Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/395551
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 7 • 21 seniors. And especially against Michigan State on Saturday, tight end play could be critical to ex- panding the passing game down the middle of the field and loosen- ing the box for the running game. "We need more production from that position," Shoop said. "We need it. It's not necessarily a reflection of any one player. The tight ends have to do it; the quar- terbacks have to do it; and the coaches have to do it. I've got to call plays where those guys have a chance to win because they can help us. We're going to need to this week." Purdue's tight ends have ac- counted for 29 receptions this season. HIT 'EM AGAIN Purdue's defense might have given up more than 500 yards, but there were positives, too. Among them were the de- fense's ability to get after the Illi- nois quarterbacks, including hit- ting starter Wes Lunt so much that he was eventually knocked from the game. Purdue had 17 hits on the quarterbacks, including three sacks. "We affected the quarterback," Hudson said. "We sacked him but we hit him and we af- fected him and that was a positive. "And not all of them (were) on blitzes. It's guys making moves and mak- ing plays. And I didn't want to give up a cheap one and call a bunch of blitzes, so it was more of a stick-and-move at- mosphere. And he can throw it now, that guy (Lunt) can spin it." UP THE GUT Purdue killed the Fighting Illini by running, repeat- edly, up the middle. The Boilermakers had nearly 350 yards on the ground, includ- ing four plays of 44 yards or more. And Akeem Hunt had career-highs of 177 yards and 30 carries. "I think (Robert Kugler) and (Jason) King and (Jordan) Roos are continually getting better, and it's more of a reflection that we felt strongly about our guys blocking the A and B gaps," Shoop said. But Michigan State isn't Il- linois; the Spartans' defense is much better, allowing only 72 yards rushing per game. Last week, Michigan State held Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah to 45 yards rushing. He entered the game as the nation's leading back. "It's going to get a lot tougher this week," Shoop said. "This outfit we're going against, their whole defense, their whole two-deep, there's not a bad football player on that team. And they're going to fit things unbelievably well, they don't get stuck on any of the eye candy or anything like that. The ball is the issue with these guys. We think we're pretty strong in the A and B gaps, but we're going to have to have strength this week like we haven't had all year." j Tom Campbell Akeem Hunt had a career-high 177 yards rushing against the Illini, and many of the yards were between the tackles. ... all the services ... all the food ... all the comfort ... all the fun YourWindow_GoldandBlack_August10_electronic.indd 1 8/20/2010 2:26:24 PM