Sunday, September 27, 2009

Hang on.


This one smarts...I thought it'd be a shootout, it wasn't. I thought my Boilers would lose- they did...but that doesn't make a difference. It still stinks.

This one's a lot like the Oregon game- Purdue could have folded a few times, but kept fighting- that's good. But unlike the Oregon game, our Boilers were in the drivers seat at the end of the game. Playing from the lead is always the better position to be in, but Notre Dame did enough to win...and Purdue didn't shut the door.

You can point out key junctures in the game as the reason for defeat-

-Stupid, avoidable penalties killed Purdue all day long.

-The kickoff coverage continues to be mediocre at best. UND started at the 30 or better each time and Wiggs just isn't kicking the ball as deeply as he did last season.

-Like the NIU game, the offense disappeared in the first quarter and didn't really show back up until the second half. Elliott couldn't complete easy passes, the offensive line didn't create space for Bolden and the play calling was predictable during this period.

-Like every game this year, tackling was lousy during the same quarter and a half mentioned above. And because of that, the Crist-led Irish offense marched down the field with ease. The ten-point lead felt much larger at that point.

-The last touchdown by UND was not inevitable...but as the Irish got closer and closer to the goal line, the defense got more conservative, and because of that, it seemed like it might be. At the top of the drive, the linemen were twisting stunting and I believe there was even a blitz or two worked in. But, the front four was put in a position that they couldn't succeed as they were asked to rush straight up the field, the linebackers seemingly were told to contain and spy the wounded quarterback and the DBs dropped into man coverage. As we all know, this prevent-style defense didn't yield positive results.

Right after the game, I was flat-out pissed. As Purdue fans, we've seen this a lot- A team fights from behind to take the lead only to lose the game in gut-wrenching, heart-breaking fashion...and if you're like me, you were talking to the TV imploring somebody, anybody to make that one play that would seal it. And while it didn't happen, that doesn't mean it's time to throw in the towel. My brothers and I discussed what's next after the game for a little while- I don't have a choice, I can't stop getting emotionally involved in games that the Boilers play in; I don't have anything I'd rather do than watch Purdue play on Saturdays.

And I don't see any reason to believe the players are giving up or don't have heart. In the three losses, the guys on the field were selling out in an effort to win- guys are playing hurt and seem to be as angry about losing as I am each week. Let's hope Coach Hope can keep them together and not allow these last three games to end the season that is only a third of the way over.

While a lot bothered me about this game, I really liked some of what I saw too-

-Keith Smith is a mother and seemed to want the ball at the end of the game. He ran hard after the catch and was sure-handed.

-Along with Smith, this offense has a lot of weapons...if some consistency can be achieved this offense can be very tough.

-Gooden and Kerrigan reminded us why Purdue is called the Den of Defensive Ends...and eventually, the refs will start seeing that these guys are held nearly every play.

-In the second half, Purdue's defense was swarming and flying to the ball- even if tackling isn't perfect, if you have a bunch of players there to make the play, the odds go up that it'll happen.

So be pissed- I am...I think most of the players and coaches are too. Losing stinksBut don't give up. I'd think even the most optimistic among us didn't think this team would be great...but there's a lot of football left to be played and a lot of teams in the BT are beatable.

Notes
-I think Lynch has a legit beef- The BT officials botched another important call, even with the help of instant replay...at least the catch wasn't in the end zone. The Hoosiers look pretty respectable...it pains me to say it, but their balance on offense is solid and they have some playmakers...plus, Kirlew and Middleton are arse-kickers.

-Does the PSU team have a satchel? I mean, I know it was raining, but the offense and special teams simply gift-wrapped the game for Iowa...Way to avenge last year's loss, Lions.

-Oregon might be pretty good...How about the way they simply abused Cal...Let's not talk about NIU for the time being.

-You da man, Kevin. How about the Houston Cougars and the Boiler grad & ex-coach, Kevin Sumlin? They got a lot of fight in them and are coming out of nowhere to make a lot of noise. Good for Sumlin.

14 comments:

Boiler_Ditsor said...

Atmosphere was awesome at the game. Best looking Blackout I've seen, black unis and black endzones were great. My voice is gone and I can't sleep. I keep picturing that ball pop out of that dude's hands at the end, and a Boiler Victory. Heartbreaking loss, but at least we didn't follow the theme that had been set the last few years with the spot light on us and roll over and play dead.

Never cared much for Irish fans, but tonight I totally lost my respect for them with the rudeness of the fans in our area - way worse than aOSU fans.

Now Charlie can eat a F###ing cake and quit whining about the Big Ten Refs - that Fat Basterd.

PatrickWB said...

Wait a minute - isn't anyone going to mention the incredibly stupid timeout Hope called; stopping the clock and giving ND an extra play. In addition to the stupid penalties (particularly in the first half) that timeout practically gave the game away.

PatrickWB said...

Whoops - sorry. I read this and commented before I read J Money's post. He mentioned the time out.

COD said...

The worst part of this is every one of us could see the bad ending coming as the defense got more and more conservative as ND neared the end zone at the end. Why the hell weren't we blitzing every play? Clausen couldn't move, he was practically immobile back there. They had 4 passes for 10+ yard gains on the final drive.

Not to mention that the announcers called the game winning play as they lined up. If the announcers knew what ND was going to do why the hell weren't we prepared to for it?

Scruffy_P said...

Did we do enough to win? Yes, obviously.

Did we shoot ourselves in the foot? Yes, unfortunately.

Did we forget that a tight end is allowed to catch the football too? Yes, it drove me crazy.

Should NU be worried? Well, I wouldn't want to face a team as pissed off as we hopefully are.

OhioBoiler said...

I agree with the atmosphere...this is only my second year at Purdue but I have never seen the west side of the stadium get fired up like it did in the 4th quarter. I think Coach Tiller's little 'pep talk' helped.

And as for Notre Dame fans, I'm in the club now too. I'm glad the student section started kicking out the irish fans.

Mr. Anonymous said...

As for the time out, I can see where Hope might be coming from.

There were 36 seconds on the clock. The announcers stated that ND was going to spike the ball. But, a good team can get off two plays in 36 seconds. If I were ND I would throw the ball high into the end zone. They were not going to throw it short unless there is a sack, which we were only able to get one of those all night. So if it's not caught, it's an incomplete, which stops the clock, which gives them another play, and we loose time for our own offense. So, the question is --> is the timeout a bad call? The answer is, not if it works...

Boiler_Ditsor said...

I hate Charlie Weis.

OhioBoiler said...

I just watched the BTN replay and they said that Coach Hope didn't call the timeout and showed a clip of him (Im guessing, because I cant read lips) asking who did. Strange because of the press conference though.

Nate H said...

Maybe he's being a man and taking responsibility as the head coach, not throwing his assistants and/or players under the bus.

J Money said...

That's apparently exactly what happened -- Hope took responsibility for it rather than blame someone else.

Mr. Anon -- It was third down... if they spiked it, it would have been fourth down. I think that's where the anger is coming from.

OhioBoiler said...

Gotchya...I respect that, makes you want to work for the guy.

Either way though, from his comments today it sounds like he has no regrets.

dozer8589 said...

Apparently we need to teach OUR tightends to push off in the endzone - and all these years I thought that was illegal. Huh, who knew?

I don't want to play the "reactionary jerk" card, but I'm going to.

Fact: We need to win 6 of the next 8 to be Bowl eligible.

Fact: Elliot has consistently killed us, most recently channeling the skills of one Curtis Painter and throwing the ball over or behind open receivers.

Fact: Ter Bush was pushing Elliot in the fall.

Fact: Ter Bush will be here next year, Elliot won't.


Conclusion: Is it time to pull the plug on Elliot and get Ter Bush some experience?

Chad said...

I haven't screamed, yelled, and booed so much in a long time at a Purdue game! Outside of the ending, it was a great game to be at. That being said, I have been wondering for that past few weeks what Nord's problem is with passing it to the middle of the field?!?! I'd like to see the stats on passes to the middle compared to the sides. It can't be more than 2 or 3 passes a game.