You ever blow up a balloon all the way to the point it's about to burst, pinch it shut with two fingers, then let go suddenly?
You know that sound?
Yeah, that was the sound that figuratively came out of Ross-Ade Stadium Saturday, as all the air came out of the Boilermaker balloon long before the score was finalized.
As you know by now, Michigan won by a score of a lot to a little, knocking Purdue to the ropes just as it was starting to feel like a contender.
It was no contest, really.
When you come out of the first quarter and the best thing you have going for you is that you're only down 7-0, your day is probably not going to end very well. In reality, this game was never in question after Purdue went three-and-out on its first possession, before Michigan mounted a nearly nine-minute scoring drive that set the tone of the whole day.
Right or wrong, Purdue had become a bit of a darling on the Big Ten scene, maybe by default more so than by its own doing. The Big Ten is so blah, people might be looking for something, or in this case someone, to latch on to.
I think Saturday's result probably quashed all talk of the Boilermakers being that special someone. Kirk Herbstreit, you've been punked. By your old college rival, no less.
We talk a lot about opportunity with this team this year, what with the greased path to Indy and a seemingly favorable schedule moving forward. But the jury's remained out on whether this Boilermaker team is equipped to capitalize, to beat the brand-name teams you have to get past to win championships in this conference.
Michigan is better. But if Purdue's not ready to compete ? let alone win ? games this year, with all the experience it has and with a solid-prior-to-today defense, then when will it be? If not now, when?
But again, make no mistake. Dwelling on Purdue's failures is to discredit the clinic the Wolverines put on.
Michigan was terrific Saturday. Make no mistake about that and do not discount that fact and think today's one-sided result was all about Purdue's failures.
The Wolverines dominated. Denard Robinson was absolutely special today ? leaving me ruing a week of preview material concentrating as much on what he doesn't do well as opposed to what he does ? and the Wolverines made Purdue strengths its weaknesses. And it shackled an offense that might be extremely limited unless it can get a midseason offensive line transplant.
That is harsh, I know, but look at the passing game today: Purdue has to roll the pocket over and over, cutting the field in half, because it can't possibly have confidence in its ability to protect straight drop-backs against decent fronts. When your passing game is limited to screens and swing passes where your best-case scenario is, what, eight yards, you're going to struggle to score.
Purdue seemed to know it early. Going for it on fourth down around midfield in the second quarter ? when your short-yardage offense has been shaky ? reeked of premature desperation.
The Boilermakers should have punted that ball. And I'm not only saying that because Michigan pick-sixed Purdue on the play, making it crystal clear with still 12 minutes and 43 seconds to play in the second quarter who was going to win this ball game.
Purdue was exposed offensively Saturday and it was exposed defensively, though Denard Robinson will have that effect. But it wasn't just about Robinson. Michigan's offensive line is supposed to be a weakness; Purdue's defensive line is supposed to be its strength. Neither were true Saturday. Michigan won the phase of the game Purdue was supposed to win, at least on paper.
In a football sense, no good came from Saturday, except for Robert Marve's play.
There's going to be a lot of talk this week about quarterbacks. Hooray! That again!
Marve looked good in his first game back after tearing/straining/injuring/tickling his ACL. None of us know exactly what the injury is/was. What we do know is he's already back on the field and capable of doing positive things.
But what we do know is that this is a situation Purdue is going to have handle delicately.
I don't think there's any debate anymore that Marve is the better option at quarterback for this offense this season. That topic is soooo three weeks ago and plain as day to see.
But is the timing right?
Can Marve be asked to handle enough of the load to be Purdue's starter? We don't know this.
The likelier, and perhaps more appropriate scenario, is that the sixth-year senior just steps into the same bullpen role he held before, kind of that microwave guy off the bench who can potentially kick start the offense.
I just don't know if more can be reasonably expected from him. Again, it's a shame, because three weeks ago, I thought he was about a week away from being really good. Still could be. Who knows? But he impacted Saturday's game. Too bad it was too late.
This one was over before it started.
So what now?
Well, we'll see.
Yes, the Wisconsin game matters more because it's a divisional game, yatta, yatta, yatta.
This season can now go one of two ways.
If there is one great characteristic Danny Hope has brought to this program, it's resilience.
After what we saw today, Purdue needs it right now more than ever.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
This post was edited on 10/6 10:08 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
You know that sound?
Yeah, that was the sound that figuratively came out of Ross-Ade Stadium Saturday, as all the air came out of the Boilermaker balloon long before the score was finalized.
As you know by now, Michigan won by a score of a lot to a little, knocking Purdue to the ropes just as it was starting to feel like a contender.
It was no contest, really.
When you come out of the first quarter and the best thing you have going for you is that you're only down 7-0, your day is probably not going to end very well. In reality, this game was never in question after Purdue went three-and-out on its first possession, before Michigan mounted a nearly nine-minute scoring drive that set the tone of the whole day.
Right or wrong, Purdue had become a bit of a darling on the Big Ten scene, maybe by default more so than by its own doing. The Big Ten is so blah, people might be looking for something, or in this case someone, to latch on to.
I think Saturday's result probably quashed all talk of the Boilermakers being that special someone. Kirk Herbstreit, you've been punked. By your old college rival, no less.
We talk a lot about opportunity with this team this year, what with the greased path to Indy and a seemingly favorable schedule moving forward. But the jury's remained out on whether this Boilermaker team is equipped to capitalize, to beat the brand-name teams you have to get past to win championships in this conference.
Michigan is better. But if Purdue's not ready to compete ? let alone win ? games this year, with all the experience it has and with a solid-prior-to-today defense, then when will it be? If not now, when?
But again, make no mistake. Dwelling on Purdue's failures is to discredit the clinic the Wolverines put on.
Michigan was terrific Saturday. Make no mistake about that and do not discount that fact and think today's one-sided result was all about Purdue's failures.
The Wolverines dominated. Denard Robinson was absolutely special today ? leaving me ruing a week of preview material concentrating as much on what he doesn't do well as opposed to what he does ? and the Wolverines made Purdue strengths its weaknesses. And it shackled an offense that might be extremely limited unless it can get a midseason offensive line transplant.
That is harsh, I know, but look at the passing game today: Purdue has to roll the pocket over and over, cutting the field in half, because it can't possibly have confidence in its ability to protect straight drop-backs against decent fronts. When your passing game is limited to screens and swing passes where your best-case scenario is, what, eight yards, you're going to struggle to score.
Purdue seemed to know it early. Going for it on fourth down around midfield in the second quarter ? when your short-yardage offense has been shaky ? reeked of premature desperation.
The Boilermakers should have punted that ball. And I'm not only saying that because Michigan pick-sixed Purdue on the play, making it crystal clear with still 12 minutes and 43 seconds to play in the second quarter who was going to win this ball game.
Purdue was exposed offensively Saturday and it was exposed defensively, though Denard Robinson will have that effect. But it wasn't just about Robinson. Michigan's offensive line is supposed to be a weakness; Purdue's defensive line is supposed to be its strength. Neither were true Saturday. Michigan won the phase of the game Purdue was supposed to win, at least on paper.
In a football sense, no good came from Saturday, except for Robert Marve's play.
There's going to be a lot of talk this week about quarterbacks. Hooray! That again!
Marve looked good in his first game back after tearing/straining/injuring/tickling his ACL. None of us know exactly what the injury is/was. What we do know is he's already back on the field and capable of doing positive things.
But what we do know is that this is a situation Purdue is going to have handle delicately.
I don't think there's any debate anymore that Marve is the better option at quarterback for this offense this season. That topic is soooo three weeks ago and plain as day to see.
But is the timing right?
Can Marve be asked to handle enough of the load to be Purdue's starter? We don't know this.
The likelier, and perhaps more appropriate scenario, is that the sixth-year senior just steps into the same bullpen role he held before, kind of that microwave guy off the bench who can potentially kick start the offense.
I just don't know if more can be reasonably expected from him. Again, it's a shame, because three weeks ago, I thought he was about a week away from being really good. Still could be. Who knows? But he impacted Saturday's game. Too bad it was too late.
This one was over before it started.
So what now?
Well, we'll see.
Yes, the Wisconsin game matters more because it's a divisional game, yatta, yatta, yatta.
This season can now go one of two ways.
If there is one great characteristic Danny Hope has brought to this program, it's resilience.
After what we saw today, Purdue needs it right now more than ever.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
This post was edited on 10/6 10:08 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
