There's been considerable discussion about Purdue's ability to score next season now that the big "home run" hitters, Hunt and Mostert are gone. There's also some discussion in today's scoring thread which makes the assumption that Purdue won't be able to score as much due to losing both of those players and having only Anthrop (coming off of an ACL to boot) as a known commodity as a playmaker.
Purdue, and most other B10 schools, qualify a "Big Play" as those of 20 yards or more. This past season, Purdue had 50 such plays; 22 by way of the run, 28 by way of the pass.
So, what did Purdue's "Big Play" totals look like before Hunt and Mostert started carrying the ball? If you go back to the 2011 season, Purdue had Akeem Shavers and Ralph Bolden (coming off of multiple ACL surgeries) carrying the ball and running behind a line featuring 3 Seniors, a Junior and a Sophomore (average experience of 3.4 years). Wide receivers for that group were all on the smaller side with Purdue starting Edison, Ross and Bush.
That group put together 47 "Big Plays" during the regular season. Nineteen of those coming on the ground and 28 (the same as 2014) coming through the air.
In 2015, Purdue will also be running behind an O-Line which will average 3.4 years of experience with 2 Senior and 3 Junior starters. Their RBs won't be speedsters but will probably be more like Shavers and a somewhat hobbled Bolden. The WRs should have a number of bigger targets in Yancy, Posey and Mahoungou to go along with Anthrop.
Will next year's team match or exceed the 2015 or even the 2011 Big Play total? No one can say for sure but at least on paper, there is precedent for one not to expect a huge drop off.
EDIT: Typo - 2011 instead of 2012.
Purdue, and most other B10 schools, qualify a "Big Play" as those of 20 yards or more. This past season, Purdue had 50 such plays; 22 by way of the run, 28 by way of the pass.
So, what did Purdue's "Big Play" totals look like before Hunt and Mostert started carrying the ball? If you go back to the 2011 season, Purdue had Akeem Shavers and Ralph Bolden (coming off of multiple ACL surgeries) carrying the ball and running behind a line featuring 3 Seniors, a Junior and a Sophomore (average experience of 3.4 years). Wide receivers for that group were all on the smaller side with Purdue starting Edison, Ross and Bush.
That group put together 47 "Big Plays" during the regular season. Nineteen of those coming on the ground and 28 (the same as 2014) coming through the air.
In 2015, Purdue will also be running behind an O-Line which will average 3.4 years of experience with 2 Senior and 3 Junior starters. Their RBs won't be speedsters but will probably be more like Shavers and a somewhat hobbled Bolden. The WRs should have a number of bigger targets in Yancy, Posey and Mahoungou to go along with Anthrop.
Will next year's team match or exceed the 2015 or even the 2011 Big Play total? No one can say for sure but at least on paper, there is precedent for one not to expect a huge drop off.
EDIT: Typo - 2011 instead of 2012.
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