I know Purdue has a great golf complex and it's also very tough. But that's about all I know about Purdue. I actually don't even know the name of the coach who replaced Joe Tiller. I do know they lost to No. Illinois last week, but like MSU who they lose to the week before ND is of little impact on this rivalry game. I can remember that either in Tillers first or second year that they lost to a MAC team the week before ND and I figured ...whoo hooo big win coming up. We lost. Michael Floyd offically done for the year. No word on Jimmy Clausen's toe that I know of, but CW did make some comment that he has full confidence in Dayne Crist. Clausen is scheduled for an MRI to see the extent of the injury. I'd be suprised if Clausen doesn't start against Purdue. Terry
I work with a Purdue grad and I remember her saying: At least we have "Hope". I believe she was referring to the last name of the coach. I could be wrong. You must watch out for a wounded... uh... I guess that doesn't work with a train, huh? :wink:
Doc I think it was Tiller's first year. In their opening game they lost to Toledo. They played a typical pro set offense. The following week vs ND they went to the 4 wide that Tiller ran out at Wyoming. Caught us flat footed. Always thought that it showed how important it was for them to beat us. (memory could be a little off.)
1. Gip's recollection in spot on. 2. Tom is right. The guy's name is Danny Hope. 3. I wonder if Charlie Jr is eligible yet? We're going into this week really beaten up and short handed. The loss of Floyd will most likely change the entire complexion of the offense.
That sneaky Joe Tiller, what was Bob Davie supposed to do, look at the one game in the last 10 years that Joe didn't run his version of the spread and assume he'd thrown out all his old playbooks. That's the kind of preparation that made Bob Davie a great sideline reporter. One thing that I am worried about beyond Clausen, is Armando Allen. He was limping at the end of the game last week and the same the week before. I wonder if all this "tough" running he is doing is writing checks his body can't cash? At the begining of the season I was thinking we had incredible depth at RB, what with Jonas Gray having a great fall camp and beating out Robt Hughes for #2, and the 2 freshmen esp Riddick looking good. But now it turns out that while Gray is a good running back he's a wiffer on picking up the blitz and it's doubtful that the freshman is any better (yet) and Robt Hughes is now a FB not to mention he continues to underachieve for a "big" man at RB. Terry
I watched a large part of the Purdue-Northern IL game on the Big10 Network. I don't know what to say. Their defense was uncharacteristically porous. Their offense was sluggish. I have no idea how their poor performance will translate to their game with ND, but I can't get too nervous after watching them self-destruct vs. No. IL. I'll be at the game.
Mainly of course I just want the win, but it would be nice to have a big win and start rebuilding some credibility for the Irish as a team. A 44-35 win won't do that.
Purdue rolled up 52 points on Toledo, the same team that Ohio State scored 45 points on last Saturday. Of course, Purdue also gave up 31 points to Toledo while OHSt shut them out. I believe Purdue's offense is capable of moving the ball against our - so far - porous defense. I also believe we can score a few points on PU's defense.
Here's what I am expecting: -Dayne Crist may well play more than 3 series on offense and not in a mop up roll. -Our #2 and 3 TBs will have to pick up the rock and do some damage on some key 2nd and 3rd downs throughout the game. -One of our other 'non-feature' receivers will have to step up. They will bracket Golden. I assume Charlie will try to alleviate their edge blitz pressure by unleashing Rudolph on them, which should leave the check down to Ragone or the back wide open. All of these things hang upon us having another WR step up in Floyd's absence.
IMO Allen's power and second effort have improved so much that he's separated himself from the rest of the pack. I'm not so sure that he will share much of the carries unless he's hurt or we are ahead by a comfortable margin. We'll see.
I think Allen has a some degree of an ankle sprain. I think he played the 2nd half of the MSU game with it. He has definitely separated himself from the pack.
I'm not worried about our other RBs carrying the rock, I'm worried about them wiffing on blitzing D backs.
I do think Armando is not capable of carrying the ball more than about 20 times a game, he is much improved and runs very hard. But he's been dinged up at the end of the last 2 games. So Riddick and Gray need to see action and give Armando relief. As far as the passing game, we haven't really thrown the ball to anybody other than the big 3 (Tate, Floyd and Rudolph), and I think we have recievers on the roster who given a chance will step up. They may not be capable of making those big plays on the sideline fades that Floyd makes, he's so strong that if it's close he's going to get the ball from the CB. But that's only one pattern. Crossing routes, sqaures, posts, etc. Those guys need to step up, also while Floyd is not slow he is not a blazer and the guys who will try to replace him are just as fast as he is. The guy I worry about the most is stone hands Kamara, I hope that is a name that he will shed now that he has his opportunity.
I think we all agree that we must have enough depth at RB to be able to bring fresh bodies in to a) keep pressure on the defense and b) give Allen some time off to keep him as fresh and injury free as possible. I hope the other RBs can step up as well as the other WRs. I also agree with Gip that we need RBs who can block and not wimp out when a 240 lb. LB is charging at them. I'll never forget an experience as a HS soph. I was a RB on the scout team vs. the 1st string D. The DE was a huge (6'2, about 220-230 lbs. in 1959!) all-state TE who played college FB at Villanova when they still played D-1 football. We had lost the previous game and the D coach had the seniors fired up and angry. On pass protection he came charging at me and I stepped aside, allowing him to cream the QB, who was a friend. I paid dearly in terms of laps, the anger of my friend, and just plain embarrassment. I'm sure our RBs are a heck of lot tougher than I was, but they need to prove it by protecting their QB.
Sid takes one for the team... NOT! Well, they say discretion is the better part of valor. 8) Allen is apparently in a hard walking boot today.
Yeah, at K.C. I went for a beer in the cooler at the same time that Sid did and he stepped aside...never thought much about it at the time. :wink: :wink: Armando and Clausen both in walking boots today.
It's because you had the same crazed look in your eyes going for that beer that the big DE had 50 years ago going for the QB! :lol:
Sid came over to me after the coolergate incident. He told me that you, Terry, are a friend and he didn't want to smack down a friend! :twisted: