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THE AUTHORITY ON PURDUE ATHLETICS VOLUME 22, EX 5 • OCT. 5, 2011 'Work In Progress' T Purdue stumbles into Big Ten play BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com he Boilermakers could be reeling. They are coming off a bru- tal loss to rival Notre Dame, a rout in which Purdue was over- matched in nearly every facet. The game wasn't even as close as the 38-10 score. There is drama at quarterback, even if Coach Danny Hope doesn't call it that. There are questions all over on defense — and not just because Purdue missed 13 tackles against the Irish. There are rumblings of a team that doesn't prepare well, one that isn't disciplined enough, both elements being exposed by 13 penalties. And, yet, Hope and his players talked about the potential of this team, about its character and its talent, if only it can come togeth- er, and its ability to bounce back. They get a chance to prove it this week against Minnesota, which has had its share of strug- gles under first-year coach Jerry Kill, in the Big Ten opener Satur- day at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers (2-2) are tak- ing the approach that it was better to make mistakes in non-confer- ence play than against conference GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com In this issue: • Pages 6-9: A Look At Minnesota • Pages 17-18: Albert Evans Feature • Pages 30-31: Recruit Visit Updates • Page 32: Basketball Notes teams and that all their goals are still intact. But none of those will come to fruition if Purdue doesn't get better. "We learned more about what we can be good at," Hope said of the team's first four games. In hopes of improving tackling, there will be more of an emphasis on it during practice, Hope said. In hopes of being more sound defensively, the coaches will stick to schemes that this personnel group can execute best, Hope said. Those were realized by ex- perimenting some in the first four games, coaches say, and Purdue will con- tinue to utilize a pressure package. The Boilermakers just need to actually make plays off it, whether in the pass or run game. It'll help if all the play- ers are on the "right page at the right time," defensive tackle Kawaan Short said. "From here on out, we have to play together. "We don't want the out- Cornerback Josh Johnson dropped an interception against Notre Dame last week. Purdue knows it can ill afford to squander such opportunities moving forward. Some points of emphasis this week heading into Big Ten play: Better tackling, limiting pen- alties and playing with more physicality. Tom Campbell come to be bad. We have all the right tools. We just have to make it happen." 5 ties. The number of consecutive starts for Caleb TerBush, assuming he gets the call vs. Minnesota. It's the longest streak of starts for a Purdue QB since 2009. Inside The NUMBERS 19 36 40 averaging 215 yards per game on the ground. Purdue's national ranking in rushing offense, despite just an 84-yard effort against Notre Dame. The Boilers are Purdue's penalty total through four games, tied for 116th nationally out of 120 FBS program in per-game average. The Boilers have averaged 77 yards per game in penalties. Purdue's winning percentage in Big Ten openers since 1896. That includes 46 wins, 64 losses and five 103 Ten in sacks last season. The Boilers' FBS ranking in sacks, with only four through four games. Purdue led the Big In hopes of executing better on offense, tackle Dennis Kelly thinks it's imperative that players can bring a mind-set of wanting to be tough, both in physical and mental senses. "We need to be a team that goes out and is not afraid to play anyone," Kelly said. "That's one thing I liked about our team last year is that no matter who we played … we were going to go out there swinging. "I think our team needs to look back and realize that now that we have everybody that we need to play, we still need to keep that mentality and put it all together." GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 22, EXPRESS 5 • 1