Hi, guys. Settled in the press box here at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., a couple hours before Purdue kicks off against Arizona.
Cool stadium. Can see the mountains in the distance, and right now, it's pretty clear skies and sunny. About high 50s, low 60s, though that will probably change in a couple hours. Still, should be a clear, comfortable night for the game.
Feel pretty good about Purdue's approach going into this one, even though it hasn't been to a bowl since 2012. From talking to players and coaches this week, it seems like the guys were focused in light practices — Danny Ezechukwu called the one on Christmas day the best one he's maybe ever been part of in terms of guys being locked in — and would expect with so many upperclassmen leaders that Purdue won't come out flat. It probably can't afford to. Thought Kyle made a good point this week on the Pregame Radio Show (listen HERE), that the Boilermakers really would be behooved to take a lead in this one. That'd be ideal to try to make Khalil Tate throw the ball to win. Though Arizona probably will keep running with him and those backs until absolutely it has no choice not to.
That's the obvious key for Purdue's defense, whether it can slow Tate at all. (Wrote about that this morning HERE.) I asked Nick Holt about whether he thinks the scheme, especially on third down, can confuse Tate, and he said if the kid is confused, he'll just take off and run. So that'll be interesting. It won't stop Holt/Purdue from dialing up a bunch of different looks, especially in the nickel on third down, but we'll see if they're as effective as normal. The Boilermakers must tackle well in open space — especially by outside linebacker Markus Bailey and safeties Jacob Thieneman and Navon Mosley. The latter will probably mix up being in the box, depending on the one-high look, and that puts pressure on them both to not miss. Thieneman especially has been a pretty sound tackler this season. Mosley has had his moments, but I think he's also played more physically the last couple games of the season.
In terms of Purdue's offense, Arizona is built more on speed than size and physicality, so perhaps the O-line/run game can wear down that front to open things up and allow Sindelar to make some plays in the passing game. With such a young defense, one would think Brohm could get guys on eye candy stuff, but Brohm also has seemed to move away from that toward the end of the season. Not sure what the game plan will be, but if Markell Jones and D.J. Knox can start strongly, Purdue could ride them.
Brohm had mentioned Jared Sparks as a gametime decision, but Sparks is out here stretching and warming up pre-pads an hour-plus before. I think Brohm seemed more concerned about not having Sparks get a bunch of snaps at receiver to exacerbate the ankle when Purdue can't afford not having a backup quarterback. Though Sindelar said he's close to 100 percent, he's still the only QB, really, on the roster. Per usual, Nick Sipe is here and will dress, but that'd be worst-case scenario, obviously. Sparks hasn't been practicing much at receiver, so I wouldn't be surprised if Brohm just opts to keep him out of any snaps there to make sure he's available if Purdue would need a backup QB. Mahoungou's recent play would seem to give Purdue that "luxury," and Shephard mentioned Isaac Zico has been really, really these last couple weeks in practice and expects him to have a potentially big game tonight. So that's something to watch for.
Going to jump on the pregame radio show now. Will update this thread up until kickoff and when I can during the game, but Kyle will man the show, mostly, during it.
If you've missed any of the coverage the last couple weeks, and we've had quite a bit, you can find it all in one place HERE to catch up before kickoff.
Cool stadium. Can see the mountains in the distance, and right now, it's pretty clear skies and sunny. About high 50s, low 60s, though that will probably change in a couple hours. Still, should be a clear, comfortable night for the game.
Feel pretty good about Purdue's approach going into this one, even though it hasn't been to a bowl since 2012. From talking to players and coaches this week, it seems like the guys were focused in light practices — Danny Ezechukwu called the one on Christmas day the best one he's maybe ever been part of in terms of guys being locked in — and would expect with so many upperclassmen leaders that Purdue won't come out flat. It probably can't afford to. Thought Kyle made a good point this week on the Pregame Radio Show (listen HERE), that the Boilermakers really would be behooved to take a lead in this one. That'd be ideal to try to make Khalil Tate throw the ball to win. Though Arizona probably will keep running with him and those backs until absolutely it has no choice not to.
That's the obvious key for Purdue's defense, whether it can slow Tate at all. (Wrote about that this morning HERE.) I asked Nick Holt about whether he thinks the scheme, especially on third down, can confuse Tate, and he said if the kid is confused, he'll just take off and run. So that'll be interesting. It won't stop Holt/Purdue from dialing up a bunch of different looks, especially in the nickel on third down, but we'll see if they're as effective as normal. The Boilermakers must tackle well in open space — especially by outside linebacker Markus Bailey and safeties Jacob Thieneman and Navon Mosley. The latter will probably mix up being in the box, depending on the one-high look, and that puts pressure on them both to not miss. Thieneman especially has been a pretty sound tackler this season. Mosley has had his moments, but I think he's also played more physically the last couple games of the season.
In terms of Purdue's offense, Arizona is built more on speed than size and physicality, so perhaps the O-line/run game can wear down that front to open things up and allow Sindelar to make some plays in the passing game. With such a young defense, one would think Brohm could get guys on eye candy stuff, but Brohm also has seemed to move away from that toward the end of the season. Not sure what the game plan will be, but if Markell Jones and D.J. Knox can start strongly, Purdue could ride them.
Brohm had mentioned Jared Sparks as a gametime decision, but Sparks is out here stretching and warming up pre-pads an hour-plus before. I think Brohm seemed more concerned about not having Sparks get a bunch of snaps at receiver to exacerbate the ankle when Purdue can't afford not having a backup quarterback. Though Sindelar said he's close to 100 percent, he's still the only QB, really, on the roster. Per usual, Nick Sipe is here and will dress, but that'd be worst-case scenario, obviously. Sparks hasn't been practicing much at receiver, so I wouldn't be surprised if Brohm just opts to keep him out of any snaps there to make sure he's available if Purdue would need a backup QB. Mahoungou's recent play would seem to give Purdue that "luxury," and Shephard mentioned Isaac Zico has been really, really these last couple weeks in practice and expects him to have a potentially big game tonight. So that's something to watch for.
Going to jump on the pregame radio show now. Will update this thread up until kickoff and when I can during the game, but Kyle will man the show, mostly, during it.
If you've missed any of the coverage the last couple weeks, and we've had quite a bit, you can find it all in one place HERE to catch up before kickoff.
