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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 5 36 OFFENSE IN FOCUS There couldn't have been a logi- cal explanation for why graduate assistant Camden Wentz would give Gerad Parker Spark. If anyone does not need an energy drink, it's Park- er. As he was running onto the field for a re- cent practice after the jolt, he yelled that he was having an "out of body experience." But it wasn't just the artificial pick-me-up that had Parker on another level this spring. He clear- ly was even more energized — which is say- ing a lot — by his relocation on the staff from coaching tight ends to receivers, the position he played at Kentucky and has the most ex- perience coaching. Parker felt "alive" with the wideouts, he said, and they felt every ounce of that juice throughout the 15 practices. Rare was it when Parker wasn't yapping about something, whether he was urging his group to "dig, dig, dig" on routes, whether he was pleading with them to play physically and win one-on-one matchups, whether he was prais- ing them for eye discipline and pristine routes, whether he was barking at them for dropping passes. Even non-receivers have noticed. "I think he has an energy that's unmatched in college football," quarterback Danny Etling said. "(He's getting) guys hyped up and mak- ing them believe in themselves." DEFENSE IN FOCUS In a spring in which Purdue celebrated by invited back its Den of Defensive Ends, it also spent a little extra time, attention and energy on getting the current crop up to the program's stan- dard. It's needed. In an effort to develop a player into its next great end — although there's probably not a Kerrigan or Colvin on campus — Purdue gave defensive coordi- nator Greg Hudson an extra duty this spring, having him focus on coaching defen- sive ends, pulling them away from Rubin Car- ter, who now is teaching only interior linemen. Early in the spring, Hudson admitted a difficul- ty it was challenging, as he kept focus on his new group while peeking toward the overall defense. But Purdue wouldn't have made the move if it wasn't necessary. The development of Gelen Robinson and Evan Panfil, in particular, possibly holds the key to the Boilermakers' defen- sive success. Hudson's goal: Get the ends to rush, or at least disrupt, the quarterback. He was meticulous in his training, making players do drills over and over 'til they were the way he wanted. Yet Purdue still left the spring knowing significant work was needed. Hudson knows its up to him to mold Panfil and Robinson — plus any others at the position, which is limited on depth — and thus was particularly intense during parts of practice, especially when it wasn't going well. "He's a no-nonsense kind of guy," Panfil said. "So you've got to bring your 'A' game and do what he says."