Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/407311
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 9 • 21 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com D uring the bye week, Purdue did a self scout, examining what it is good at — and what it isn't — before the last four weeks of the season. Offensive coordinator John Shoop said the results weren't rev- olutionary, yet telling. "I think we know what we're good at and we're starting to de- velop an identity and that's good," Shoop said Tuesday, as Purdue pre- pared to take on Nebraska. "Our guys have confidence in certain sets of plays. There's some other things that we haven't run quite as much as I thought we had be- cause it's in the game plan but we just didn't get to it, but we still feel good about it, so we're going to use those. "We kind of just looked at each of the concepts that we've had and tried to determine what we're good at and what we're not so good at and really kind of emphasize the ones that we are and de-empha- size the ones that we're not." Lately, Purdue's run the ball excep- tionally well, particu- larly out of its zone- read offense. In the three games that Aus- tin Appleby has been the starter, the Boiler- makers are averaging 258.7 rushing yards — on 7.4 yards per carry — per game. Shoop says Purdue is executing its assignments. "We don't have a ton of (missed as- signments)," he said. "Our guys study the game and this is as hard-working a group of players as I've been around at any level. But if we can minimize mental errors, then I think our best is good enough against any team on our schedule." WITHOUT A BALL Purdue's defense practiced against the scout team offense this week. That's not unusual. But that the scout offense didn't have a ball is. In an effort to prepare to face Nebraska's zone-read offense — similar to the one Minnesota used to gash Purdue for 450 yards, in- cluding 285 on the ground — the Boilermakers practiced without one. It's to help them stay assign- ment sound, regardless of where the ball goes. For instance, Purdue has players who account for the quarterback and those who ac- count for the running back, and they aren't supposed to deviate from the plan. "You're going to your guy, your lane, your gap, being player specif- ic," defensive coordinator Greg Hud- son said. "(Wednesday), we proba- bly did it (without a ball) 75 percent of the time and it's just like you're doing option football, you have the dive, you've got the quarterback and you've got the pitch, and then get there. It is just basic eye viola- tions that you're trying to avoid. "You eliminate the problem before it happens. And you're try- ing to have two guys on the ball at all times, or more. With these guys (at Nebraska), we need two-and-a- half, minimum." The challenge, too, is eyeing the Cornhuskers' impressive run- ning game, led by Ameer Abdul- lah, while also being cautious of the play-action pass. Minnesota used the scheme effectively, three times hitting long passes in the third quarter to turn the tide in the Gophers' win Oct. 18. Purdue wants to avoid the same fate against Nebraska. "As a linebacker, if you bite on the play-action, you're a blitzer now," Hudson said. "You aren't going to F O OT BA L L Offensive Coordinator John Shoop Defensive Coordinator Greg Hudson Finding An Identity Tom Campbell Coordinator John Shoop says Purdue is finding its identity on offense.