GBI Magazine

Gold and Black Illustrated, Sept.-Oct. 2014

Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.

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IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 11 f and that's one of the things we talk- ed about was being a tougher football team and fighting resistance when- ever we can fight resistance. "I like this team. A lot." Disruptive D? Ryan Russell has a hope: No blitz- ing necessary. That'd mean Russell and his front- line mates are having success getting pressure on the quarterback without sending linebackers or cornerbacks, moves that potentially could leave the defense vulnerable. "I don't want them to have to blitz on third down. I want the guys to be able to stay in coverage and the cor- ners be able to lock on their man and depend on the front four to get there," Russell said at the end of camp. Surely defensive coordinator Greg Hudson and line coach Rubin Car- ter wouldn't mind that either, seeing Purdue's linemen get penetration and create disruption behind the line. It's not some- thing the Boilermakers did much last season, mak- ing it a point of emphasis in the spring and camp. And there were some strides made, coaches think. "I think they're playing with a lot more power and a lot more strength and we are a lot bigger and more physical than we were a year ago. I think they feel good about themselves because of that," Hazell said. The surge will need to be led by Russell, a senior who wants to finish his career with a flourish by becoming the player many have long-expected he could be. Russell certainly showed glimpses in camp, even besting high- ly regarded transfer left tackle David Hedelin on multiple occasions with a nice speed rush. Russell had two sacks and two pressures in the jersey scrimmage. But the interior of the line has po- tential, too, in sophomores Ra'Zahn Breaking out For the second consecutive year, Darrell Hazell opened the bulk of Purdue's camp practices to the media. Here are some of our top performances after watching 14 of the 15 practices. Junior cornerback Anthony Brown: Finally, Brown feels comfortable. He spent his first two seasons getting bounced around the secondary, playing corner- back, nickel and safety. He was shoved into the safety spot to fill in for injured Landon Feichter last year and got 10 starts. But it wasn't where Brown wanted to be: He thinks he's a better fit on the outside, being able to lock down receivers from the line, use some physicality and length to bother them. And that's what he showed largely in camp, rarely allowing catches in a No. 1 cornerback role. He could be a playmaker. Sophomore defensive tackle Jake Replogle: A year after getting thrown into the mix as a true fresh- man end, Replogle was moved inside in the spring and added 30 pounds during the offseason. Now, he feels like a true tackle, and he used his physical upgrade to get more explosion off the ball to generate consistent penetration during camp. Sophomore receiver Cameron Posey: Posey wasn't even supposed to be ready for camp, really, being just a shade under six months removed from ACL surgery when it started. But he was out with the first-team unit from Day 1, working without even a knee brace and seem- ingly back to his steady, reliable self, catching nearly every ball thrown his way. — Stacy Clardie THE HILL GROUP REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO The Hill Group is installing all HVAC systems in this new 27-story, 1,200,000 square foot hospital. hillgrp.com We're Illinois' largest mechanical contractor … and proud to have 38 outstanding Purdue alumni on our HVAC/Plumbing team. Warren Hill, ME '63 Jim Hill, MET '95, MBA '03 Jim Billard, LA '90 Brian Teyema, ME '87 Scott Dierking, IM '77 Russ Nelson, BCM '00 David Pikey, PH '97 Bill Silfies, MBA '03 Nick Muscolino, MET '06 Matthew Crawford, MET '05 Bob Hill, BCM '06 Anthony Camasta, MET '04 Beth Beigelbeck, SM '97 Deborah Toth, MET '07 Daniel Block, ME '08 Daniel Gasser, BS '04 Jason Jones, MET '08 Nick Johnson, BCM '09 Bryan O'Neill, BCM '09 Steven Sitkowski, BCM '10 Isaac Townsend, ME '10 Don Wunderlich, ME '13 Taylor Spaulding, ME '12 Grant Fillipitch, MET '12 Jessica James, BS '13 Robert C. Krier, MET '13 Joseph Ketcik, CE '13 Joseph Schraffenberger , ME '13 Michael Rish, ME '13 Brandon Goldstein, ME '14 Michael Alber, ME '14 Ally Gray, BS '14 Karina Bjorklund, ME '17 Larry Lannen, ME '16 Kevin Morrisroe, ME '15 Bill Shuck, MET '14 James Svehla, BCM '15 Chaz Usher, BCM '17 G&B_HillGrp_finalRev2 8/3/14 11:50 PM Page 1

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