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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 1 • 11 MATCHUP PREVIEW: Purdue vs. Western Michigan ADVANTAGE? PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN PASS DEFENSE PLAYER TO WATCH ADVANTAGE? Western Michigan's defensive strength is its secondary, but Purdue will throw short often with quick-hitting, higher-percentage throws. When it does drops back, unless something drastic has changed, the Broncos boast one of the least effective pass rushes in college football. They recorded seven sacks all of last season. Purdue seems fully committed to Danny Etling and needs to be rewarded now. It starts with him being a better decision-maker. He needs help, though, from teammates and the sideline alike. PURDUE RUNNING GAME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN RUSH DEFENSE Purdue wants to get Raheem Mostert and Akeem Hunt out in space. That's nothing new. It just has to work this season. Look for the passing game to act as a component of the running game. It'll be interesting to see if Purdue can be the physical aggressor up front. Darrell Hazell has said he wants Big Ten sprint champ Raheem Mostert getting 20-plus touches per game. That's a bold state- ment for a senior who to this point has produced little from scrimmage. WESTERN MICHIGAN PASSING GAME VS. PURDUE PASS DEFENSE Purdue's secondary has been reconfigured to accommodate some personnel losses and it'll have some young linebackers on the field against a quick-passing Bronco offense, for which receiver Corey Davis is supposed to be legit. Frankie Williams is Purdue's best corner and may have drawn the Davis assignment. But he's playing safety to begin the sea- son in Taylor Richards' absence. WESTERN MICHIGAN RUNNING GAME VS. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE Purdue has to get better against the run this season after being porous in 2013. Giving the Boilermakers the nod in this category would be a bold leap of faith. But Western Michigan was a helpless rushing offense last season so something has to give. Purdue has to show it can tackle consistently. Not trying to put too much on freshman Ja'Whaun Bentley here, but don't think opposing coaches don't take note of inex- perienced players and consider attacking them. SPECIAL TEAMS Purdue is breaking in a new punter and as of Tuesday of this week, didn't even know who its kicker would be. We'll give the Broncos the edge here simply because of the unknown. The one advantage Purdue's offense enjoyed last season was field position, because of punter Cody Webster. Those are big cleats for Thomas Meadows to fill. BOILERS PREDICTION BRONCOS Purdue has so much to prove after a scorched-earth 2013 season but Western Michigan's in almost an identical position and now as young a team from top to bot- tom as you may find in college football. Could there be a matchup better suited for Purdue to open the season on the right foot? 17 28 EVEN EVEN