Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/563396
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 1 19 full of people know what we're going to do. When we get to that level, I think we'll be pretty good. But that's our goal: Lead this team to the Rose Bowl." OWNING UP Purdue had to spend camp searching for a replace- ment for rush end Gelen Robinson, who will miss at least the first two games as punishment for an alco- hol-related arrest in June. Hazell set a sliding scale of punishment — as few as two games, as many as four — based on conditions, community service work and admittance of a mistake among them. "He's done everything we've asked him to do up to this point," Hazell said after the first week of camp. "He's very humbled. He's very remorseful for what he did. I believe he's paid that part of the penalty, but obviously he has to pay the game penalty, and we'll make a decision on whether it's two, three or four and move on." Robinson was not made available for comment during camp. In his stead, Antoine Miles got all of the first-team snaps during camp. Miles, a sophomore, has shown quickness off the edge and acceleration up the field. But he'll need to prove he can hold up in the run game, too. "I know exactly what they want from me," Miles said. "I had a couple focus problems in the past, I real- ly wasn't into football as much as I should have been. But now that I'm older, I understand it's time for me to step up and be the player they expect me to be. "First and foremost, they want effort, relentless ef- fort. Every single play run to the ball. Specifically for my position, run down the ball from behind, affect the quarterback on every play, just be a disruptive play- er off the edge, put fear into quarterbacks. Secondly, do everything right to put myself in position to make plays and help the defense be successful." Junior college transfer Shayne Henley could make a move to score significant game snaps, though, once he gains a better grasp of the defense. Henley showed im- pressive athleticism and a variety of pass-rush moves in camp, and getting pressure on the quarterback is a must for this defense. "My style of play is speed," Henley said. "And ball smarts. I try to be a student of the game. Combined with my speed, I think that position is good for me. If I get the plays right, I think I could take this position by storm hopefully." ON THE MEND In two-plus weeks of camp, Purdue avoided any se- rious injuries, though a handful of key players were on the shelf at points. Including the bulk of the starting linebacker corps. Starting weakside linebacker Danny Ezechukwu injured his right knee during the jersey scrimmage, and Hazell said immediately following the practice he didn't think it was an ACL injury. The severity of the injury wasn't released by press time in the last week of August. Strongside linebacker Jimmy Herman missed the full last week of camp after being derailed by a hamstring injury. Middle linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley skipped out on the scrimmage, too, his only missed practice of camp with a minor back injury. Backup linebackers Dezwan Polk-Campbell (ankle) and Andy James Garcia (hamstring) also missed time in camp, pushing freshman Markus Bailey into the first-team defense. Offensive linemen Corey Clements, Kirk Barron, Joey Warburg and King were out at points, too, with various injuries. Perhaps the most important recovery is for Prince, who had surgery on both shoulders in the offseason and didn't get a single team rep in camp. He started games at right tackle last season and is a key piece to the line's depth. It'll be important for Prince to get conditioned and ready to at least rotate a series or two early in the season. j