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OT
Sean Sester (PHOTO CREDIT - Purdue University
Sports Information) |
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2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Joe Tiller
83-54,
11 years |
2007
Record: 8-5 |
|
at
Toledo |
WON
52-24 |
EASTERN
ILLINOIS |
WON
52-6 |
CENTRAL
MICHIGAN |
WON
45-22 |
at
Minnesota |
WON
45-31 |
NOTRE
DAME |
WON
33-19 |
OHIO
STATE |
LOST
7-23 |
at
Michigan |
LOST
21-48 |
IOWA |
WON
31-6 |
NORTHWESTERN |
WON
35-17 |
at
Penn State |
LOST
19-26 |
MICHIGAN
STATE |
LOST
31-48 |
at
Indiana |
LOST
24-27 |
MOTOR
CITY BOWL |
Central
Michigan |
WON
51-48 |
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2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
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2008
Outlook |
As
the great head coach’s
autobiography promises, Tiller:
Not Your Average Joe. The man
from Toledo took over a program
that hadn’t had a winning
season in 12 years and produced
only one losing year in his
first 11 (.606 winning percentage).
And though he’s gotten
Purdue to 10 bowls, it is depictive
of his reign that he’s
merely 4-6 in the postseason.
High expectations have constantly
fallen just short of permanently
vaulting Purdue into the upper
echelons of the league and therefore
the country’s elite. Winning
much of the time is nice, but
the next level is attainable
here with just a bit more focus.
Joe
Tiller has generated some great
offenses at his coaching stops,
but balance has been lacking
in his strategy here for the
past two years. Too much passing
means we can’t really
cop to the Boilermaker’s
being a ‘spread’
team. Spreading foes out should
mean open running lanes galore,
and therefore rushing yards
to force balanced results. But
that ain’t happening.
And, hence, the question becomes
obvious - why not? Has the modern
era passed Tiller by? The passing
and total offensive results
aren’t bad, but more wins
aren’t coming without
some changes.
Curtis
Painter is good for, at least,
a 29:11 ratio of touchdowns-to-INTs.
His senior year will be great,
yes…but it will be even
greater – contain more
wins – if he can get Sheets
and Taylor in gear right away.
The line can do its share, so
we just implore Coach Joe to
run, run, and run some more.
Just
as much has to be done on defense,
but lots of talented upperclassmen
returning as starters should
mean improvements. A great DE
unit should mesh well with the
growing LBs to improve the run
stuffing. A well-sized secondary
is the key, for if they can
finally rise to the occasion,
the D can keep up with the O
in making wins come.
Getting past Oregon at home
is the first challenge; then
it’s those pesky Chippewas
again before a trip to South
Bend kicks off a four-game span
that will tell all.
Since
the 1892 undefeated season to
kick off the Boilermaker’s
illustrious history, no time
has ever seen this much winning.
It took until 1966 for Purdue
to even get to a bowl game,
but their 14-13 Rose Bowl win
over USC that year was a sign
of things to come. Always a
respectable program for its
deep commitment to education,
there is more room for this
program to grow on the gridiron.
With a senior QB capable of
putting the team on his back,
there is no time like 2008 for
only their second ten-win season
ever.
Projected
2008 record: 7-5
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K
Chris Summers (PHOTO CREDIT - Purdue
University Sports Information) |
PURDUE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4.5 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3 |
.. |
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PURDUE
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
89 |
9 |
Passing: |
12 |
2 |
Total
Off: |
27 |
1 |
Sacks
Allow: |
51 |
5 |
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DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
54 |
7 |
Passing: |
75 |
7 |
Total
Def: |
63 |
8 |
Sacks: |
41 |
7 |
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RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Curtis Painter, 356-569-11,
3846 yds., 29 TD
Rushing: Kory Sheets,
168 att., 859 yds., 11 TD
Receiving: Greg Orton,
67 rec., 752 yds., 3 TD
Scoring: Chris Summers,
18-22 FG, 56-56 PAT, 110 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Chris Summers,
18-22 FG, 56-56 PAT, 110 pts.
Tackles: Anthony Heygood,
81 tot., 48 solo
Sacks: Keyon Brown, 3.5
sacks
Interceptions: Torri
Williams, 2 for 0 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Desmond
Tardy, 8 ret., 28.6 avg., 1
TD
Punt Returns: Desmond
Tardy, 2 ret., 20.5 avg., 0
TD
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PURDUE
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OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Dorien Bryant-WR, Selwyn Lymon-WR
(NFL), Jake Standeford-WR, Dustin
Keller-TE, Robbie Powell-C, Jordan
Grimes-OG |
DEFENSE:
Cliff
Avril-DE, Eugene Bright-DE, Josh
Ferguson-MLB, Dan Bick-MLB, Stanford
Keglar-WLB, Terrell Vinson-CB,
Justin Scott-SS, Jared Armstrong-P |
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2008
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
This is the senior year for 6’4
QB Curtis Painter, and the offense
will rise and/or fall as Painter does
since this is a pass-first approach.
The Vincennes product is hard to bring
down for opposing DEs and LBs, and
his wheels work well. But the one
thing he could use is a radar adjustment
for knowing when the bad guys are
coming (25 sacks). Otherwise, 29 TDs
and only 11 INTs show how he’s
reached his potential (62.6% completion
rate). Ed Zaunbrecher takes over after
former co-coordinator Bill Legg left
for the OC spot at FIU, and Zaunbrecher
(QBs coach too) will keep the rock
flying with his star pupil breaking
school records. Painter’s last
game was in setting the school’s
all-time single game passing yardage
record (546) in the Motor City Bowl
win over Central Michigan, putting
him past names like Drew Brees and
Kyle Orton to signal his abilities,
ones he can conjur at will. Behind
Painter, it seems logical that Justin
Siller will get the first nod, and
even possibly reps at sporadic, well-engineered
times since the dual-threat needs
experience as the future of the program.
Working kinks out seems like a good
idea, but if Siller shows he isn’t
ready, Joey Elliot can step in - like
he did against Michigan last year
– and ground the proceedings.
Elliot and Siller led the second team
offense to the win this spring (each
had two TDs), so their command seems
worthy in case they’re truly
needed.
RUNNING
BACK
The running game with Siller in the
lineup looks formidable, but how much
more the play calls shift toward handing
it off remains to be seen. After a
big fumble in the bowl game, Kory
Sheets has to prove he has a handle
on things before he comes back into
favor. Compliment Jaycen Taylor proves
very durable for his scat size, but
both seniors will enter their third
seasons together still sharing the
load. Sheets is definitively leaned
upon more in the passing game; he
can line up on the outside with his
sprinter’s speed and cause sudden
mismatches for LBs. Dan Dierking (Player
of the Year for Gatorade as well as
for both the Chicago Sun-Times and
Tribune) looks like the next big name
back, so he will continue to be marbled
into the carry mix. Unlike incoming
classmate Dierking, Malcolm Harris
was held back last year to make all
eager to see his speed translate away
from the scout team. Ex-DE Frank Halliburton
is that big, hulking back with 4.6
speed who can either lead block or
get tough (goal line) yards. The Boilermakers
won’t produce a 1,000-yard guy,
but they can provide more balance
and therefore more overall production
if the ground attack can flourish.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
And why shouldn’t it with three
stanchions returning to provide the
line’s foundation? 6’7
LT Sean Sester is the lone senior
of the established trio; he’s
bulked up nicely and still displays
excellent footwork. Reckman is also
a weight room product, using brute
strength to deal with his inside assignment.
New center Cory Benton rotated in
for Reckman and former center Powell,
so his start at center for ’08
isn’t the unknown many critics
foretell. Zach Jones, a former walk-on,
broke out with a start in nearly every
game, and he responded with an excellent
year. Justin Pierce was a fixture
in place of Grimes last year, making
his start at RG a lock. The variables
seem to be ex-DT/DE Jared Zwilling
and early enrollee Ken Plue. At 6’8
(340lbs was his recruiting weight;
official roster weight is 361), Plue
is supposed to challenge Sester for
game time, and Zwilling is just to
good not to find himself on the field
come fall. Problems this spring involved
a lack of chemistry since Sester (surgery
to repair bulging disc), Jones (hip
surgery) and Reckman (shoulder surgery)
were out for the bulk of the proceedings.
The spring game results prove that
the OL efforts can be patched together
for success.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
Kyle Adams showed progress by breaking
out as a downfield target, something
he didn’t do too often before
’07. But Adams’s size
means he is the fulltime tight end,
and more athletic Jeff Lindsay’s,
veteran Jerry Wasikowski’s (top
snarler in spring game), and newbie
Colton McKey’s insertion(s)
will likely signal a passing effort.
Big Greg Orton is the lone returning
starter at WR, and with multiple-WR
sets in vogue, targets need to be
found in more ways than the obvious
one. Meet JUCO product Aaron Valentin
(NJCAA All-American), the recipient
of the Offensive Newcomer Award at
the conclusion of spring ball who
has earned a nod to start…but
where? Ex-QB Desmond Tardy has much
to prove after slowly climbing the
depth chart to finally start in the
slot, but his assignments seem to
remain underneath with the experience
to find open space quickly. As for
fifth-year senior Brandon Whittington,
he was proving much this spring before
he broke his foot; he’ll be
back and will have to pick up where
he left off to keep RS frosh Waynelle
Gravesande and Keith Smith from developing
past him. Painter will find his guys
early and often, regardless who makes
it in on each play.
This
was the conference’s top total
and scoring offense, and Painter guarantees
production will come. But unless he
can get some running help, a one-dimensional
show won’t be enough to provide
consistency and win games with offense
alone.
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QB
Curtis Painter (PHOTO CREDIT
- Purdue University Sports Information)
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PURDUE
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Curtis
Painter-Sr (6-4, 230) |
Joey
Elliott-Jr (6-2, 211)
Justin Siller-Fr (6-4, 220) |
RB |
Kory
Sheets-Sr (6-0, 206) |
Jaycen
Taylor-Sr (5-10, 180) |
WR |
Greg
Orton-Sr (6-3, 199) |
Brandon
Whittington-Sr (6-2, 213) |
WR |
Aaron
Valentin-Jr (6-1, 205) |
Joe
Whitest-Sr (6-2, 196) |
WR |
Desmond
Tardy-Sr (6-1, 199) |
Keith
Smith-So (6-2, 226) |
TE |
Kyle
Adams-Jr (6-5, 251) |
Jeff
Lindsay-So (6-4, 238)
Jerry Wasikowski-Sr (6-4, 255) |
OT |
Sean
Sester-Sr (6-7, 325) |
Garret
Miller-Sr (6-8, 275) |
OG |
Zach
Reckman-Jr (6-6, 308) |
Eric
Hedstrom-Sr (6-6, 292) |
C |
Cory
Benton-Sr (6-3, 287) |
Jared
Zwilling-Jr (6-4, 293) |
OG |
Justin
Pierce-So (6-4, 314) |
Rick
Schmeig-Fr (6-3, 312) |
OT |
Zach
Jones-Jr (6-5, 300) |
Ken
Plue-Fr (6-7, 361) |
K |
Chris
Summers-Jr (6-1, 179) |
.. |
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2008
DEFENSE |
The
marginal efforts of 2007 have a good
chance of getting better since the
seven returning starters can learn
from the errors of their ways. There
were actually improved results in
the run stopping from 2006 through
’07 – over 40 yards were
shaved. But whittling it down to just
under 150 yards per game isn’t
much to brag about, especially in
the run-heavy league called the Big
Ten.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Three of four front linemen are coming
back, though, the one guy who left
was the biggest contributor. Junior
Keyon Brown is the focal point on
the outside. In his first year as
a starter, we saw key elements of
a superior DE. Now, Brown will explode
on the scene. But in reality, it’s
soph Ryan Kerrigan who should have
a huge year since Brown will be such
a distraction. Kerrigan tore it up
all spring. Reserve Gerald Goodson
returns to his prep position, and
as a quick ex-LB, we can see him fading
back into underneath zone coverage,
or even man-on-man on RBs/HBs/TEs.
This is considered possibly the deepest
position in the entire D. Ryan Baker
was a four-star DE/TE who slid inside
for every start in ’07, but
his sack production fell to zilch
after he had six as a sophomore. Baker
plays light, so it seems like the
better guards in the league handle
him when he has room to maneuver.
The same empty sack total came true
for Alex Magee, but Magee’s
stat line is pretty complete to make
up for it (two blocked kicks, two
fumble recoveries). These two seem
solid to kick it up a notch for “bamming’
improvements. Mike Neal finished with
the same tackle total (22) as Baker,
so there is proven depth, just no
big, capable body (300+) to force
a double-team.
LINEBACKER
Luckily, Anthony Heygood is available
for flipping to the weakside. Heygood’s
15 TFLs speak for his excellent closing
speed. Greenwood’s Jason Werner
was Indiana’s Mr. Football,
and his quality is enough to replace
Heywood at SLB. The middle is finally
Kevin Green’s. Poised for the
start there last fall, Green never
seized his destiny until this spring.
He’s put on 40 pounds since
high school, filling out to become
the run stopper needed at MLB. Humphry
and Haston both look good for covering
extra WRs, if needed. Like on many
teams, loads of LB talent doesn’t
always gel, and if this crew can come
together, they can elevate the entire
D so Purdue can compete for the Big
Ten crown.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
Stopping the pass hasn’t been
easy, but only allowing 19 TDs last
year is a good way to show improvements
can come. Keeping the deep middle
covered and safe from invaders is
Brandon King’s job, and he’s
good at it. Torri Williams looks like
he can hold down the fort with smacking
power to spare. Erwin has the chops
and speed to be strong in coverage;
ex-RB Josh McKinley can also cover,
but his forte will be to hit, and
hit with authority. The outside coverage
looks strongest with David Pender.
Pender took over for Royce Adams half
way through the ’07 season with
better speed and results. Cleveland
product Adams has the size to take
on any receiver, but if he again needs
replacing, Charlton Williams will
step up. Williams was like many talented
young true freshmen that should have
redshirted, but were thrust into action
and will be better for the troubles
they had.
To
sum it all up, note how the Boilermakers
can hold teams like Ohio State to
23 points but allow 31 to 1-11 Minnesota.
Coordinator Brock Spack has to be
on the hot seat if another year of
allowing 300+ points (like the last
three) occurs. This isn’t top-level
talent, but these players are good
enough that they should be able to
reach higher levels of group play
than we’ve recently seen.
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LB
Anthony Heygood (PHOTO CREDIT
- Purdue University Sports Information)
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PURDUE
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Keyon
Brown-Jr (6-3, 241) |
Gerald
Gooden-Fr (6-3, 235) |
DT |
Ryan
Baker-Sr (6-5, 280) |
Mike
Neal-Jr (6-4, 293) |
DT |
Alex
Magee-Sr (6-4, 295) |
Nick
Mondek-Fr (6-6, 275) |
DE |
Ryan
Kerrigan-So (6-4, 255) |
Nickcaro
Golding-Fr (6-5, 225) |
SLB |
Jason
Werner-Jr (6-4, 221) |
DeVarro
Greaves-So (6-2, 208) |
MLB |
Kevin
Green-So (6-2, 236) |
John
Humphrey-Jr (6-1, 237) |
WLB |
Anthony
Heygood-Sr (6-2, 230) |
Tyler
Haston-So (6-3, 222) |
CB |
Royce
Adams-Jr (6-0, 190) |
Charlton
Williams-So (6-2, 200) |
CB |
David
Pender-Jr (6-1, 180) |
Fabian
Martin-Sr (5-11, 199) |
SS |
Torri
Williams-Sr (6-2, 208) |
Brandon
Erwin-Jr (6-0, 179) |
FS |
Brandon
King-Jr (5-11, 192) |
Josh
McKinley-So (6-1, 218) |
P |
Chris
Summers-Jr (6-1, 179) |
Brody
McKnight-Fr (5-10, 188) |
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2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Chris
Summers is branching out to take over the
punting duties as well as remaining a steady,
reliable 3-point shooter (place kicker).
Never a punter in prep or otherwise, Summers
has been kicking so high during indoor practices
(into the rafters) that Coach Tiller has
asked him to lay off a bit so returns can
also happen. If Summers does that nearly
as well as he splits the uprights, net results
have a chance of staying strong (36th nationally).
For returns, all we can say is – Desmond
Tardy.
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