty much a MAC beater. Granted there were two seasons in the last 7 in which either the defense or the offense was good enough to land the Boilers in a pretty solid bowl, but once in that bowl, they simply couldn't get the job done.

The last time Purdue had a Senior quarterback at the helm coming into the season was 2004. Kyle Orton, who seems to be a lot like Curtis Painter, had the nation buzzing. Both QBs seem to have big arms are less-than-mobile and lack that killer instinct. While I am a firm believer that a person is responsible for his successes and failures, I'm also a believer in the fact that Joe Tiller really likes a quarterback that plays within his system and simply does his job. That said, the best quarterback he's ever coached made the system better by stepping outside of it. I'm pretty convinced Tiller doesn't like surprises and such behavior. The problem is, the best quarterbacks of all time, especially in the college ranks, seem to be guys who are gun-slingers. They take risks and their team mates rally around them.

My request to Tiller, Z & Hope is this- just unleash Curtis. Encourage audibles and allow him to create. Let the kid simply play the game. Perhaps he can run the ball more, get under center when the defense lends itself to such a formation...maybe the hurry-up becomes a wrinkle that is not only available in the Motor City Bowl...Who knows.

We saw just how accurate Painter can be with healthy shoulder during his last outing. Granted, he was facing a MAC foe, but Jim Everett, Drew Brees & others also faced less-than-stellar defenses at times, and they never threw for as many yards in a single game as did Curt last December. So what's it mean?

Well, it just might mean that painter has the ability to lead the offense in the manner that I've been stressing for years- Utilize the offense as a form of defense. Put teams on their heels by simply daring them to get into an arms race with you each and every game like Dicken and Brees did back in the late 90s. Things were different then. Purdue had the element of surprise, but they didn't have the talent that is now in the stable, on both sides of the ball.

There was no Kory Sheets or Jaycen Taylor in the Basketball on Grass offenses (thus there was no balance if inclement weather or a stout LB corps came calling)...and the defenses simply weren't talented or big enough to stop the run. Perhaps, with a few new pieces of personnel (Jason Werner, Keyon Brown, Josh McKinley and others), this defense can get close to the level that was achieved back in '03. Plus, Tiller now has nothing to lose, and maybe, just maybe Cowboy Joe can ride back into town for one last campaign.


Granted, I'm a Kool Aid drinker, but for some reason, I'm believing this could be a special season for our Boilers. So with Spring Ball just around the corner, I'm excited...maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but whatever the case is, I'm looking forward to football again. Hey, even if this team isn't what I think they might become, at minimum, the season should be entertaining. I'll go ahead and do it- I'm predicting a NYD bowl, and victory, for my Boilers in '08/'09.

But, you already know how worthwhile early predictions are.

14 comments:

J Money said...

I think this is the month we re-up for season tickets. Get 'er done!

Anonymous said...

Yes, you are a glutton for punishment.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I hope you're right.

I've not been shy about my thoughts on Curtis. He's got a great arm, but until he can read defenses better and be mentally tough, I say there's no way he goes that high in the draft. I completely agree that he needs to be let loose to audible and try some different formations. BUT, he needs to show that he can actually do those things. Brees was doing it most of his career, which leads me to believe that Tiller does not have confidence that Curtis can pull it off. I am optimistic (also avoiding the H word here) that this coming season they can turn that around.

Tim said...

Here's how I see the schedule going, with my confidence level in each pick next to it.

09/06 Northern Colorado - W (90%)
09/13 Oregon - L (70%)
09/20 Central Michigan - W (65%)
09/27 at Notre Dame - L (60%)
10/04 Penn State - L (60%)
10/11 at Ohio State - L (85%)
10/18 at Northwestern - W (90%)
10/25 Minnesota - W (70%)
11/01 Michigan - L (90%)
11/08 at Michigan State - W (52%)
11/15 at Iowa - W (60%)
11/22 Indiana - W (75%)

That puts Purdue at 7 wins. Could they beat Penn State? They could. On the flip side, could they lose to CMU? I think they could do that too because it will be the 3rd game between them in a year. High side I give them 8 wins, low I give them 6.

boilerdowd said...

Tim, I think your picks are thoughtful and look pretty good. I just think "we're due".

When was the last time our Boilers surprised anybody? 1997.

That's a long time.

Anonymous said...

That "he's due" stuff never works when I'm watching baseball, hopefully it'll work out for Purdue in football...

T-Mill said...

I do think Curtis has more of a killer instinct than Orton. I can see him taking charge more than I do Kyle, but Kyle has matured more in the NFL.

The key will be hte non-conference season. If we can ebat Oregon and knock of Notre Dame in South bend many people just might begin to beleive in us again.

boileraae said...

I don't know about that T-mill.... We're known for playing well in September and then sliding in October. If we go 4-0 in September all we'll do is get people wondering when the bottom will fall out. I hope this is the year we change that around, but so far Curtis Painter has NOT shown an ability to play in clutch games. I'm hoping for a great season, but I'm expecting another mediocre one.

boilerdowd said...

nate,
He's due never works. PERIOD.

I'm wishful...that's all there is to it.

Travis, the season swings on that Oregon game, in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Kool-Aid drinkers. I put us at 6-6. CMU comes calling. I have gotten pessimistic as hell over Tiller and his crew lately. I dare them to prove me wrong, because I would love to be wrong. As far as I’m concerned, there is no Hope with this team until I see some spark that I haven’t seen over the last 4 years.

boilerdowd said...

Paul, it's official- you've taken Tim's role as resident pessimist. He's become level-headed and you're the nervous nellie. I think you've picked two straight NIT appearances for basketball and now a .500 season in football.

I guess balance is a good thing, especially when you have my Kool-Aid buzz as strong as it is from time-to-time.

Anonymous said...

And I'm cool with that.

But wait a second - how many saw Purdue winning this many games this year? Really now? I think you said 20 wins. That doesn't automatically get you in the Big Dance anymore.

T-Mill said...

I actually like our chances against Oregon, especially since Stewart declared for hte draft. I danced a jig of joy when he did that.

They will have a new quarterback and a new running back playting their second game 2500 miles across the country. As long as that QB isn't Pryor I like our chances because the Ducks won't wuite have their feet wet yet (rimshot)

besides, if Indiana, under Gerry Dinardo of all people, can go into Autzen Stadium and get a win, we can surely win at home. Crap, that win scared them so much the Ducks refused the return game at "The Rock".

J Money said...

20 win teams out of power conferences rarely miss the tourney, but that's neither here nor there.

My biggest issue with Tim's picks is that we'll lose at ND... and he's 60% sure of that. ND is still not going to be good. Do you think Pickles will suddenly sack up and improve under the genius tutelage he's receiving?

Also, we almost beat PSU (and would have except for some lousy calls) at their place... why not swing that 60% in favor of US winning?