Purdue football has completed two weeks of spring practices, five in total, and will resume after spring break.
Though we’ve detailed elements of the new defense over those five practices in our analysis and daily stories — all links right here — here’s a quick-hit version of some of what has stuck out in Nick Holt’s group.
• As with Jeff Brohm and his offense, Nick Holt said Priority No. 1 this spring was identifying personnel to be able to truly cater the defense toward those strengths. It just so happens what Holt probably wanted to do anyway — mix up fronts and put four linebackers on the field at times — seems to be exactly what would make the most sense for Purdue’s current personnel. Holt certainly has been experimenting this spring, as he’s talked about, using a three-man front, a more traditional four-man front and a four-man front with a stand-up-type end, as well as peppering the offense with a variety of blitzes. It appears to be what Holt promised: An aggressive, versatile scheme. There could be a potential problem, though. Ideally, for it to be its most effective, Holt would like to be able to rotate, especially up front, to keep bodies fresh. That kind of depth hasn’t been identified quite yet — and may not be come fall either. We’ll see if that matters at all to what Holt will try to do. (My guess is not.)
• After a bumpy junior season, partly based on a variety of injuries and partly based on an apparent lack of fitness, Ja’Whaun Bentley needed a big offseason to jump-start a great spring into his senior year. Fortunately for Purdue, he’s done just that. Bentley looks like he may be in the best shape of his career. Though he told me he’s at 255 pounds right now — and doesn’t seem worried about getting to 248, where he wants to be, by the fall — he doesn’t look it. He had the front of his jersey tucked under his shoulder pads last week and actually looked like a six-pack may be ready to peek out. I don’t recall him being that trim during his career, though he could have been as a freshman. What has that meant? Bentley is flying around — this defensive scheme helps him, too — and making plays. He has to have at least three pass breakups over five practices, and that’s because he’s being aggressive and reading the offense quickly to get to the ball. If Bentley can be the Bentley of Year 1 — or better — that’ll be big for Purdue’s D.
• T.J. Jallow’s aggressiveness has been welcome at one of the safety spots, but, as we’ve written about, he’s clearly not sure what he’s doing right now in terms of alignment and assignments. It’ll be absolutely imperative over the final 10 practices for him to grasp the defense and his role in it. As with most positions, Purdue has practically no experienced depth at safety, and with Jallow’s potential as a big hitter — and hopefully good open-field tackler — he needs to be a factor in the fall.
• Was interesting to see Holt move Purdue’s front pieces around over the first two weeks. Without Lorenzo Neal this spring, projected starting end Gelen Robinson got bounced inside (though he’s still playing some end, too) for the time being. Robinson’s powerful enough that he’s made an impact there, but part of that could be he’s going against inexperienced guards who simply can’t handle his strength and athleticism. (Same goes for Eddy Wilson, who’s had a fantastic first two weeks, likely because of similar reasons.) Anthony Watts has moved from inside to outside, which was a surprise because he’s heavy for an ideal end. He looks like an interior guy. He’s listed at 296, which is bigger than Robinson by nearly 20 pounds, but he is 6-4. So, perhaps, if Purdue thinks he shows potential on the outside, it can work hard to trim him down during the offseason. Makes sense to give guys a look at different spots, but having Robinson bulk up this summer for a permanent move to end when Neal and Wilson would be at that spot? Hmmm. But, again, this spring experiment makes sense.
• Da’Wan Hunte has been Da’Wan Hunte over these first two weeks, a more-than-serviceable starting cornerback. Don’t have much concern there. At the other starting spot and to fill out the two-deep, though? Nothing happened over the first two weeks to assuage major doubts here. Tim Cason got the majority of the first-team reps over five practices, but he seems to consistently lose battles against Anthony Mahoungou in deep situations. I realize Purdue is playing largely zone coverage this season, but in those specific instances, it appears as though Cason is matched up in man and is just getting beat over the top. By a guy I wouldn’t consider an especially fast receiver. (It's possible there has been a time when the safety was late in help.) Maybe Mahoungou is beating Cason up on the line to get free. Haven’t noticed that. Still, neither Kamal Hardy nor Simeon Smiley apparently has done enough to slide into that top spot. So Cason must be the best option right now. Hopefully, he’ll continue to improve with more reps over the final 10 practices. Because, obviously, Purdue could use help in the secondary.
Player who's impressed: Bentley/Bailey
Player who's surprised: Miles
Player who needs to turn it up: Cason
Player whose development most interested to watch: Watts
Thoughts?
Though we’ve detailed elements of the new defense over those five practices in our analysis and daily stories — all links right here — here’s a quick-hit version of some of what has stuck out in Nick Holt’s group.
• As with Jeff Brohm and his offense, Nick Holt said Priority No. 1 this spring was identifying personnel to be able to truly cater the defense toward those strengths. It just so happens what Holt probably wanted to do anyway — mix up fronts and put four linebackers on the field at times — seems to be exactly what would make the most sense for Purdue’s current personnel. Holt certainly has been experimenting this spring, as he’s talked about, using a three-man front, a more traditional four-man front and a four-man front with a stand-up-type end, as well as peppering the offense with a variety of blitzes. It appears to be what Holt promised: An aggressive, versatile scheme. There could be a potential problem, though. Ideally, for it to be its most effective, Holt would like to be able to rotate, especially up front, to keep bodies fresh. That kind of depth hasn’t been identified quite yet — and may not be come fall either. We’ll see if that matters at all to what Holt will try to do. (My guess is not.)
• After a bumpy junior season, partly based on a variety of injuries and partly based on an apparent lack of fitness, Ja’Whaun Bentley needed a big offseason to jump-start a great spring into his senior year. Fortunately for Purdue, he’s done just that. Bentley looks like he may be in the best shape of his career. Though he told me he’s at 255 pounds right now — and doesn’t seem worried about getting to 248, where he wants to be, by the fall — he doesn’t look it. He had the front of his jersey tucked under his shoulder pads last week and actually looked like a six-pack may be ready to peek out. I don’t recall him being that trim during his career, though he could have been as a freshman. What has that meant? Bentley is flying around — this defensive scheme helps him, too — and making plays. He has to have at least three pass breakups over five practices, and that’s because he’s being aggressive and reading the offense quickly to get to the ball. If Bentley can be the Bentley of Year 1 — or better — that’ll be big for Purdue’s D.
• T.J. Jallow’s aggressiveness has been welcome at one of the safety spots, but, as we’ve written about, he’s clearly not sure what he’s doing right now in terms of alignment and assignments. It’ll be absolutely imperative over the final 10 practices for him to grasp the defense and his role in it. As with most positions, Purdue has practically no experienced depth at safety, and with Jallow’s potential as a big hitter — and hopefully good open-field tackler — he needs to be a factor in the fall.
• Was interesting to see Holt move Purdue’s front pieces around over the first two weeks. Without Lorenzo Neal this spring, projected starting end Gelen Robinson got bounced inside (though he’s still playing some end, too) for the time being. Robinson’s powerful enough that he’s made an impact there, but part of that could be he’s going against inexperienced guards who simply can’t handle his strength and athleticism. (Same goes for Eddy Wilson, who’s had a fantastic first two weeks, likely because of similar reasons.) Anthony Watts has moved from inside to outside, which was a surprise because he’s heavy for an ideal end. He looks like an interior guy. He’s listed at 296, which is bigger than Robinson by nearly 20 pounds, but he is 6-4. So, perhaps, if Purdue thinks he shows potential on the outside, it can work hard to trim him down during the offseason. Makes sense to give guys a look at different spots, but having Robinson bulk up this summer for a permanent move to end when Neal and Wilson would be at that spot? Hmmm. But, again, this spring experiment makes sense.
• Da’Wan Hunte has been Da’Wan Hunte over these first two weeks, a more-than-serviceable starting cornerback. Don’t have much concern there. At the other starting spot and to fill out the two-deep, though? Nothing happened over the first two weeks to assuage major doubts here. Tim Cason got the majority of the first-team reps over five practices, but he seems to consistently lose battles against Anthony Mahoungou in deep situations. I realize Purdue is playing largely zone coverage this season, but in those specific instances, it appears as though Cason is matched up in man and is just getting beat over the top. By a guy I wouldn’t consider an especially fast receiver. (It's possible there has been a time when the safety was late in help.) Maybe Mahoungou is beating Cason up on the line to get free. Haven’t noticed that. Still, neither Kamal Hardy nor Simeon Smiley apparently has done enough to slide into that top spot. So Cason must be the best option right now. Hopefully, he’ll continue to improve with more reps over the final 10 practices. Because, obviously, Purdue could use help in the secondary.
Player who's impressed: Bentley/Bailey
Player who's surprised: Miles
Player who needs to turn it up: Cason
Player whose development most interested to watch: Watts
Thoughts?
