Thoughts on Blough...

[pboiler18]

Was watching the game with a PSU alum on Saturday and unsolicited, he had a lot of good things to say about Blough and was surprised he was only a RS SO with how poised he looked.

He thought he had way better pocket presence and downfield throwing ability than Barret at OSU last week and thought be played an all around much better game.

He was also impressed that he was able to do so much with WRs that were clearly not that great. He said our OL looked pretty decent protecting him but that we were lacking playmakers to really go. That said, we ourscored the vaunted OSU D vs. the same team.

I think there are a lot of positives about our offensive play this year. Blough seems to be shaping into a good player, its just a shame that there's not a ton of talent around him to help. If he keeps it up, he's likely to lead the league in passing this year. Definitely a solid achievement for a kid who's #1 target is out for the year and doesn't have much help after Yancey!

 

[BoilerBulldog]

He could be special but the OL and WRs are going to have to rebound next year. Really need a coach who can hit the JUCO circuit or 5th year transfer market successfully.

 

[nat100]

He could be special but the OL and WRs are going to have to rebound next year. Really need a coach who can hit the JUCO circuit or 5th year transfer market successfully.

5th years arent as frequent (or good) as they are in basketball.

Blough is having an okay season. A lot of the yardage number is due to circumstance (always being waayyyy behind). Needs to lower that INT number and increase the completion percentage.

 

[pboiler18]

5th years arent as frequent (or good) as they are in basketball.

Blough is having an okay season. A lot of the yardage number is due to circumstance (always being waayyyy behind). Needs to lower that INT number and increase the completion percentage.

Outside of the 5 INT game vs. Cincy, he is doing fine in the category. Chalk that up to a bad day, a good day for the DB.....or WRs not fighting back to the ball while he is trying to make plays.

Lots of growth for him in the weeks since then. He's grown up a lot over the past few weeks playing some tough D competition. He's doing well enough to keep us in games. It's the D and some of the supporting cast that is really letting us down.

 

[nat100]

Outside of the 5 INT game vs. Cincy, he is doing fine in the category. Chalk that up to a bad day, a good day for the DB.....or WRs not fighting back to the ball while he is trying to make plays.

Lots of growth for him in the weeks since then. He's grown up a lot over the past few weeks playing some tough D competition. He's doing well enough to keep us in games. It's the D and some of the supporting cast that is really letting us down.

Switching to the horizontal passing game was probably the biggest help

 

[pboiler18]

Switching to the horizontal passing game was probably the biggest help

Why not do it when you have a guy that finally can?

Not a lot of credit has been given to Malone this year and I think it's really due. The QB has taken a big step forward this year. Down and distance and situational playcalling has taken maybe even a larger step forward this year. If we had a D with a pulse, this could have been a pretty decent season (maybe 7 wins) even with all of our challenges with depth on the O. I still think we have realistic shots vs. Minny, Northwestern and IU.

We are likely to lose all 3, but I wouldn't be shocked if the D shows up for 1 or 2 and we put together 28-35 points to win.

 

[nat100]

Why not do it when you have a guy that finally can?

Not a lot of credit has been given to Malone this year and I think it's really due. The QB has taken a big step forward this year. Down and distance and situational playcalling has taken maybe even a larger step forward this year. If we had a D with a pulse, this could have been a pretty decent season (maybe 7 wins) even with all of our challenges with depth on the O. I still think we have realistic shots vs. Minny, Northwestern and IU.

We are likely to lose all 3, but I wouldn't be shocked if the D shows up for 1 or 2 and we put together 28-35 points to win.

Not sure what you are saying in the bolded piece. They really didnt make the change until the nebraska game. Part of the reason for the 5 INTs was Malone trying to go vertical. Whether that was his choice or Hazell's mandate i dont know, but there was a shift in play calling with Parker. Blough isnt a downfield passer and we dont have the players that will fight for the ball.

 

[FirstDownB]

Why not do it when you have a guy that finally can?

Not a lot of credit has been given to Malone this year and I think it's really due. The QB has taken a big step forward this year. Down and distance and situational playcalling has taken maybe even a larger step forward this year. If we had a D with a pulse, this could have been a pretty decent season (maybe 7 wins) even with all of our challenges with depth on the O. I still think we have realistic shots vs. Minny, Northwestern and IU.

We are likely to lose all 3, but I wouldn't be shocked if the D shows up for 1 or 2 and we put together 28-35 points to win.

This. The offense is way down on the list of worries. It is truly astonishing how the quality of depth has plummeted on defense. We should be signing guys like Replogle and Bentley in every class, not once every four years. Injuries would be much less impactful.

 

[since1980]

We need to help Blough out with our running game. It's been non-existent much of the season and it's forcing Blough to be almost perfect in order for us to have a chance. Our run game is brutal right now.

 

[pboiler18]

This. The offense is way down on the list of worries. It is truly astonishing how the quality of depth has plummeted on defense. We should be signing guys like Replogle and Bentley in every class, not once every four years. Injuries would be much less impactful.

Yup. And while Benley and Jake the snake are good players....they aren't anything that other teams aren't signing...and signing more of than we are. Bentley is good, but mentally still has a lot to work on. Replogle is the classic Purdue DL player in the mold of Kerrigan and Short. Solid 3 star recruit that played a lot, worked his ass off and developed.

We definitely need more of these year in and year out to even get back to respectable.

 

[SunnyFL24]

He could be special but the OL and WRs are going to have to rebound next year. Really need a coach who can hit the JUCO circuit or 5th year transfer market successfully.

YEP! He will likely play the KSU role and nab a few OFF and DEF lineman fro the JOCO ranks..........no other choice!

 

[tigerchump]

I think Blough is coming along and while a lot of his positive stats are because he passes so much,I think that is also why he has so many picks.When the defense knows you have to pass all of the time.,it is easier to get picks.

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

Bump. Blough is putting together a very fine season. Breesesque really. Blough is on pace or in easy striking range of senior Brees' passing yards and touchdowns. Think about that for a minute.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Bump. Blough is putting together a very fine season. Breesesque really. Blough is on pace or in easy striking range of senior Brees' passing yards and touchdowns. Think about that for a minute.

You can't deny the massive amount of TO's though. I know he is a good player but anyone with 15+ TO's in a season with 3 games left shouldn't have the job solidified going in to the spring. The team isn't good enough to deal with that kind of lopsided TO margin.

 

[ossim]

I'm a bit concerned with Blough's lack of arm strength. He can throw the distance but he doesn't throw with the velocity needed to be a consistent threat in the 10-15 yard range. This is where Sindelar is likely the better QB. I'm not sure if its a throwing technique issue or you just either have it or you don't. Wouldn't surprise me if he isn't the starter next year just because of that.

 

[FirstDownB]

I like what I've seen from David this year. Not sure what you can expect from a sophomore QB in this situation. No defense, sub par revolving door coaching, and a mediocre offensive line. He has to take risks and let it all hang out for his team to have any chance of winning. I applaud him for not being so obsessed with his stats that he is unwilling to do so.

 

[TC4THREE]

Nobody should be complaining about what Blough is giving this season.

 

[PaBoiler78]

Nobody should be complaining about what Blough is giving this season.

sure, there is always a need for improvement in his game but the QB position is the least of our worries w/ this team.

 

[TC4THREE]

sure, there is always a need for improvement in his game but the QB position is the least of our worries w/ this team.

If you complain about everything that isn't perfect then you would lead a pretty miserable life. His play this year has been very good all things considered.

 

[Boiler Wolf]

DIdn't see the entire game, but in the 1st half I thought he threw some nice passes. Hit receivers in stride and was fairly accurate. Had not see that much this year. The offensive line injury hurt and he didn't get the protection later on. A work in progress but has been some good improvement.

Still fumbles too much. I blame this partly on Blough and partly on the Oline. I can live with the INTs. Not all are his fault.

 

[boilerdug]

Why not do it when you have a guy that finally can?

Not a lot of credit has been given to Malone this year and I think it's really due. The QB has taken a big step forward this year. Down and distance and situational playcalling has taken maybe even a larger step forward this year. If we had a D with a pulse, this could have been a pretty decent season (maybe 7 wins) even with all of our challenges with depth on the O. I still think we have realistic shots vs. Minny, Northwestern and IU.

We are likely to lose all 3, but I wouldn't be shocked if the D shows up for 1 or 2 and we put together 28-35 points to win.

Malone deserves some credit, but those shoes were really small after The Shoopster left! I think anybody who had a pulse would have made improvement from last year.

 

[pboiler18]

Malone deserves some credit, but those shoes were really small after The Shoopster left! I think anybody who had a pulse would have made improvement from last year.

WE went from the bottom to the top in passing offense in the conference I believe. I think that's more than a little credit due. Now, if we could get a run game going.....

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

You can't deny the massive amount of TO's though. I know he is a good player but anyone with 15+ TO's in a season with 3 games left shouldn't have the job solidified going in to the spring. The team isn't good enough to deal with that kind of lopsided TO margin.

Brees had 20 INTs his sophomore year.

 

[pboiler18]

Brees had 20 INTs his sophomore year.

And Blough had 5 of his 12 in one game. Yeah, thats not good....but everybody has an off day.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Brees had 20 INTs his sophomore year.

And again, I'm not saying he isn't a good QB. Blough is a gun slinger for sure and one that can, on a good day, keep Purdue in games that it may not have had a chance in otherwise....but Purdue also isn't in a place to have a guy turn the ball over multiple times and win games. Brees was simply good enough to do that and the defenses he had allowed him to make mistakes. Purdue doesn't have that luxury right now. What I am saying is that if you turn the ball over that much, your job isn't secure...especially with a talented backup like Sindelar waiting (again, not saying Sindelar should simply start playing).

 

[tigerchump]

I think David is doing well under the circumstances.He is usually playing from behind,weak running game,and no defense.He is one of the positive things the next coach will have to build around.

 

[Nihilist Rodgers]

Blough is the best pure QB PSU has played ytd.. it is a down year for QB's but he is good. Throws far better than Barrett, and Beathard is a mess. Hills at MD sucks.. Minn QB is a game manager. Speight at UM is good but plays on an all-star team.. he would get killed if he started for Purdue.-sg