Spartan Nation 2010 Spring Football Scouting Report: Purdue Boilermakers
Spartan Nation 2010 Spring Scouting Report:Â Purdue Boilermakers
2009 Actual Season Record:Â 5-7 (4-4)
Spartan Nation Predicted 2009 Regular Season Record:Â 3-9 (1-7)Â
Predicted 2010 record:Â 7-5 (3-5)
Projected Big Ten 2010 Standing: 7th        Â
Head Coach:Â Danny Hope
What went right in 2009? I said at the Big Ten media days in Chicago that Coach Danny Hope stood out. He did nothing in 2009 for the Purdue faithful to not be fired up. His offense was very good and even though he took over a program decimated by some struggles the years prior to his arrival, (thanks to fans turning on Coach Tiller) that wasn’t his fault. They only won five games in 2009, but no one did a better coaching job in the conference.
What went wrong in 2009? Rushing defense. They were abysmal. Coach Hope had a big task in front of him and he couldn’t fix it in one season. Purdue did score some points, but their lack of ability to stop other teams killed them. Yesterday when I previewed OSU I told you that they scored 214 points more than their opponents in 2009. Purdue scored an astounding 15 less than their opponents.Â
Analysis:Â
Purdue fans made life hard on Coach Tiller and it hurt him in recruiting his last few seasons. Coach Hope came, and even with the hand he was dealt, got to five wins and had some major upsets. That said, the defensive side of the ball was beyond bad and this team will continue to score points, but they have to figure a way to make stops.
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Coach Hope isn’t afraid to play freshman and he did a masterful job recruiting solid players. Not by making promises of playing time, but by letting them know they were badly needed and if they produced they would play. He earned a lot of respect out on the road by being a positive recruiter and I know of one player who was considering both Purdue and MSU that coach told him how much he respected Dantonio. He let him know according to the young man that, “They gave us a whopping now, but come help me return the favor.â€Â
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His folksy southern draw is both genuine and sincere and as sad as I was to see how the fans treated Tiller, I really like him and more importantly respect him. I have said many times that I root for good people and Hope is one of them.
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Junior QB transfer Robert Marve can only make their offense better, but this spring has to be about the defense. Purdue actually was rated fifth in total defense, but it wasn’t good. The part of their defense that was good was the passing game. Credit it to having to compete every day in practice against a highflying aerial attack or the water in West Lafayette, but they were second in the conference.Â
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This spring will be almost a mirror image of last. They have to get a lot of reps for some young players and simply get better at fundamentals. Coach Hope willed his team to some impressive wins and then watched youthful mistakes kill them at times.
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For the average Purdue fan, there is a lot to be excited about. They may not have got the biggest names in recruiting, but they did get a very solid class with some young men who can play some football. All in all this program is going in the right direction and this spring isn’t about implementing schemes that will take them to a BCS game. It is about getting young players reps, chemistry and getting to a bowl game come fall.
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If they don’t make a bowl game in 2010 it will be because of that defense and how badly it was decimated when he took over. Either way, patience is called for from the fan base and Coach Hope should deliver.
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The Boilermakers start the spring with some recent great news. LB Jason Werner was granted a sixth year medical red shirt. He is a captain and had a great 2009 season. He is a heads up and smart player who is just as much a great kid off the field as on. His return was gigantic for that defense and his leadership on such a young team is a big plus for the Boilers.
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On Monday we will take a look at the Iowa Hawkeyes.
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