Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/383512
GoldanDBlack express • volume 25, express 4 • 13 matchup preview: purdue vs. Southern illinois advantage? purdue paSSing game vS. SOuthern iLLinOiS paSS deFenSe pLayer tO watch advantage? Purdue found a real rhythm through the air for the first time this season against Notre Dame and its receivers made some big plays, again for the first time this season, really. It wasn't maintained over 60 minutes, but a positive sign nonetheless for a team that needed to show a pulse throwing the football. DeAngelo Yancey. The Boilermakers' primary big-play target in its receiving corps served as little more than window dressing in Weeks 1 and 2. Maybe his highlight-reel touchdown catch against the Irish is a sign of more to come. purdue running game vS. SOuthern iLLinOiS ruSh deFenSe Southern Illinois' less-common three-man front might throw Purdue for a bit of a loop, but if it handles the line of scrimmage, it should have opportunities to run the ball ef- fectively. The Boilermakers should be the more physical team and the faster team, you'd think. After a huge season opener against Western Michigan, Boil- ermaker running back Raheem Mostert will have a chance to re-assert himself against the Salukis. SOuthern iLLinOiS paSSing game vS. purdue paSS deFenSe Southern will take its shots downfield. So did Notre Dame, and Purdue's DBs attacked and made plays, a positive sign for certain. Additionally, the Boilermaker front was more active in the backfield vs. the Irish, another positive sign, but it will need to be more dis- ciplined. SIU will come at them with play action. Watch out for tight end MyCole Pruitt. Senior Jalani Phillips may have had his best game at Purdue against Notre Dame after brushing off an early penalty. The physical tools are there for him to be an impactful player for the Boilermakers. SOuthern iLLinOiS running game vS. purdue ruSh deFenSe Purdue looked better around the line of scrimmage against Notre Dame and more physical and aggressive. It'll need to be against another team designed to run the foot- ball north and south. Oregon State transfer Malcolm Agnew tore up the three FCS opponents Southern Illinois has beaten so far to the tune of 450 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. That's a season for a lot of guys. SpeciaL teamS Southern Illinois wouldn't seem like anything special on special teams. Purdue wouldn't fall into that category either, but it's done enough good things in the kicking and return games to earn the nod here. It has to reduce its penalties, though. Junior DB Frankie Williams is averaging 25 yards per punt return this season, an astronomical number. If he keeps it up, he'll break one before long. bOiLerS predictiOn SaLukiS FCS teams tend to be perceived as pushovers, canned-hunt games for FBS teams to snooze through. Not anymore, especially for Purdue, as last year's harrowing Indiana State game showed. This is a good FCS team, one Purdue will have to play well to get past. 20 28