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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 27, Digital 5

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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 11 Which Position Group Is The Biggest Concern Exiting The Spring? Stacy Clardie Love the starting linebackers, the talent in the running back room, the top two tight ends, the two interior D-line starters and the options at quarterback. Other than that ... it's kind of take your pick for biggest concern exiting the spring. Overall depth would probably be No. 1 — there are few backups that offer reasons to feel confident — but because we're talking specific position groups, let's go O-line. That first-team unit did get better as the spring progressed, which was a huge deal because it was not good, to be nice, the first week. But it didn't get that much better to erase all concerns of how an offense can function without a functional offensive line. Visions of Maryland 2016 keep flashing in my mind. Jeff Brohm is a creative, innovative offensive coach. He'll need to be every bit that in the fall, whether it's getting the QB on the move, mass protection, trick plays, etc., to mask weaknesses up front. Even with Matt McCann back in the mix to bump Bearooz Yacoobi, it could still be a tough proposition. Kyle Charters Unfortunately for Purdue, this could be answered in a number of different ways: The offensive line, the wide recievers, the secondary. But it's hard to choose anything but the wideouts as the top concern, because Purdue didn't have any answers during the spring. Senior Gregory Phillips is a good player, particularly when he's focused and performing on the field on Saturdays the same as he does every other day of the week. But he's not a game-breaker. Nor is Jackson Anthrop, a redshirt freshman who at least showed this spring that he might be able to play a role this fall but asking more is too much. Neither is what I would call a top-flight playmaker, a guy who can go out and make a spectular play look ordinary. Jeff Brohm knows that, but he's hoping that a few newcomers — JUCOs Isaac Zico and Terry Wright and grad transfer Corey Holmes — can do so. But can they? Maybe. Maybe not. It'd be quite the recruiting coup if Purdue hit a home run with all three acquisitions, since transfers are frequently hit-and-miss. But Purdue is banking on their help, right now.

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