Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/79101
THE AUTHORITY ON PURDUE ATHLETICS VOLUME 22, EX 10 • NOV. 9, 2011 Another Challenge S Ohio State, Herron up next for run defense BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com ilas Redd, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Montee Ball. In three of its last four games, Purdue has allowed a 100-yard rusher. And now comes Ohio State's Dan "Boom" Herron, who has averaged 138.3 yards in his only three games this season. And the Buckeyes are coming off a game in which they had three people rush for more than 100 yards — Herron, Carlos Hyde and quarterback Braxton Miller. And Ohio State has proven it doesn't need to pass the ball to win. In the last three games, all victories, Miller has completed only 13 passes and thrown only 27 times. The Buckeyes have won a game with one completion. And the Boilermakers have allowed a combined 703 rushing yards the past two weeks, dropping them to 10th in the Big Ten in conference games (221.2 ypg). Their sea- son average of 191.1 is tied for 92nd in the nation among 120 FBS teams. Can you say challenge? "I think it's time to get back to funda- mentals," linebacker Joe Holland said. "Ob- viously, we've given up way too many big plays. Michigan and Wisconsin have unbe- lievably talented offenses and very high-pow- ered offenses, but not to the extent of what we've made them these past two weeks. The tapes aren't fun to watch, but you can learn a lot from them. It'll just be use this week to get back to fundamentals. Me personally, I'm excited to have another shot at a team GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Wisconsin's Montee Ball was the latest running back to gouge Purdue's defense, rushing for 223 yards against the Boilermakers last week. Purdue has allowed a 100-yard rusher in three of its last four games and four times this season. that primarily runs the ball. I want to play another team like that as soon as possible." Limiting "big plays" — Michigan and Wisconsin had a combined nine rushing plays of at least 20 yards — is easier said than achieved. Especially with the make-up of Purdue's front four. The Boilermakers already were thin at end when Robert Maci went down with a season-ending foot injury and just lost tackle Ryan Isaac last week to an ACL injury. That Tom Campbell 3 7 In this issue: • Pages 6-9: A Look At Ohio State • Pages 17-18: Sizing Up Dennis Kelly • Pages 23-24: The Slate • Page 30: Recruiting Updates The number of points Purdue needs to match its season total from last season. The Boilers have scored 233 this season in nine games; in 12 games last year, they had only 236. Inside The NUMBERS 10 62 had defensive coaches shuffling up front, sliding Kawann Short between end and nose guard and moving others across the line, as well. But instead of helping, those changes only exacerbated the problem. With play- ers in unfamiliar spots, it meant they didn't always line up in the right position and sometimes didn't execute assignments after the snap — and Purdue got gouged when it made mistakes. "You have to look at it and weigh it out. The Boilermakers' rank in rushing yardage allowed in the Big Ten, tied with Minnesota and ahead of only Indiana. Purdue is allowing 191.1 yards per game on the ground. Total second-half points scored by the Boilermakers in the last three weeks com- bined. Points allowed by the Boilermakers against Wisconsin Saturday, the most ever scored against Purdue. It was the first time since '96 that Purdue gave up more than 50. 703 Wisconsin. It's the most back-to-back since '94. Rushing yardage gained by Purdue's two last opponents: 339 by Michigan and 364 by If you're moving too many people around in too many positions and it's causing too much trouble, maybe you have to get away from it some or maybe you have to abort some of the ideas completely," Hope said. There certainly will be little margin for error against Ohio State, which has an offen- sive line that not only lines up at 300 pounds across the way but has good quickness. That group leads Herron, a 205-pound senior, and Hyde, a 238-pound sophomore. But Miller also has been a threat to run, GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 22, EXPRESS 10 • 1