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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 3 28 There certainly are a handful of talented ones returning but not nearly enough, and that lack of ready-to-play depth played a significant role in the team's inability to win games consistently over the last four seasons, but espe- cially in 2016. When injuries decimated certain positions, there simply weren't enough experienced options to turn to. That led to players playing out of position with some- times too many snaps making it too hard to compete until the end. On the surface, some of those challenge remain very present in 2017. Brohm isn't walking into a situation set up for imme- diate success. (Don't forget the schedule is loaded, too, with a season opener against Heisman winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville, followed by a home opener against Mid-American Conference East Division winner Ohio, fol- lowed two games later by a Big Ten opener against revived powerhouse Michigan.) Can Brohm and his staff work magic in Year 1? Any- thing is possible. But the hard facts show how difficult that will be. Here's a closer look at the roster as it stood in mid-De- cember, before Brohm's first recruiting class: OFFENSE There are only four players returning who have started double-digit games for the Boilermakers, in quarterback David Blough (20), running back Markell Jones (17), cen- ter Kirk Barron (13) and tight end Cole Herdman (13). Barron and Herdman were full-time starters in 2016 for the first time. That lack of experience could present a challenge, even for a coach renowned for his offensive innovation, creativity and general ability to adapt to personnel. All games are decided, ultimately, by the ability of the front lines, and Purdue has considerable uncertainty there. Barron likely will start again at the pivotal center spot, but there is not much known after that. Matt McCann emerged as a starter as a redshirt freshman at right tackle and showed some promise, but will he need to be moved to the left side as a sophomore? Mike Mendez got thrown into the mix on the left side after a teammate's suspension, a demotion and injuries and started three games before ending the season injured. But Mendez seems better suit- ed to play guard than tackle, so he'd project as an interior guy for 2017. Especially considering Purdue desperately needs interior players with Jason King and Jordan Roos gone — they combined for 82 starts over their careers, in- cluding manning both guard spots full-time the last three. Barron, McCann and Mendez isn't a bad foundation, even though they're young and still have room to grow. But after that? It's anyone's guess who fills the other spots. There, simply, aren't any other experienced players as options. In his first season with the program, junior col- lege transfer Jalen Neal wasn't ready to compete on a Big Ten level and got benched after two starts at left tackle in Weeks 3 and 4 and didn't play again. He'll need to make significant strides to be a factor at either tackle spot but is said to be a worker, so that's certainly a possibility. Third- year sophomores Bearooz Yacoobi and Peyton Truitt didn't log any snaps in crunch time on offense this season de- spite the fact Purdue could have used help, possibly an indication where they are, at least in the eyes of the 2016 staff, in their development. Walk-on Eric Swingler, who was coming off an ACL injury, is versatile and can play any spot, so that may give the new staff some flexibility. Tanner Hawthorne and Grant Hermanns spent their first seasons redshirting and appear to have a long way to go physically to contribute on a consistent basis. But Brohm is going to have to find the right mix in or- der to have the offensive line necessary to sling the ball around and have a productive running game. It will be crit- ical in order to rack up yards and points in the fashion he's accustomed. Brohm, of course, will bring in junior college transfers and high school recruits of his own, hoping to build depth. It's been rare recently that junior college players at Purdue have been ready to compete at a Big Ten level in their first season, but a 21-year-old in the trenches may be prefera- ble, if not necessary. It appears Brohm and his offensive staff will have to be crafty in run blocking and pass protec- tion. Certainly, tempo could help, and Brohm has used pace in the past to try to gain an advantage. But he's also typi- cally done that with more experienced offenses, of which this won't be. He certainly could try to get the ball out of Blough's hands quickly. But Brohm's offenses typically have thrived on hitting big plays down the field, which would require for a pocket to hold up and receivers to get down the field. And, also, a short, quick passing game could be a tough foun- dation against opponents that are skilled at press-man