Purdue is off this week for spring break and will resume practices on March 20. But we've had two weeks — and five practices — worth of data so far of Jeff Brohm's offense.
There are a bunch of details on our thoughts in the analysis pieces from each day — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (linked) — but here's a quick-hit version of impressions from the early portion of spring:
• Brohm promised to have a versatile, multiple offense, and though that unit still was going through install and unpacking its playbook over the first two weeks, it's been pretty clear that Purdue will have a variety of formations, groupings and options. I like the idea that Brohm appears set to cater to the offense's strength — which, to be clear, I thought Terry Malone did a good job on last season with wanting to get the ball to playmaking receivers, whether Yancey down the field, or otherwise — and that's why I think running a bunch of two-tight end sets can really work for this offense. Cole Herdman is much more polished at this point than Brycen Hopkins, both because of more extensive snaps and general football knowledge, but as Hopkins continues to progress, he could be a game-changer down the seam in the passing game.
• The offensive line was the concern it was projected to be. It's been rough for even the first unit to give the quarterbacks a consistently clean pocket, and the second team is littered with walk-ons, so that's obviously been a struggle as well. The obvious point of emphasis for the final 10 practices of the spring, obviously, is continuing to get these young, inexperienced players to play better. Everything is new, not only because it's a new offense, but also because most of these guys haven't been in these pressure-type situations — even if it's practice, Nick Holt is bring every kind of front and blitz they could imagine early on — before. So there's definitely a learning curve. Most of them need another offseason's worth in the weight room to gain necessary muscle and strength, but would just be nice to see them more consistently being in the right places now to make blocks, even if they're physical unable to maybe do them well. Does that make sense? Grant Hermanns is getting invaluable snaps right now as a redshirt freshman. Maybe he's playing himself into a backup in the fall. Eric Swingler's ferocity is exactly what Purdue needs up front, and the walk-on's attitude needs to rub off on his teammates.
• Would have been nice to see more from Markell Jones over the first two weeks, but he hasn't really shown up. Part of that is Brohm's insistence on keeping his best players healthy, but I think in a couple of guys' cases, it makes sense for them to get reps to keep getting better. Jones had injury issues as a sophomore and coupled with some struggles up front, he didn't have a very productive year. That can't be the case in 2017, but if Jones doesn't stay healthy (he apparently was "banged up," per Brohm already this spring), then how will that change? It'll be interesting to see how much D.J. Knox, Richie Worship and the rest of the group can seize opportunities in the final month of the spring and what that could mean going into the offseason. Jones is the most gifted of the group, no doubt, but will he rest on that?
• Opportunities need to be seized, too, at the receiver spots. Can't say there was a standout guy there over the first two weeks. Gregory Phillips, the projected starting slot (for now), has missed some time with a hamstring injury. That's allowed Jackson Anthrop to get more team reps, which has been good for the young receiver. Coaches still get on him pretty often about his route-running and understanding of the offense, but he's seemed to be the one guy who can make the highlight catch. He just needs to be more consistent overall. Especially with Terry Wright coming in the fall. Coaches seem really eager to give that guy a considerable chance at the starting job, so Phillips and Anthrop's play over the final 10 practices would seem critically important. They have to get better.
Player who's impressed: Herdman
Player who's surprised: Swingler
Player who needs to turn it up: Mahoungou
Player whose development most interested to watch: Hermanns
Thoughts?
(Also, we had a football-only chat earlier today in which Kyle and I discussed several things about the offense.)
There are a bunch of details on our thoughts in the analysis pieces from each day — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (linked) — but here's a quick-hit version of impressions from the early portion of spring:
• Brohm promised to have a versatile, multiple offense, and though that unit still was going through install and unpacking its playbook over the first two weeks, it's been pretty clear that Purdue will have a variety of formations, groupings and options. I like the idea that Brohm appears set to cater to the offense's strength — which, to be clear, I thought Terry Malone did a good job on last season with wanting to get the ball to playmaking receivers, whether Yancey down the field, or otherwise — and that's why I think running a bunch of two-tight end sets can really work for this offense. Cole Herdman is much more polished at this point than Brycen Hopkins, both because of more extensive snaps and general football knowledge, but as Hopkins continues to progress, he could be a game-changer down the seam in the passing game.
• The offensive line was the concern it was projected to be. It's been rough for even the first unit to give the quarterbacks a consistently clean pocket, and the second team is littered with walk-ons, so that's obviously been a struggle as well. The obvious point of emphasis for the final 10 practices of the spring, obviously, is continuing to get these young, inexperienced players to play better. Everything is new, not only because it's a new offense, but also because most of these guys haven't been in these pressure-type situations — even if it's practice, Nick Holt is bring every kind of front and blitz they could imagine early on — before. So there's definitely a learning curve. Most of them need another offseason's worth in the weight room to gain necessary muscle and strength, but would just be nice to see them more consistently being in the right places now to make blocks, even if they're physical unable to maybe do them well. Does that make sense? Grant Hermanns is getting invaluable snaps right now as a redshirt freshman. Maybe he's playing himself into a backup in the fall. Eric Swingler's ferocity is exactly what Purdue needs up front, and the walk-on's attitude needs to rub off on his teammates.
• Would have been nice to see more from Markell Jones over the first two weeks, but he hasn't really shown up. Part of that is Brohm's insistence on keeping his best players healthy, but I think in a couple of guys' cases, it makes sense for them to get reps to keep getting better. Jones had injury issues as a sophomore and coupled with some struggles up front, he didn't have a very productive year. That can't be the case in 2017, but if Jones doesn't stay healthy (he apparently was "banged up," per Brohm already this spring), then how will that change? It'll be interesting to see how much D.J. Knox, Richie Worship and the rest of the group can seize opportunities in the final month of the spring and what that could mean going into the offseason. Jones is the most gifted of the group, no doubt, but will he rest on that?
• Opportunities need to be seized, too, at the receiver spots. Can't say there was a standout guy there over the first two weeks. Gregory Phillips, the projected starting slot (for now), has missed some time with a hamstring injury. That's allowed Jackson Anthrop to get more team reps, which has been good for the young receiver. Coaches still get on him pretty often about his route-running and understanding of the offense, but he's seemed to be the one guy who can make the highlight catch. He just needs to be more consistent overall. Especially with Terry Wright coming in the fall. Coaches seem really eager to give that guy a considerable chance at the starting job, so Phillips and Anthrop's play over the final 10 practices would seem critically important. They have to get better.
Player who's impressed: Herdman
Player who's surprised: Swingler
Player who needs to turn it up: Mahoungou
Player whose development most interested to watch: Hermanns
Thoughts?
(Also, we had a football-only chat earlier today in which Kyle and I discussed several things about the offense.)
