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"This coaching staff, they let you play ball and make plays," Allen said. "It's not 'stay in your gap and don't move.' It's 'go make a play, be hungry.' " Look for aggression, particularly when opposing offenses are in less-than-ideal situations; Purdue hopes to generate turnovers, which Hudson-led defenses have had a tendency to do in abundance over the years. "We've got to be run-stopping, opportunistic and outside-the-box-thinking, you know, just a little southeast of disorder," he said. "We are going to have to be a little different. We can be basic and fundamental in our scheme, but our mindset has got to be a little different. We are going to have to have a little edge to us. We're going to have to not be afraid to take risks. "If there is ever a year where we are going to have to have great chemistry, it's this year because all of the guys are so similar in talent at all of the positions." The following is a position-by-position breakdown of Purdue's defense. Defensive Line Inside View Must Step Up For the better part of a year, Ryan Russell has been considered the next in line in Purdue's "Den of Defensive Ends." Now, as an experienced upperclassman, he'll need to show he's deserving of a coveted spot. Russell appears to have the skill set to do so, although he wouldn't be a prototypical Den member. Players like Rosevelt Colvin, Shaun Phillips and Cliff Avril, and others, relied on speed to get the quarterback. Russell is much bigger, close to 275 pounds, and can use his strength to get to the QB. Purdue's defense is in need of a star, and if Russell can take a step forward, he might be able to come close to filling that void. Breakout Players Frankie Williams got a ton of experience as a redshirt freshman last year, being Purdue's fifth defensive back. And he often succeeded, with nine passes broken up and 45 tackles. But there were errors, too, particularly when quarterbacks fooled him with pump fakes that led to him giving up big plays. He'll get a chance to start now and could be in line for a big season, provided he has learned from his experience. If not, Purdue will turn in a different direction for its second cornerback to go along with mainstay Ricardo Allen. Impact Newcomers Purdue needs help at linebacker, so newcomers will cerPotential might be the key descriptor of Purtainly get looks there. Perhaps the best possibility for playdue's defensive line. Gaston has it, with some thinking he could ing time, or maybe even a starting spot, is redshirt freshman turn into a first-team All-Big Ten-type player Andy James Garcia. He's not the Boilermakers' biggest opthis season. The same could be said for Ryan tion, listed at a generous 6-foot, 220 pounds, but he earned Russell, who's long been considered a possibil- wide praise in the spring for his ability to immediately ID ity as the next up in Purdue's line of NFL-ready plays and chase down the ball. Either he, or perhaps fellow redshirt frosh Jimmy Herman, could have a bigger role in defensive ends. Fellow end Greg Latta is raw as a football 2013. — Kyle Charters player, having played the sport only a few years, but he could turn into a pass-rush specialist. would say, letting the dogs hunt," Russell said. "He's Maybe Jalani Phillips, too. And young tackles like Ryan Watson and Michael Rouse III could capitalize given us the green light to make a play, be disruptive. on opportunities they got in the spring, when possible Do what you have to do to get in the quarterback's face starter Brandon Taylor, fellow senior Ryan Isaac and or to make the running back bounce the extra gap or run outside. Gaston were out with injuries. "He's putting a lot on us." Reaching the potential would show up in how disrupEven with Short, an All-American and NFL sective the Boilermakers are in the opponent's backfield, from jostling or sacking the quarterback to helping to ond-round draft pick, as a clog in the middle, Purdue was inconsistent in controlling the line of scrimmage stuff the run. "Coach Hudson has really put an emphasis on, as he last season. It was superb against Notre Dame and Ohio State, close losses to two of the nation's top teams, but GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 37