Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/87065
FROM EDITOR BRIAN NEUBER T Purdue ever been really good without really good quarterback play? I mean, it's called the In its history, when has CENTER OF ATTENTION Cradle of Quarterbacks for a reason, right? Its members have certainly accounted for most of this program's really signifi- cant accomplishments, right? Purdue came into this season matter is that, to this point, the quarterback situation has turned more soap opera than strength. TerBush, with the job wanting to do something really significant, with legitimate reason to believe it could. But the one foundation of those hopes, the one given in that plan, was really good quarterback play. It might not have been a con- ventional plan: Three guys sharing the game's most important posi- tion, but the way Purdue looked at it was, hey, that's three more good ones than a lot of people have. Caleb TerBush, Robert Marve 1.000 recognizing blitzes, sliding protections and calling audibles at the line of scrimmage, for all I know. Knowing that stuff is above my pay grade. What I do know is that the of- all to himself after Mar- ve was injured at Notre Dame, is not clicking. He could be batting But the fact of the a first-half hole against Michigan from deep to insurmountable in a matter of moments. When Marve comes in, things change. Everything moves faster. Balls reach receiv- ers quicker and Purdue seems energized on offense. I'm on record in contending who moves the offense, exhilarates fans and gives coaches ulcers. Pur- due' the senior. They just know TerBush will run the play they call and make the right decision more often than not. Coaches tend to like those things. Marve, in Forrest Gump terms, s coaches have nothing against fense is middling. That is not all on the QB, by any means. The offen- sive front has been shaky in both the passing and running game, and that affects everyone. But under TerBush, the of- and Rob Henry had all shown prior to this season they can win games for the Boilermakers. And they came into 2012 with up-side, with either health or experience, or both, now being on their side. Look, Purdue could be fine, for all we know. It could go on to a great season. fense is not moving particularly well against good defenses, the kind Purdue will face most of the rest of the season. It's starting slow in first quarters and disappearing in third quarters. It's turning the ball over. In four games this sea- son, the senior's thrown just one fewer interception than he did in 13 games last season. Two of those 2012 picks have gone for six, the last one of them bumping that Marve is the better option of the two seniors for this particular team. I say that fully aware of the trade-off that comes with him, the hot and the cold, the thrilling and the maddening. Marve can be the wildest of cards at times and you have to live with certain indiscre- tions. But the up-side might just be worth it. Purdue should excommunicate TerBush from the game plan and roll exclusively with Marve, though I could find you a couple hundred fans with Twitter accounts who wouldn't mind it. As Danny Hope said Tuesday, No. 2 quarterbacks tend to be quite popular. Heck, we don't even know how No one is saying here that Marve is back, but he remains Marve, the free-wheeling, seat-of-his-pants, risk-taking, free-lancing playmaker s the last layer of drama. is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're going to get. working. Maybe it' unknown, or at least as much as its body can handle. j Right now, the known isn't s time for more of the Neubert can be contacted at BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com ... all the fun ... all the food ... all the comfort much Marve can play on a knee I'm picturing as being held together by yarn and old Popsicle sticks. So here' ... all the services GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • volume 23, express 6 • 5 YourWindow_GoldandBlack_August10_electronic.indd 1 8/20/2010 2:26:24 PM