Note: Because of recruiting calls and the sheer monotony of writing the same thing over and over, this only covers the first half this week.
TerBush's interception
On the Boilermakers' very first play, Purdue tried to make a big play. It blew up in its face badly.
On first-and-10 from the 25, Caleb TerBush took a shotgun snap, faked a handoff to Ralph Bolden running left, then rolled slightly to his right, with left guard Peters Drey pulling out in front of TerBush on the bootleg.
It was some of Purdue's best pass protection of the day, with Bolden holding up Darius Fleming coming off the edge and Drey taking Manti Te'o out of the play (or at least slowing him up).
The result, however, was a disaster.
With plenty of time to throw, TerBush threw the ball over the middle right into a trio of Irish defenders. The apparent target was Antavian Edison, who was double-covered by safeties Jamoris Slaughter and Harrison Smith. But the pass fell short of them and was easily intercepted by corner Gary Gray, who returned the ball to the Purdue 35 or so.
Obviously a regrettable decision by the quarterback to say the least. But also a bad throw.
Notre Dame's first touchdown
On second-and-10 from the Purdue 35, Ricardo Allen lined close up on Michael Floyd at the line of scrimmage, left in one-on-one coverage.
Purdue did not blitz and got no pressure whatsoever on Tommy Rees, who faked a handoff left, rolled right, then looked back left. The entire Purdue defensive line bit hard on the play fake, while safety Albert Evans was also caught leaning toward playing the run, the key breakdown in the play.
Fellow safety Landon Feichter leaned toward the side of the field opposite Floyd, where Notre Dame had lined up two receivers.
With no pressure, Rees threw deep over the middle for Floyd, who broke inside of Allen at the line and met no resistance as he ran down the field.
With no safety anywhere in the area, Floyd caught the ball at about the 2 with nothing a lunging Allen could do about it.
Like that, it was 7-0 Notre Dane just seconds into the game.
Kawann Short's blocked field goal
After Purdue held in the red zone after Notre Dame walked down the field on its second drive, Short blocked David Ruffer's 28-yard field goal.
The Boilermaker defensive tackle just came over snapper Andrew Nuss's right shoulder, stuck his right hand up and blocked the fourth kick of his career.
The unsportsmanlike penalty
After Rees overthrew Tyler Eifert in the end zone on third down late in the first quarter, Evans, who was in coverage, followed his momentum off the field toward the crowd in the south end zone.
Evans jogged right past band members, who then proceeded to taunt Eifert, who was laying on the ground. But when Evans reached the stands, he waved his finger as if to say, "No, no," then high-fived a fan in the front row who initiated the two-handed gesture.
What a stupid penalty, but a rule is a rule.
On the next play, Purdue was called for another defensive penalty. On the play after, Jonas Gray bounced off Will Lucas at the line of scrimmage and made it 14-0 Notre Dame.
Cierre Wood's 55-yard TD run
After Notre Dame had dominated running the ball off the edges, Wood went between the tackles for the biggest Irish play of the day.
Evans blitzed off the right side as Wood took a handoff left, following the lead of pulling guard Trevor Robinson, who blocked Will Lucas then pushed a pile of people into Joe Holland, slowing him up slightly. The defensive line was never a factor in the play.
After getting past the linebackers, Wood was met by Landon Feichter, but a quick move to the inside burst Wood into the open. Feichter did not take a good angle toward the ball and was left flat-footed as Wood blew past him right into the area of the field Evans blitzed out of.
Ricardo Allen nearly ran him down, but could only dive at his ankles in vain around the 5.
Chronicling the penalties
Offense
- False start on offensive tackle Dennis Kelly
- Holding on Justin Kitchens
- Personal foul on Antavian Edison for shoving a guy in the back after the whistle
- Holding on O.J. Ross
- Chop block on Rick Schmeig
- Ineligible receiver downfield on Rick Schmeig
Defense
- Personal foul on Dwayne Beckford for a late hit out of bounds
- Illegal substitution
- Unsportsmanlike conduct on Albert Evans for celebration
- Holding on Josh Johnson in the end zone
- Ryan Russell off-side.
Special teams
- Illegal block on Chris Carlino
- Holding on Reggie Pegram
This post was edited on 10/3 1:31 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
This post was edited on 10/3 1:32 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
TerBush's interception
On the Boilermakers' very first play, Purdue tried to make a big play. It blew up in its face badly.
On first-and-10 from the 25, Caleb TerBush took a shotgun snap, faked a handoff to Ralph Bolden running left, then rolled slightly to his right, with left guard Peters Drey pulling out in front of TerBush on the bootleg.
It was some of Purdue's best pass protection of the day, with Bolden holding up Darius Fleming coming off the edge and Drey taking Manti Te'o out of the play (or at least slowing him up).
The result, however, was a disaster.
With plenty of time to throw, TerBush threw the ball over the middle right into a trio of Irish defenders. The apparent target was Antavian Edison, who was double-covered by safeties Jamoris Slaughter and Harrison Smith. But the pass fell short of them and was easily intercepted by corner Gary Gray, who returned the ball to the Purdue 35 or so.
Obviously a regrettable decision by the quarterback to say the least. But also a bad throw.
Notre Dame's first touchdown
On second-and-10 from the Purdue 35, Ricardo Allen lined close up on Michael Floyd at the line of scrimmage, left in one-on-one coverage.
Purdue did not blitz and got no pressure whatsoever on Tommy Rees, who faked a handoff left, rolled right, then looked back left. The entire Purdue defensive line bit hard on the play fake, while safety Albert Evans was also caught leaning toward playing the run, the key breakdown in the play.
Fellow safety Landon Feichter leaned toward the side of the field opposite Floyd, where Notre Dame had lined up two receivers.
With no pressure, Rees threw deep over the middle for Floyd, who broke inside of Allen at the line and met no resistance as he ran down the field.
With no safety anywhere in the area, Floyd caught the ball at about the 2 with nothing a lunging Allen could do about it.
Like that, it was 7-0 Notre Dane just seconds into the game.
Kawann Short's blocked field goal
After Purdue held in the red zone after Notre Dame walked down the field on its second drive, Short blocked David Ruffer's 28-yard field goal.
The Boilermaker defensive tackle just came over snapper Andrew Nuss's right shoulder, stuck his right hand up and blocked the fourth kick of his career.
The unsportsmanlike penalty
After Rees overthrew Tyler Eifert in the end zone on third down late in the first quarter, Evans, who was in coverage, followed his momentum off the field toward the crowd in the south end zone.
Evans jogged right past band members, who then proceeded to taunt Eifert, who was laying on the ground. But when Evans reached the stands, he waved his finger as if to say, "No, no," then high-fived a fan in the front row who initiated the two-handed gesture.
What a stupid penalty, but a rule is a rule.
On the next play, Purdue was called for another defensive penalty. On the play after, Jonas Gray bounced off Will Lucas at the line of scrimmage and made it 14-0 Notre Dame.
Cierre Wood's 55-yard TD run
After Notre Dame had dominated running the ball off the edges, Wood went between the tackles for the biggest Irish play of the day.
Evans blitzed off the right side as Wood took a handoff left, following the lead of pulling guard Trevor Robinson, who blocked Will Lucas then pushed a pile of people into Joe Holland, slowing him up slightly. The defensive line was never a factor in the play.
After getting past the linebackers, Wood was met by Landon Feichter, but a quick move to the inside burst Wood into the open. Feichter did not take a good angle toward the ball and was left flat-footed as Wood blew past him right into the area of the field Evans blitzed out of.
Ricardo Allen nearly ran him down, but could only dive at his ankles in vain around the 5.
Chronicling the penalties
Offense
- False start on offensive tackle Dennis Kelly
- Holding on Justin Kitchens
- Personal foul on Antavian Edison for shoving a guy in the back after the whistle
- Holding on O.J. Ross
- Chop block on Rick Schmeig
- Ineligible receiver downfield on Rick Schmeig
Defense
- Personal foul on Dwayne Beckford for a late hit out of bounds
- Illegal substitution
- Unsportsmanlike conduct on Albert Evans for celebration
- Holding on Josh Johnson in the end zone
- Ryan Russell off-side.
Special teams
- Illegal block on Chris Carlino
- Holding on Reggie Pegram
This post was edited on 10/3 1:31 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
This post was edited on 10/3 1:32 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
