So there hs been some discussion as to why Purdue hasn’t been very good with Brohm having 3 classes. So I will break it all down here.
‘17
It is well known that Brohm didn’t have much time to put together the ‘17 class and Purdue was terrible the four years prior to arrival. The ‘17 class finished dead last in the Big and that was including multiple JUCO players. The class was rated in the 70s and dead last in the Big.
-3 players played as true freshmen that contributes this year (Pittman, Jones, Barnes). Pittman is no longer on the team. Out of that entire class, only 2 players on the team that would be considered upper class men. Jones and Barnes are both good players, but that is 2 out of 25 scholarship players.
-of those that redshirted and contribute you have Beach, Stickford, Horvath, Mackey, Major, Revier, Washington and then Juco Higgins.
-In that class of 25 (+1 because Horvath is scholarship now), you have 10 contributing. Beach, Mackey, Barnes, Major all have over 200 snaps. Jones has 123 snaps and Horvath has 132. Horvath wouldn’t have near that number if not for ridiculous attrition at RB.
-That means in year 3 of that class you have 5 (not counting Horvath because as RBs get healthy/experience he will likely go back to FB duties) players contributing in a major way and 2 of those were Haze guys that Brohm kept. Beach is seeing snaps for the first time and is starting at a crucial position. A lot of those were JUCO player and were meant to be a stop gap. That class was always supposed to get a pass.
‘18
Brohm’s first full class and allowed recruits to finally see Purdue was turning it around. Brand new facilities and turned a woefully bad team into a 7 win team. What did it yield? 24 scholarship players (a total class in the 50’s and 11th in the Big *not dead last finally!!!). The highlight? A Heisman candidate! Unfortunately it was a late pickup and Purdue couldn’t use him as a recruiting tool (yet). But stealing him late from Texas was awesome! Overachieving that first year and landing Moore really started the hype train rolling.
- Moore was a monster as a true freshman and did things that hadn’t been seen in a long time. Started off the second year just as strong. Alexander was the only other player to contribute as a true freshman and he has been solid
-RS freshmen come in next. Bramel is the only one over 200 snaps. Anderson and Johnson are both over 100 snaps and Dean is right there.
-A surprise contributor to me has been Sullivan. He looks like he could be a difference maker going forward and that is huge because DL struggles have been a thing loaded with youth.
-That makes 7 major contributors from that class. 5 of which are seeing their first snaps this year. Even a year after the ‘17 class, it makes sense to have more contributors because it was a higher rated class. 7 year 2 players contributing in a major way is a good thing for the future, and means that talent is on the way. The problem is that you have a lot of players not fully developed contributing. 2 RS freshmen on the DL and one on the OL. Those are positions you would usually like to develop for more than a year before putting them in a major role but unfortunately that wasn’t an option. They should be able to contribute, but it’s a lot to expect 7 second year players to carry such a heavy load. Injuries to the upperclassmen has caused this class to be much more involved than what was originally expected at the tradeoff of seniors. Again.. less than ideal.
‘19 class.
This is the class that got CJB paid. If CJB leaves and this class goes away, that would have been a disaster. It’s important to understand this is why the raise happened. CJB leaving to Louisville would have set Purdue back 4 years.
Like the ‘18 class, there was a player that has come in immediately with high expectations and met them. GK. He committed early and help build this class by convincing Grant to hop on. Which lead to Graham. Those are 3 cornerstones to what will be a dominant defense.
-true freshman are starting and contributing all over. It was an appeal to the ‘19 class, but unfortunately it meant Purdue was lacking in talent in a lot of positions. 9 true freshmen have played meaningful snaps. Allen had a pass breakup in the end zone even though his snaps have been limited. Of that ‘19 class, expect several redshirt freshmen in next years two deep. That does Purdue no good this year. I expected more, but injuries really took a toll on any chance at competing for the West. I expect the team will continue to improve because of how many folks are only 3 games into their career. A team should never have that many first and second year players contributing.
-GK and Graham are both right at 200 snaps. Bell is over 100, but is now injured. That means Wright will likely have a bigger role. Kings role is increasing as well.
-I would count that as 4 Major true freshmen contributors. That is a lot.
-674 defensive snaps for first time contributors. 727 offense snaps for first time contributors.
Couple that with your starting senior,leader of the DL, All-BIG DT/NT out for the first 3 games, your senior starting defensive leader/captain/all-BIg Linebacker, your 2 upperclassmen RBs, and your Senior OG being out you are in trouble. Purdue also can’t afford Sindelar to miss any more games. If Purdue can get those players back (obviously Bailey is gone for the season), they could and should still make a Bowl game. But they had a really difficult schedule all year and some injuries they couldn’t afford.
I will say it. I expected more. But, I didn’t expect the injuries to the extent they have been happening. Purdue doesn’t have a player like Knox or Jones that could take a hit in the backfield and turn it into positive yards. As a result, it is an air raid offense which Plummer isn’t ready for. Losing Bell hurts too, because he was been incredibly steady and ready. And when I read Bailey’s twitter message after he was out for the season I couldn’t help but feel for him and what he has gone through. Then it really sunk in what Purdue was going to be missing all season.
Hopefully the breakdown helps calm down the Brohm hate. I know we expect wins, but also one needs to understand this is a rebuild. Purdue is still ahead of the game in regards to the future. If Purdue is still struggling next year, then by all means... freak out.
‘17
It is well known that Brohm didn’t have much time to put together the ‘17 class and Purdue was terrible the four years prior to arrival. The ‘17 class finished dead last in the Big and that was including multiple JUCO players. The class was rated in the 70s and dead last in the Big.
-3 players played as true freshmen that contributes this year (Pittman, Jones, Barnes). Pittman is no longer on the team. Out of that entire class, only 2 players on the team that would be considered upper class men. Jones and Barnes are both good players, but that is 2 out of 25 scholarship players.
-of those that redshirted and contribute you have Beach, Stickford, Horvath, Mackey, Major, Revier, Washington and then Juco Higgins.
-In that class of 25 (+1 because Horvath is scholarship now), you have 10 contributing. Beach, Mackey, Barnes, Major all have over 200 snaps. Jones has 123 snaps and Horvath has 132. Horvath wouldn’t have near that number if not for ridiculous attrition at RB.
-That means in year 3 of that class you have 5 (not counting Horvath because as RBs get healthy/experience he will likely go back to FB duties) players contributing in a major way and 2 of those were Haze guys that Brohm kept. Beach is seeing snaps for the first time and is starting at a crucial position. A lot of those were JUCO player and were meant to be a stop gap. That class was always supposed to get a pass.
‘18
Brohm’s first full class and allowed recruits to finally see Purdue was turning it around. Brand new facilities and turned a woefully bad team into a 7 win team. What did it yield? 24 scholarship players (a total class in the 50’s and 11th in the Big *not dead last finally!!!). The highlight? A Heisman candidate! Unfortunately it was a late pickup and Purdue couldn’t use him as a recruiting tool (yet). But stealing him late from Texas was awesome! Overachieving that first year and landing Moore really started the hype train rolling.
- Moore was a monster as a true freshman and did things that hadn’t been seen in a long time. Started off the second year just as strong. Alexander was the only other player to contribute as a true freshman and he has been solid
-RS freshmen come in next. Bramel is the only one over 200 snaps. Anderson and Johnson are both over 100 snaps and Dean is right there.
-A surprise contributor to me has been Sullivan. He looks like he could be a difference maker going forward and that is huge because DL struggles have been a thing loaded with youth.
-That makes 7 major contributors from that class. 5 of which are seeing their first snaps this year. Even a year after the ‘17 class, it makes sense to have more contributors because it was a higher rated class. 7 year 2 players contributing in a major way is a good thing for the future, and means that talent is on the way. The problem is that you have a lot of players not fully developed contributing. 2 RS freshmen on the DL and one on the OL. Those are positions you would usually like to develop for more than a year before putting them in a major role but unfortunately that wasn’t an option. They should be able to contribute, but it’s a lot to expect 7 second year players to carry such a heavy load. Injuries to the upperclassmen has caused this class to be much more involved than what was originally expected at the tradeoff of seniors. Again.. less than ideal.
‘19 class.
This is the class that got CJB paid. If CJB leaves and this class goes away, that would have been a disaster. It’s important to understand this is why the raise happened. CJB leaving to Louisville would have set Purdue back 4 years.
Like the ‘18 class, there was a player that has come in immediately with high expectations and met them. GK. He committed early and help build this class by convincing Grant to hop on. Which lead to Graham. Those are 3 cornerstones to what will be a dominant defense.
-true freshman are starting and contributing all over. It was an appeal to the ‘19 class, but unfortunately it meant Purdue was lacking in talent in a lot of positions. 9 true freshmen have played meaningful snaps. Allen had a pass breakup in the end zone even though his snaps have been limited. Of that ‘19 class, expect several redshirt freshmen in next years two deep. That does Purdue no good this year. I expected more, but injuries really took a toll on any chance at competing for the West. I expect the team will continue to improve because of how many folks are only 3 games into their career. A team should never have that many first and second year players contributing.
-GK and Graham are both right at 200 snaps. Bell is over 100, but is now injured. That means Wright will likely have a bigger role. Kings role is increasing as well.
-I would count that as 4 Major true freshmen contributors. That is a lot.
-674 defensive snaps for first time contributors. 727 offense snaps for first time contributors.
Couple that with your starting senior,leader of the DL, All-BIG DT/NT out for the first 3 games, your senior starting defensive leader/captain/all-BIg Linebacker, your 2 upperclassmen RBs, and your Senior OG being out you are in trouble. Purdue also can’t afford Sindelar to miss any more games. If Purdue can get those players back (obviously Bailey is gone for the season), they could and should still make a Bowl game. But they had a really difficult schedule all year and some injuries they couldn’t afford.
I will say it. I expected more. But, I didn’t expect the injuries to the extent they have been happening. Purdue doesn’t have a player like Knox or Jones that could take a hit in the backfield and turn it into positive yards. As a result, it is an air raid offense which Plummer isn’t ready for. Losing Bell hurts too, because he was been incredibly steady and ready. And when I read Bailey’s twitter message after he was out for the season I couldn’t help but feel for him and what he has gone through. Then it really sunk in what Purdue was going to be missing all season.
Hopefully the breakdown helps calm down the Brohm hate. I know we expect wins, but also one needs to understand this is a rebuild. Purdue is still ahead of the game in regards to the future. If Purdue is still struggling next year, then by all means... freak out.
