Purdue is exactly where I thought it would be through four games: 3-1.
It hasn't been pretty, or easy. But the Boilermakers are finding a way to get the job the done amid plenty of injury adversity.
Purdue has lost its No. 1 running back (Zander Horvath); No. 1 cornerback (Cory Trice); No. 1 receiver (David Bell); No. 2 running back (King Doerue). And today, the program lost its No. 1 tight end (Payne Durham); No. 1 DT (Branson Deen); No. 1 LEO (DaMarcus Mitchell). Before the season began, No. 1 MLB Semisi Fakasiieikiwas was lost to a season-ending injury. And d-tackle Anthony Watts opted not to return for the season.
That's stunning list of names and talent.
Still, Purdue is 3-1 and on track for a nice season.
Then there's the quarterback situation: For the second game in a row, Jeff Brohm switched signal-callers, pulling Jack Plummer and inserting Aidan O'Connell. In each game, the offense was struggling and the Boilermakers were trailing when O'Connell came in. He was unable to rally Purdue to victory at Notre Dame, but he did so on Saturday vs. Illinois.
Plummer drove the Boilers to the only touchdown of the game, moving the attack 94 yards on 10 plays to paydirt, with T.J. Sheffield making a 14-yard scoring grab to give Purdue a 13-9 lead with 3:42 to go after Illinois had taken it first lead of the game on its third field goal of the game.
Now the question begs: Who will be Purdue's No. 1 quarterback next week when Minnesota visits for homecoming?
"Well, we'll have to look at it," said Brohm. "There's a lot of things we need to work on to help that position play better. At the same time, when you go into game, you got to kind of ... who are our best players, who needs to touch the ball? There are some receivers that need to touch the ball compared to maybe running backs getting it as much. It may make us a little more one-dimensional than we like. So, we'll kind of see where we're at at those positions and come Monday we'll try to figure that out."
Nobody asked me, but I think the answer to who should quarterback Purdue from here on out is simple: O'Connell, right?
I think Saturday sealed the deal. This is the guy who won the job entering 2020 and led the Boilermakers to a 2-1 mark before suffering a season-ending foot injury. O'Connell lost the quarterback race in camp this season to Plummer. But, he looks like the guy who gives Purdue the best chance to keep moving toward six wins and bowl eligibility.
This is an offense that is gonna struggle to run well all season. Being one-dimensional--pass, pass, pass--the Boilers are gonna need their best passing signal-caller. And that signal-caller is O'Connell, a cool customer who has a bit of gunslinger in him ... and a right arm that is acurrate enough to take advantage of Purdue's deep well of talent at receiver.
Purdue needs O'Connell, a former walk-on who is 3-3 as a starter and has engineered comeback wins in 2019 vs. Nebraska (off the bench) and Northwestern (starter).
Purdue needs O'Connell to beat a Minnesota program that has beat the Boilers three years in a row and that is coming off an upset loss at home to 31-point underdog Bowling Green.
Purdue needs O'Connell to reach 4-1 as it enters an off week before playing a daunting final seven games.
Purdue needs O'Connell to get to a bowl for the first time since 2018.
It hasn't been pretty, or easy. But the Boilermakers are finding a way to get the job the done amid plenty of injury adversity.
Purdue has lost its No. 1 running back (Zander Horvath); No. 1 cornerback (Cory Trice); No. 1 receiver (David Bell); No. 2 running back (King Doerue). And today, the program lost its No. 1 tight end (Payne Durham); No. 1 DT (Branson Deen); No. 1 LEO (DaMarcus Mitchell). Before the season began, No. 1 MLB Semisi Fakasiieikiwas was lost to a season-ending injury. And d-tackle Anthony Watts opted not to return for the season.
That's stunning list of names and talent.
Still, Purdue is 3-1 and on track for a nice season.
Then there's the quarterback situation: For the second game in a row, Jeff Brohm switched signal-callers, pulling Jack Plummer and inserting Aidan O'Connell. In each game, the offense was struggling and the Boilermakers were trailing when O'Connell came in. He was unable to rally Purdue to victory at Notre Dame, but he did so on Saturday vs. Illinois.
Plummer drove the Boilers to the only touchdown of the game, moving the attack 94 yards on 10 plays to paydirt, with T.J. Sheffield making a 14-yard scoring grab to give Purdue a 13-9 lead with 3:42 to go after Illinois had taken it first lead of the game on its third field goal of the game.
Now the question begs: Who will be Purdue's No. 1 quarterback next week when Minnesota visits for homecoming?
"Well, we'll have to look at it," said Brohm. "There's a lot of things we need to work on to help that position play better. At the same time, when you go into game, you got to kind of ... who are our best players, who needs to touch the ball? There are some receivers that need to touch the ball compared to maybe running backs getting it as much. It may make us a little more one-dimensional than we like. So, we'll kind of see where we're at at those positions and come Monday we'll try to figure that out."
Nobody asked me, but I think the answer to who should quarterback Purdue from here on out is simple: O'Connell, right?
I think Saturday sealed the deal. This is the guy who won the job entering 2020 and led the Boilermakers to a 2-1 mark before suffering a season-ending foot injury. O'Connell lost the quarterback race in camp this season to Plummer. But, he looks like the guy who gives Purdue the best chance to keep moving toward six wins and bowl eligibility.
This is an offense that is gonna struggle to run well all season. Being one-dimensional--pass, pass, pass--the Boilers are gonna need their best passing signal-caller. And that signal-caller is O'Connell, a cool customer who has a bit of gunslinger in him ... and a right arm that is acurrate enough to take advantage of Purdue's deep well of talent at receiver.
Purdue needs O'Connell, a former walk-on who is 3-3 as a starter and has engineered comeback wins in 2019 vs. Nebraska (off the bench) and Northwestern (starter).
Purdue needs O'Connell to beat a Minnesota program that has beat the Boilers three years in a row and that is coming off an upset loss at home to 31-point underdog Bowling Green.
Purdue needs O'Connell to reach 4-1 as it enters an off week before playing a daunting final seven games.
Purdue needs O'Connell to get to a bowl for the first time since 2018.
