Purdue Football: Small Things Leading to Defensive Improvement
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Something changed in the second half of the Oct. 5 game with Penn State for Purdue’s defense. After allowing 27 points in the first half, it limited the Nittany Lions to just one score in the second half.
Since then, the Purdue defense has been a different looking unit.
“They’re a good group of guys, it’s important to them, they want to be good and work at it,” Purdue defensive line coach Reggie Johnson said Wednesday. “There has been an improvement over the last three or four weeks.”
Through the first five weeks of the season, the Boilermakers were giving up 33 points per game. The second-half of the season has been much better, allowing just an average of 22 points per game over the last four weeks. They held Maryland to 14 points, Iowa to 26, Illinois to 24, and Nebraska to 27.
For Johnson, that improvement comes from the young Purdue defense beginning to understand the importance of learning and studying film.
“It’s paying attention to the small things. I think they’re studying more,” Johnson said. “For young guys, getting them to understand the importance of studying the video, and studying tendencies, and understanding formations and what you’re going to get in down-and-distance formations, that’s all new.
"As they’ve grown over the course of the year, I think they see the importance of it.”
Where the Purdue defense has thrived lately has been in the red zone. It seems to be bend-but-not-break for the Boilermakers defensive unit every week. That was shown last week in the 31-27 win over Nebraska.
To keep Purdue in the game in the first half, the Boilermakers were able to make a goal-line stand following a turnover to hold Nebraska to a field goal. On the next drive, cornerback Cory Trice was able to intercept Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez at the 3-yard line.
“We like it, just being on the field and knowing that you can go out and make a stop,” Purdue defensive end Derrick Barnes said. “I think we played great red zone defense last game and I just feel like our defense is getting better as the weeks go on.”
Purdue's Derrick Barnes (right) says the Boilermakers defense is gaining confidence. (USA TODAY)
Purdue gets a chance to continue that improved play on Saturday when it takes on Northwestern, a team that sits near the bottom of the Big Ten. It’s been an uncharacteristically down year for the Wildcats, who come into the game at 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the Big Ten.
More shockingly, they rank dead last in scoring per game, averaging just 9.8 points. Through eight games, they’ve scored just eight touchdowns and haven’t crossed the end zone in their last three games, losing to Ohio State 52-3, Iowa 20-0, and Indiana 34-3.
Barnes and Co. aren’t focused on that. They know the type of team Northwestern is, one that Purdue hasn’t beaten since 2010.
“Northwestern is going to bring it. They are a tough team,” Barnes said. “Their record isn’t as good as previous years, but they are still a good team. I know they will play physical.”
With just three games remaining in the season, this young Purdue defense gets to show what they’re capable of and what they can do if they continue to improve. They all know it, now it’s just about continuing to perform each week.
“As a defense, we’re starting to gel more,” defensive tackle Kai Higgins said. “Not necessarily just myself, but as a whole defense, we’re starting to fly around and starting to do the little things right and it’s really showing up on Saturdays.”
West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers defensive end Kai Higgins (98) pressures Maryland Terrapins offensive lineman Ellis McKennie (68) in the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
