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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 6 • 1 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com T his time, Danny Etling didn't make his way toward a certain bench on Purdue's sideline and pick up a headset for a direct line to John Shoop. After throwing an interception in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 loss to Iowa last week, the sopho- more quarterback stopped well short of the bench, hovered just a couple feet from the field and his head dropped. It eventually lifted. It'll need to stay that way. The Boilermakers desperately need the offense to pick up after six quarters of ineptness. Against the Hawkeyes, Purdue managed only 156 yards total and never traveled more than 29 yards on a single drive. It wasn't only Etling who struggled, though he's in po - sition not to play this week after a dismal 61-yard effort on only 11 completions. The offensive line col- lapsed, falling victim espe- cially to twists by the defen- sive line, and couldn't get consistent pockets. The running game large- ly sputtered after Akeem Hunt had 51 yards on his first three carries. The receivers hardly were tar- geted with any real chance to make plays. They're likely not problems Purdue should be having at this point in the season, especially with a group of starters that largely has been consistent from Week 1. But they're there. "There's certainly things that need to be fixed," Coach Darrell Ha- zell said. "We don't look for excuses. We're looking for solutions. "They are simple, but they're not simple. You can see the areas of improvement, but we still have to take those steps. We have to be able to make those plays on third down offensively. … We can see that. But you still have to do it. There's a physical component you must overcome." Purdue has shown it can ex - ecute in spurts. Its first half against Southern Illinois was crisp and explosive. Its first half against Notre Dame was efficient and solid. But there hasn't been any con- sistency, especially of late. Etling hasn't led a touchdown drive since early in the second quarter against SIU, leaving Pur- due's starting offense with only six points in the last nearly-seven quarters. Tom Campbell Danny Etling got yanked after throwing a second-half interception in a 24-10 loss to Iowa last week. It was only one sign of Purdue's offensive struggles. 14 Illinois' defensive ranking in the Big Ten in rushing, scoring, pass efficiency and total defense. 13-5 Purdue's record dating back to 1997 when the Boilermakers get a pick- six, as Frankie Williams did against Iowa. >7 The line in the last three Purdue- Illinois matchups, including two Purdue victories. 3 Times Purdue will play in a Memorial Stadium the remainder of this season, including Saturday and trips to Ne- braska (Nov. 1) and Indiana (Nov. 29). THE NUMBERS VOLUME 25, EX 6 • OCT. 2, 2014 Inside | Illinois preview 9-13 Williams feature 17–18 | Notes 30–35 Recruiting news 36-37 | Volleyball 39–41 Looking For 'Solutions'