Lots of first this game: First Big Ten win for Ryan Walters, First win at Ross-Ade, First Blow-Out, First win against his former team, etc...
A tight first half turned into a blow out. Here's a few quick hit thoughts from Purdue's 44-19 win over Illinois.
Max Klare knee injury is a total bummer
We don't have clarity on Klare's knee injury but it's a non-contact knee injury. It's hard to feel very optimist. Klare has been one of Card's best weapons, a speedy tight end with good hands that's been a seam threat and security blanket for Card in the first few games. If there's a silver lining, Garrett Miller caught a deep throw up the seam from Card for a touchdown. Miller, recovering from his own knee injury, appears to be progressing physically.
How bout that run game?
Another Mockobee fumble will hold a dark cloud over an otherwise perfect showing from the backfield. Purdue ran for nearly 200 yards as a team, and each RB had a moment or, too. Tracy Jr. looks better and better as the season progresses. All three backs are hard to bring down and have shown a decent amount of versatility.
Special teams?
It wasn't pretty to start. A blocked extra point, a blocked punt, and Jack Ansell has left some to be desired with the punt game. It didn't hurt Purdue in the second half, as Purdue continuously moved the chain but the first half special teams was rough. Macias did knock down a 40 yard field goal in the second half. He's looked good taking over for an injured Freehill.
Purdue is good... against bad QB's.
Purdue's scheme, it's aggressiveness, and its secondary can thrive when a team doesn't have a QB that can hurt them. A few over thrown receivers, a couple big drops, and a few more Illinois mistakes kept them from making this a game. Purdue played one of the worst slate of QB's imaginable last season and it led to a trip to the Big Ten Championship. Its first four games saw three good to pretty good QB's and they lost all three games. Against the two worst signal-callers, they've won with dominating defensive performances. Purdue had five sacks today and were very aggressive in scheme and going after the QB. Illinois didn't have the offense to take advantage of it and Purdue wisely realized it.
Purdue fans should enjoy this one though. Purdue gets a big Big Ten win and its an early bright spot in the Ryan Walters era.
A tight first half turned into a blow out. Here's a few quick hit thoughts from Purdue's 44-19 win over Illinois.
Max Klare knee injury is a total bummer
We don't have clarity on Klare's knee injury but it's a non-contact knee injury. It's hard to feel very optimist. Klare has been one of Card's best weapons, a speedy tight end with good hands that's been a seam threat and security blanket for Card in the first few games. If there's a silver lining, Garrett Miller caught a deep throw up the seam from Card for a touchdown. Miller, recovering from his own knee injury, appears to be progressing physically.
How bout that run game?
Another Mockobee fumble will hold a dark cloud over an otherwise perfect showing from the backfield. Purdue ran for nearly 200 yards as a team, and each RB had a moment or, too. Tracy Jr. looks better and better as the season progresses. All three backs are hard to bring down and have shown a decent amount of versatility.
Special teams?
It wasn't pretty to start. A blocked extra point, a blocked punt, and Jack Ansell has left some to be desired with the punt game. It didn't hurt Purdue in the second half, as Purdue continuously moved the chain but the first half special teams was rough. Macias did knock down a 40 yard field goal in the second half. He's looked good taking over for an injured Freehill.
Purdue is good... against bad QB's.
Purdue's scheme, it's aggressiveness, and its secondary can thrive when a team doesn't have a QB that can hurt them. A few over thrown receivers, a couple big drops, and a few more Illinois mistakes kept them from making this a game. Purdue played one of the worst slate of QB's imaginable last season and it led to a trip to the Big Ten Championship. Its first four games saw three good to pretty good QB's and they lost all three games. Against the two worst signal-callers, they've won with dominating defensive performances. Purdue had five sacks today and were very aggressive in scheme and going after the QB. Illinois didn't have the offense to take advantage of it and Purdue wisely realized it.
Purdue fans should enjoy this one though. Purdue gets a big Big Ten win and its an early bright spot in the Ryan Walters era.
