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GoldanDBlack express • volume 25, express 4 • 17 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com O ver the past several weeks — perhaps months even — Pur- due's offensive line has developed an intensely close bond, and not just on the football field. They're friends off it, too, spending much of their off time hanging out in an apartment or go- ing to dinner or watching another game on Saturdays after their own. Determining why this group is so close is difficult; each of the dozen or so guys has a distinct per- sonality: Robert Kugler is intense; Cameron Cermin quiet; J.J. Prince a goofball; and on and on. But Jason King says there is at least one trait that's brought them together. "Everybody is super weird," the sophomore left guard said. Well, whatever the reason — and that's as good as any — the bond has helped the offensive line become one of Purdue's most-im - proved units from a year ago. "I feel like we've come together as friends honestly," King said. "We hang out all the time and pretty much do something every night, which leads to us discussing more about football when we're all to- gether. And I think that's helped a lot, just the fact that we've become so close. I think it shows on film, that we have done a better job. And when I look at the film from the last year, from spring up until now, I see a lot of improvements." That does appear to be the case. Through three games, Pur- due's given up five sacks, although probably only a couple of those can be attributed to a breakdown on the line. In 2013, the Boilermakers had nowhere near that efficiency, as they allowed a Big Ten-high 40 quarterback takedowns. And consider, the program had big-time questions about its line in the spring, when it didn't have solid answers at left or right tackle, argu- ably two of the most important po- sitions on the field. Those, however, were answered, and are getting re- inforced this week. Prince locked down the right edge in the spring, held it through camp and has started his first three ca- reer games. Cermin, who hadn't taken a snap before this season, won the left tackle job a few days into train- ing camp, after he had moved over from guard, and has performed bet- ter than many could have expected. Plus, Saturday, Purdue gets J.C. transfer David Hedelin, eligible af- ter serving a three-game NCAA suspension, to at least add depth. He's unlikely to start Satur- day vs. Southern Illinois but said he expects to play more than half the snaps at left tackle, allowing the ver- satile Cermin to move around. Offensive line coach Jim Bridge has been pleased with what he's seen so far. "They work well together," the second-year assistant said. "They work well together on the field, they work well together off the field. We always talk about seeing the game through one set of eyes, and the more we're around each other, the more we're five as one. … It's a lot better deal, so right now, that com- munication, that comfort with each other has led to a nice synergy." Purdue's five starters — Cermin at left tackle; King at left guard, Ku- gler at center; Jordan Roos at right guard and Prince at right tackle — have played nearly every snap this season, save for a few in which backup Jason Tretter had to come in vs. Central Michigan when Cermin's shoe came off and it took two snaps to put it back on. The group's camaraderie has led to cohesion. That the Boilermak- ers are comfortable enough to rib each other off the field allows them to be honest with each other on it. "I'm not the type of person who would ever be mad at someone for trying to tell me to fix something," King said. "… If someone is tell- ing me something, they're telling me because they want our group to be better. I genuinely feel like f o o t b a l l f e a t u r e : o f f e n s i v e l i n e Tom Campbell The Boilermakers' bond off the field is helping them on it, says Jason King, because they feel comfortable freely communicating. Thus far, Coach Jim Bridge has liked what he's seen, but also sees room to grow. a brotherhood Tight-knit offensive line showing big improvement