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GoldanDBlack express • volume 25, express 2 • 9 BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com P urdue hasn't played Central Michigan in years, not since the two schools met three times in the span of a year in 2007 and 2008. But when the Boilermakers line up against the Chippewas at noon Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadi- um, they might feel like they know them well. In its fifth year under the di- rection of former Michigan State assistant coach Dan Enos, Central Michigan has been built in the mold of the Boilermakers' Big Ten rival, all across the field. Most notably on offense, where the Chippewa offensive line runs 300-plus-pounds all across its five-man front, with a pair of 215-plus-pound running backs operating behind them, includ- ing fifth-year Michigan transfer Thomas Rawls, who just dropped 123 rushing yards on Tennessee- Chattanooga in a 20-16 win. The Chippewa offense would seem designed to exploit what has to be considered Purdue's central vulnerability: A run de- fense that allowed 213 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to Western Michigan and is now riding a streak of eight straight games in which it's allowed an opposing back to crack the 100- yard plateau. This is a Michigan State-style running game defined by power. While Purdue struggled might- ily against the run in 2013 and to start 2014, linebacker Sean Robin- son is quick to point out that one of its best defensive games came last season at Michigan State, where Purdue lost 14-0 but held the Spar- tans well below their per-game rushing average to that point. "It was because everyone was doing their jobs," Robinson said. "It comes down to assignment foot- ball as it does every game, just ev- ery individual doing their jobs." It is really that simple? It might be simpler this week for Purdue if Central Michigan is without Titus Davis, its best re- ceiver. Davis hurt his knee in the opener and has been labeled of- ficially "day to day" by Enos. "If he is not there, then it changes the entire look of the of- fense," said Steve Livingston, of ChippewaCountry.com, the Ri- vals.com site that covers Central Michigan. Davis is the most important piece to a passing game that wants to emphasize the run, then take shots down the field off play- action, often to the 6-foot-2 senior. Davis caught 61 passes, with eight touchdowns, for more than 1,100 yards last season and was named first-team All-MAC. Should he be idled, he'll be missed, not only on offense, but special teams, where he's the Chip - pewas' primary punt return man. But he'll be missed more on of- fense because of the crucial role he plays as a downfield target. "I'm going to treat it like he's playing," said Purdue safety Game 2 Opponent Preview: Central Michigan Noon ET • Ross-Ade Stadium (West Lafayette) • TV: ESPNews Purdue will see a little bit of sPartan in Central MiChigan Central Michigan University Quarterback Cooper Rush's impact on Saturday's game could be tied largely to the availability of hobbled star receiver Titus Davis, whose status for the game is unknown due to a knee injury.