Behind enemy lines: Purdue looks to regroup

After losing five games in arrow earlier this year (four by a touchdown or less), Purdue rolled into Wisconsin riding a two-game winning streak. However, the Boilermakers’ success was short-lived; they were shut out 37-0 and enter this weekend’s contest reeling …

“I don’t know if ‘tough to stomach’ is the best way to describe [watching last weekend’s film],” first-year head coach Danny Hope said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t play better. We didn’t do some things we’ve done a great job with all year long for the most part. If we had done those things, we would’ve had a chance to compete in the game.”

Offensively, Purdue entered the contest one of only four Big Ten teams averaging better than 400 yards of total offense. But the Boilermakers could muster just 141 yards, including 89 through the air as their receivers, tight ends and running backs dropped 11 passes. As a result, fifth-year senior quarterback Joey Elliott completed only 5 of 23 attempts before being replaced late.

The Boilermakers didn’t want to overreact to one bad afternoon, but they spent plenty of time early this week working on the passing game.

“We did a lot of pitching and catching,” Elliott said Tuesday, referring to Sunday’s get together. “We completed all but one, and it wasn’t a drop. It was just good coverage by the defense.

“We went out there and threw about 15 passes and completed 14. That was a great sign for our offense.”

An inexperienced first-time starter, Elliott has really played well this season, ranking third in the Big Ten in yards per game with 231.2 while listing second in touchdown passes with 14. He has dependable targets too, connecting with 6-2, 226-pound junior Keith Smith 6.7 times per game and 6-1, 205-pound fifth-year senior Aaron Valentin five times per game.

“For a position group that was a huge question mark coming into the season, the wide receivers have actually done very well catching the ball,” GoldandBlack.com writer Brian Neubert said. “It was really uncharacteristic of them to drop as many as they did.”

The Boilermakers will look to rebound against the Wolverines through the air and on the ground. PU’s rushing attack is actually holding its own this season, averaging 136.8 yards per game to rank sixth in the conference. Sophomore tailback Ralph Bolden, all 5-9, 194-pounds of him, lists third among conference ball carriers with 757 yards and 84.1 yards per game.

“They raved about him all spring but you still sort of wondered if he was as good as they said or if he was the best of a mediocre running backs corps,” Neubert said. “As it turned out, he was that good. He’s fast, quick, runs through tackles and around tackles - he’s very elusive and yet he doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s tough for a little guy and he has the home-run speed to go all the way when he has that opportunity.”

If Purdue can regain its swagger offensively, it should present significant problems for a Michigan defense that crumbled last week and has been susceptible to the big play all year. The Boilermakers’ offense is a big play waiting to happen with 37 gains of 20 yards or more, including 27 through the air. U-M has surrendered 39 plays of such distinction in only nine games and is on pace to allow 52.

Defensively, Purdue can also cause the Maize and Blue headaches thanks to a capable front seven that owns the majority of the defense’s 24 sacks and a secondary that ranks fourth in the Big Ten allowing 194.7 yards per game, second with just six touchdowns surrendered through the air and fourth in pass efficiency defense with a 108.1 rating.

GoldandBlack.com’s Brian Neubert will chat with premium subscribers this Thursday at 1:00 p.m.