Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/170640
volume 24, EX 3 • sept. 12, 2013 Inside | Notre Dame preview 9-13 | Video flipbook 20 A look back at Billy Dicken 24–25 | Recruiting 35-36 Offense A Work In Progress BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com played in BCS games last year and two of the opponents are ob Henry isn't happy with Purdue's currently ranked — offense producing only two touchthe Boilermakers downs in its first two games. will need to perform But he isn't downtrodden either. better against better Henry offers a "guarantee" that the competition. unit will continue to get better, remindThis week's oping that John Shoop's new offense is ponent could be escomplicated and hasn't even been in pecially difficult for place for a full year. the offense to get "This system and this language untracked against. we're learning is harder than any class Notre Dame's front I've taken, and I was in engineering for seven is stout, and awhile," Henry said after practice this its 3-4 defensive week. "It's difficult. With all the terminollook will make it ogy and everything we have to know, paramount for PurI feel like sometimes, myself included, due's offense to you find yourself out on the field thinkTom Campbell communicate well. ing instead of reacting, instead of play- Purdue hasn't had many occasions to celebrate in its first two games. It has scored only two That hasn't been the ing fast. You've seen that, and that's offensive touchdowns and only three TDs total. But players feel like they're starting to figure case in the first two come up in the results the past couple out John Shoop's new offense and are ready to make strides. games, whether that to see improvements." weeks. be the play being run toward the wrong How quickly, though? "We're continuing to learn. I know the side of the formation, the call not getting With an imposing schedule — the to Henry quickly enough or offensive lineguys, we're pushing each other and pushing ourselves as individuals. You're going next three games are against teams that men not hearing the calls. R THE Numbers 34 15 1982. The average points scored by the winner in the Purdue-Notre Dame series, dating back to The times a lower ranked (or unranked) Purdue team has beaten a higher ranked Notre Dame squad in the series. All told, the Boilermakers have defeated the Irish 26 times. Notre Dame's record in the series in the past 30 games, dating back to 1983. In the previous 30 years from 1953-82, the Irish's record is just 16-14. Purdue's turnover total against Indiana State. Purdue won its only game last year it didn't commit a miscue, in Week 11 at Illinois. 23-7 0 The Boilermakers also haven't been getting enough production on first and second downs to put themselves in favorable third-down situations. Of Purdue's 28 third down plays, half have needed at least eight yards for a first down. "We're just beating ourselves right now, and you just can't, especially when you're going against a team like Notre Dame," center Robert Kugler said. "If you do that, they're going to embarrass you." Any success Purdue has on offense must be led by its line, and that's still a work-in-progress. GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 3 • 1