As emotional last week was, this one might have been just as boring. Sure, there were a couple of big plays- Taylor had a nice TD scamper, Elliott had a few smart runs, but not much to write home about really...and that's OK with me.
A few weeks ago, turnovers were a disease that seemingly couldn't be cured. Wide receivers, running backs, kick returners and the quarterback were all getting in on the action. But this week, ZERO turnovers (for the first time this season). Moving Gravensande, while not an exciting move, has allowed Valentin to focus solely on being a wide receiver...and in spite of the sky spitting icy-cold drizzle, the Boilers held onto the ball very well.
This team learned something new today- play solid football versus a team you should beat, and you win...don't make unforced errors and your chances of winning go way up. Generally, Purdue took what was given today...I'd love to see more big plays, but would much rather see Purdue win 2-0 than lose with a bunch of big plays. I don't have a ton of thoughts...but here are some points from today:
-Illinois gave Elliot the chance to run, he took it. They gave Purdue the chance to run the ball with great success and Purdue took advantage...and wasn't it fun to see Taylor kicking ass? Love seeing this guy thrive.
-I really like the way King and Pender are playing- they're jumping routes when the opportunities arise and aren't missing the tackles they were earlier in the season. McLean was also very tough today, especially in run support.
-I counted three dropped interceptions by Purdue. Granted, a couple weren't easy catches, but I hope they learn to make those plays. The game was probably closer than it should have been because of missed opportunities like that.
-I like Jeff Lindsay's potential, but he dropped a few passes that he just should have caught. I'd like to see both he and Adams turn up their production in the next few games.
-The front four continues to look stout. And after the first quarter, they seemed to stiffen up and disrupted the offensive backfield. Mike Neal was bull-rushing all day and on more than one occasion took his man straight into the quarterback. To me, it looks like he has a future in the NFL.
Looking at the final third of the season
Coach Hope and the players are still believing a bowl game is a possibility. Next week, our Boilers go to Madison...then onto Ann Arbor (where Purdue hasn't won since Griese was playing QB)...then back home versus MSU and finally to Bloomington. So here is my question:
How much of a longshot will it be for Purdue to make a bowl game this season? And the follow up, would this be one of the biggest surprises for you as a Purdue fan in the last 10-15 years if they make it to post-season play?
Weigh in, if you have an opinion.
17 comments:
At my tailgate today, we all agreed that we'd have to step up and go to a bowl game if this team pulls it off... that said, I think being 5-7 would be just fine for this team given how they started. We don't need a crappy bowl game this year, but I'd take one I suppose. I just hope (no pun intended) that next year they remember games like NIU and NU. Had we simply taken care of business, we'd be 5-3, not 3-5. There definately was some bad "on the job training" going on for Danny Hope this year. A 5-7 season will create enough excitement for next year.
I think our favorite team will end up with 5 too..and hopefully, all involved will learn from the games that were given away. Cant take anything for granted.
A crappy bowl would be A-OK for me, this season...but I don't think it's going to happen.
If we can spliut these next two I can see a bowl game. Before the season I didn't think a bowl was a huge surprise to me, but after the 1-5 start it certainly is. I want to replay Northwestern and NIU right now, please.
First game this season I've been able to watch the whole thing. First half - very good. Second half - good enough. It was good to see them progress like this. And I am impressed with the front 4 on D, and that it stays pretty much together next year (correct?).
BYU has no speed. What they did to Oklahoma was the Okies' fault. TCU could jump BSU based on strength of schedule.
Perhaps you don't need a "crappy" bowl, but I think the seniors on the team would love it. If they get a bowl, I'm there.
I think asking for road wins in Ann Arbor and Madison is asking too much. Those are tough venues with solid teams. I think we can beat IU and perhaps get lucky against MSU. I think we win 4 or 5 games. I don't think Purdue makes a bowl. Purdue should be 5-3 right now with wins over NU and NIU.
I was wrong about BYU. They sucked last night. Wow.
Paul, the OL is not fully in-tact next season...Zwilling, Reckman and Jones all graduate. The loss of Zwilling might be especially painful as he has been a starter on the line for years and leads the unit at Center...plus, he's a captain.
We're 3 Iowa losses, 2 Penn State losses, a Michigan defeat of OSU and us winning out from a guaranteed trip to the Rose Bowl. Never give up! :)
But seriously, we've got an outside chance of making a bowl this year. The first two losses of the Big Ten schedule killed us more than anything. Winning in Madison is doable this year, but the next two against the teams from Michigan are going to be very tough.
As long as we beat IU, I'm happy with the end of the year. We've seen the players and coaches learn a lot this year and it gives me a lot of hope for next season.
I think we will actually have a tougher time against Wisconsin than Michigan this year. The Badgers have been great at home and they are coming off of a bye. At the same time, IU almost stole one in the Big House and they were a couple plays away from dropping the ND game too. That being said, we have taken great teams into Ann Arbor and lost. I don't like our chances in either game, but I think we can beat Michigan State at Ross-Ade and finish off IU.
Since making a bowl game means either winning at Camp Randall (ranked team on the road) or Ann Arbor (a curse for us), that would be huge step forward for the program and it would be a great surprise to me. I'd love to see it, but I don't think it will. Prove me wrong Boilers.
Everyone keeps sayin NIU and NU should have been wins -- I'd exchange NIU (a game Purdue was never in) for UND in that scenario. I'd even make that trade -- losing to a MAC team for a win over Notre Dame.
Anyway, yes, they should be 5-3. But this is what happens with this kind of team.
Bowl game is a tall order but would demonstrate incredible heart from this team AND cement the fact that these guys believe in Hope and his methods. I think it's clear the seniors haven't given up on that dream.
Hey, isn't it fun that the upcoming games matter more again?
I meant the d-line. I knew the o-line was going tot ake a hit. That may be a damper next year.
eh, i can live with a new o-line. they haven't really played that well at times.
DL loses its heart, Mike Neal (another captain) who will be replaced with Mondek and one of the RS Freshman will fill the two-deep (I'd guess Melton?). Lots of strenght, size and bulk in the middle.
RE: Hey, isn't it fun that the upcoming games matter more again?
True that. I was ready to unplug the TV on Saturday's until hoops started. This Hope team just keeps sucking me back in.
For what it's worth, I think every one of the upcoming games are very winnable. I concur with John's post stating the the Badgers are the biggest remaining test. It's a hell of a fun place to play and party, BTW, so any young pup's with the coin for a weekend trip should do it. I've never regretted the road trips I made up to Mad-town.
I've been misled. The link said 15 well thought out comments. I don't see too many of those.
First, Purdue can't go bowling with a split. No team with a losing record goes to a bowl game. That means we need at least 3 of the next 4 to be considered. 4 of 4 would be intriguing. Bowls would like Purdue because they travel well, not to mention playing good ball if they win 7 straight.
Everyone seems content with the few wins we've managed lately. I see that this team has come a long way but if we don't keep up for the rest of the season than we have regressed. I don't expect us to win the next 4 but I hope we continue to play well enough to be in those ball games.
It's amazing what happens when you don't turn the ball over. Winning 2 or 3 of the next 4 will be a nice springboard for next season. I hope to see the team continue to improve.
I don't know that I've ever seen Ross Ade as empty in the last decade as it was on Saturday.
Ben -- the comment was meaning splitting the next two (Wis and UM) and then beating MSU and IU. That would bring them to 6-6 and most likely an appealing bowl team for mediocre venues.
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