Coach:
Joe Tiller
25-12, 3 years
62-42-1, 8 years overall |
1999 Record: 7-5
Sep 04 |
@Central Florida |
Won 47-13 |
Sep 11 |
Notre Dame |
Won 28-23 |
Sep 18 |
Central Michigan |
Won 58-16 |
Sep 25 |
Northwestern |
Won 31-23 |
Oct 02 |
@Michigan |
Lost 12-38 |
Oct 09 |
@Ohio State |
Lost 22-25 |
Oct 16 |
Michigan State |
Won 52-28 |
Oct 23 |
Penn State |
Lost 25-31
|
Oct 30 |
@Minnesota |
Won 33-28 |
Nov 06 |
Wisconsin |
Lost 21-28
|
Nov 20 |
@Indiana |
Won 30-24 |
Outback Bowl
|
Jan 01 |
Georgia |
Lost
25-28 |
|
|
1999
Final Rankings
|
AP-25, BCS-NR, Coaches-NR
|
2000 Outlook
|
Even with Drew Brees throwing for over
10,000 yards for his career and breaking most Purdue
records at QB, a shot at playing for a national championship
through a Big Ten schedule doesn't exist. But a shot
at the Rose Bowl certainly does. A major key to that
equation will be how quickly a pass defense can develope.
Brees may need to score everytime to keep foes from
doing the same through the air. The Boilermakers also
finished last in penalties in the conference in 1999
and needs to overcome mental mistakes as well as an
inaccurate kicking game that cost Purdue close ballgames.
Drew Brees is the man to beat for the Heisman Race,
but it will also be a key that wide receiver Vinny Sutherland
line up for the fall. He could be one of the Big Ten's
best and gives Brees a deep threat. Coach Joe Tiller
will use a good line and backfield to run the ball while
trying to keep defensive opponents off balance. With
all of the Big Ten powerhouses on the schedule in 2000,
Purdue fans will be treated to some nail-biters each
and every week.
Projected Record: 9-3.
Purdue
2000 Schedule
|
PURDUE
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB - 5 |
DL - 3.5 |
RB - 3 |
LB - 3 |
WR - 3 |
DB - 2 |
OL - 4.5 |
|
|
|
|
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
2000 PRESEASON PREVIEW
|
|
|
2000
OFFENSE
|
Strengths: 8,124 yards,
64 touchdowns, 717 of 1166 attempts, and QB Drew Brees returns
for more his senior year. Purdue will certainly find some notches
in the win column with the 1999 Heisman invite running the offense.
One of Drew's main targets will be Big Ten leading punt returner
Vinny Sutherland at wide receiver. Tight End Tim Stratton will
also play a major role in the passing scheme as he recorded
49 receptions in '99 with a 12 yard per catch average. Including
Stratton, the offensive line returns five of six starting offensive
lineman and should be well experienced in providing protection
for Brees in the pocket. The running game should be solid with
sophmore Montrell Lowe and Sedrick Brown returning to the one
back set as Purdue finished with a 4.0 yards per carry average
last season. A stat better than conference power rushers Michigan
and Michigan State. Purdue finished #1 in Big Ten total offense
last year. |
Weaknesses: Gone is the
conference leading receiver Chris Daniels as well as the team's
2nd leading receiver Randall Lane and 12 game player Robert
Tolbert. Depth and experience at wide receiver will be the main
concern for the 2000 season. If a few injuries occur Coach Tiller
may have a difficult time imploring the three wide receiver
set. Even though the starting offensive line is back, the spring
will be very important for locating some depth behind them.
Center Jim Niedrach was a big loss and it will be key to find
a replacement snapper for Drew. Hopes are Chukki Okobi can move
from guard to center to fill Jim's shoes. The kicking game has
been inconsistent to say the least. Kicker Travis Dorsch must
find the uprights more as fans witnessing the Outback Bowl will
attest. |
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
|
QB |
Drew
Brees |
6-1 |
220 |
Sr. |
|
David
Edgerton |
6-1 |
218 |
Sr. |
RB |
Montrell
Lowe |
5-8 |
189 |
So. |
|
Sedrick
Brown |
6-1 |
223 |
So. |
WR |
Vinny
Sutherland |
5-9 |
191 |
Sr. |
|
Donald
Winston |
5-6 |
162 |
Sr. |
WR |
Chris
James |
5-10 |
165 |
So. |
|
Keith
Dawson |
6-3 |
194 |
Sr. |
WR |
A.T.
Simpson |
6-4 |
216 |
Jr. |
|
Gary
Heaggans |
6-2 |
185 |
Fr. |
T |
Matt
Light |
6-5 |
296 |
Sr. |
|
Kelly
Kitchel |
6-6 |
285 |
So. |
G |
Gene
Mruczkowski |
6-2 |
299 |
So. |
|
Josh
Kirkpatrick |
6-0 |
276 |
Jr. |
C |
Chukky
Okobi |
6-1 |
324 |
Sr. |
|
Sean
Rufalo |
6-2 |
274 |
Jr. |
G |
Rob
Turner |
6-4 |
298 |
So. |
|
Max
Miller |
6-3 |
264 |
So. |
T |
Brandon
Gorin |
6-6 |
296 |
Sr. |
|
Ian
Allen |
6-5 |
289 |
Sr. |
TE |
Tim
Stratton |
6-4 |
252 |
Jr. |
|
Chris
Randolph |
6-4 |
255 |
Jr. |
K |
Travis
Dorsch |
6-6 |
219 |
Jr. |
|
Scott
Kurz |
6-0 |
189 |
Jr. |
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Chris Daniels-WR, Robert Tolbert-WR, Randall
Lane-WR, Cliff Jackson-WR, Aaron Starnes-OL, Jim Niedrach-C,
J. Crabtree-RB
|
|
2000
DEFENSE
|
Strengths: Junior College
transfer Akin Ayodele reeked havoc last season on opponents
as he led the team with 10.5 sacks from the defensive end position.
Ayodele will have a target on his chest but with starters Brian
Dinkins, Matt Mitrione and also a good nucleus of backups and
talented redshirt freshman returning the line should be the
strongest defensive asset. The Boilermaker's third leading tackler
Jason Loerzel returns at linebacker. Hopes are redshirt sophmore
Joe Odom can solidify the middle linebacker slot or possibly
move to the weak side after a great game there in the Outback
Bowl as he played in all 12 games and recorded 41 tackles in
1999. |
Weaknesses: With DB James
Dunnigan struggling with grades only one true starter returns
to the defensive backfield that finished last in the Big Ten
in pass defense from a year ago. DB Chris Clopton played a major
role in '99 and will be needed to fill in for the losses of
Michael Hawthorne, Lamar Conard, and team interception leader
Adrian Beasley. It would also help if DB Ben Smith can recover
from knee surgery. The linebackers also find itself a little
thin with seniors Ray Lee, Mike Rose, and leading tackler Willie
Fells, who finished with 96 tackles, departing. Overall, there
is some major questions concerning team speed and Purdue's inability
to cover the deep pass. The backfield will need some serious
reconstrution to see Purdue make a run for the Roses. |
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
|
DE |
Brian
Dinkins |
6-2 |
263 |
Sr. |
|
Warren
Moore |
6-3 |
253 |
Sr. |
DT |
Matt
Mitrione |
6-3 |
289 |
Jr. |
|
Rocco
Foggio |
6-4 |
288 |
Sr. |
DT |
Derrick
Williams |
6-4 |
296 |
Sr. |
|
Brent
Botts |
6-3 |
267 |
Sr. |
DE |
Akin
Ayodele |
6-2 |
250 |
Jr. |
|
Shaun
Phillips |
6-3 |
222 |
So. |
OLB |
Tim
Upshur |
6-1 |
219 |
Jr. |
|
Daniel
Giles |
6-1 |
253 |
So. |
MLB |
Joe
Odom |
6-2 |
231 |
So. |
|
Alex
Tone |
5-10 |
210 |
So. |
OLB |
Jason
Loerzel |
6-3 |
216 |
Jr. |
|
Cornell
Middlebrook |
6-2 |
229 |
So. |
CB |
Ashante
Woodyard |
6-1 |
196 |
Sr. |
|
R'Kes
Starling |
5-7 |
175 |
Jr. |
CB |
Chris
Clopton |
5-7 |
170 |
Sr. |
|
Stuart
Schweigert |
6-3 |
195 |
Fr. |
SS |
Ralph
Turner |
6-2 |
208 |
So. |
|
Antoine
Neal |
5-10 |
199 |
Sr. |
FS |
Ben
Smith |
6-3 |
208 |
Jr. |
|
Brady
Doe |
6-0 |
189 |
Jr. |
P |
Scott
Kurz |
6-0 |
189 |
Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: David Nugent-DT, Willie Fells-LB, Ray Lee-LB,
Mike Rose-LB, Michael Hawthorne-DB, Lamar Conard-DB,
Adrian Beasley-DB
|
|
|