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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 10 • 21 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com P urdue worked extensively on its passing game in the weeks leading into its game against Ne- braska, specifically targeting third downs as an area where improve- ment was needed. The Boilermakers will keep working on it. Against the Corn- huskers, a 35-14 loss, Purdue was only 1-of-18 passing on third and fourth downs. Austin Appleby completed 18-of-46 passes in the game, many of the incompletions due to receivers' inability to fight off de- fenders enough to make the grab. "We had opportunities," offen- sive coordinator John Shoop said Tuesday after practice, as Purdue preps for No. 25 Wisconsin Satur- day, "and when guys were open, our protection wasn't just right. Or when our protection was just right, we didn't separate like we needed to. Our guys see it. Our guys are very self aware. Every sin- gle guy on this offense has looked hard at it and tried to figure out how we can get better this week." That task gets harder now that Danny Anthrop is out. The junior receiver, Purdue's most reli- able and top big-play threat, tore his right ACL at Nebraska. So others, like Trae Hart or Cameron Posey, will have to step up to replace the production. One task, Shoop says, is to gain better separation from defenders, mak- ing those challenged throws a little easier. "I made a comment to John Nussman, our G.A., I said at half- time (of Nebraska) 'This is like the NFL. Every pass is contested, ev- ery hole closes really quick. Every yard was precious,' " Shoop said. "That's how it's going to be this week as well, these guys (at Wis- consin) contest everything. We've got to do a better job at wideout of catching the ball away from our body. That's so these long-armed DBs don't get their hands on it be- fore we do. "Sometimes, those contested throws, when you catch it to your body, his arm can knock it down. So, we talk a lot about winning 50-50 balls and those are the balls where the guy is draped all over you. We've got to come down with it. The best way to get better at it is to keep practicing it, and we prac- tice it every day." NICKED UP Several Boilermaker defend- ers spent the week recovering from injuries. Nose tackle Ra'Zahn Howard (foot) and safety Frankie Williams (head) were sidelined, while safety Taylor Richards (foot) and backup end Evan Panfil (toe) missed a day. Linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley practiced, but with a cast protect- ing his broken left hand. And the Boilermakers don't have much depth, so getting play- ers back before Saturday is of up- most importance. "We're looking for guys down at the rec center," defensive coor- dinator Greg Hudson said after practice Wednesday. "We told them during the break to heal up and tape it up. You've got to go if you can. If you're injured you're out and the next guy has got to go. They're not going to cancel the game, so guys are rested up a bit. But they take them down in the pit and hopefully are keeping them in shape." Howard and Williams are game-day decisions for the Boil- ermakers. DEFENSE STEPS UP Purdue's defense had its best game in more than a month, hold- ing Nebraska to less than 300 yards of offense and only 4.1 yards per play. F O OT BA L L Offensive Coordinator John Shoop Defensive Coordinator Greg Hudson Receivers Need To Rise Tom Campbell Purdue had all sorts of problems holding on to passes against the Cornhuskers, and it'll be in the spotlight again this week vs. Wisconsin.