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Opponent Preview Game 6: Nebraska Noon ET • Ross-Ade Stadium (West Lafayette) • TV: Big Ten Network nebraska brings prolific offense to west lafayette BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com novelties Whateverits defensePurdue spent bye week incorporating on better work because here comes Nebraska, which will bring with it one of college football's most imposing offenses along with its legion of traveling fans. Standout starting quarterback Taylor Martinez isn't even playing — a victim of turf toe, he's missed the past two games and hadn't even returned to the practice field as of Wednesday, according to reports — but it hasn't mattered all that much, really. Since the loss to UCLA in which Martinez was hurt, Nebraska has rolled up 645 and 521 yards in wins over South Dakota State and Illinois, thanks largely to its ground attack. The Cornhuskers don't have the same sort of run- Nebraska Ameer Abdullah had his way with the Illini defense last week with 225 rushing yards. ning game as the one Wisconsin used to gash Purdue a few weeks ago, but it's no less daunting, averaging nearly 300 of the 500 yards of total offense Nebraska is rolling up on average this season. Running back Ameer Abdullah just dropped 225 yards on Illinois in a 20-point win and trails only budding Badger superstar Melvin Gordon in rushing yardage in the Big Ten. "Where I think Nebraska has done a nice job is its more deceptive-type runs," Purdue coach Darrell Hazell said. "You know, some of the quarterback zone read stuff, the power off those things and the speed sweep, they are a little more deceptive than Wisconsin, whereas Wisconsin is a down-hill zone, power team who is giving it to the tailbacks." No matter how the running game is operated, Purdue must show profound improvement post-bye week to stack up. The Boilermakers have allowed more than 183 rushing yards per game and more touchdowns, 11, than anyone in the Big Ten on the ground. Hazell has cited assignment breakdowns and missed tackles, obviously, as part of the rea- matchup against a young Nebraska defense, its depth chart loaded with freshmen, redshirt freshman or otherwise debuting players playing in their first road game. "It really goes back to recruiting. From the classes of 2009-2011 Nebraska flat struck out on front-seven recruiting," said Sean Callahan, who covers Nebraska for HuskerOnline. com. "They've been forced to play all first- and second-year son his defense has struggled to stop the run. "We let our bodies heal a little bit during the bye week," said defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, who Hazell said will now play some defensive end as well, "and it really intensified the physicality of our practice and we've hit the weight room a lot harder. We've gotten together in groups, been really up-tempo and gone over the things we've messed up on." Purdue spent its bye week on defense searching for quick fixes, so the product that'll be on the field Saturday remains to be seen. The exact same can be said of the Boilermaker offense, now under the direction of freshman quarterback Danny Etling and Nebraska tweaked accordingly. On paper, the offense Coach Bo Pelini has worked his way off the hot seat faces a more manageable with a string of victories. A slip at Purdue, however, and he will be right back under severe scrutiny. GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 6 • 9