USA Today college football countdown: #89 Purdue

Tag: Purdue


26Nov 2012
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Schools in the News

Danny Hope at Purdue, Tom O’Brien at North Carolina State, and Gene Chizik at Auburn have reportedly been fired.  This post is more for posterity’s sake than anything, since Michigan rarely gets transfers and probably can’t grab any of the commits listed, but it’s still interesting to consider.

Here’s a look at the guys on their respective rosters and commitment lists who were offered by Michigan:

Purdue 2013 commits: None
Purdue roster members: CB Ricardo Allen, WR O.J. Ross, DT Ryan Watson, LB Armstead Williams

North Carolina State 2013 commits: None
North Carolina State roster members: OT Rob Crisp, WR Hakeem Flowers

Auburn 2013 commits: DE Tashawn Bower, RB Jordan Wilkins
Auburn roster members: RB Mike Blakely, WR Quan Bray, OT Shane Callahan, OT Jordan Diamond, QB Kiehl Frazier, LB Kris Frost, TE Brandon Fulse, C Alex Kozan, DE Corey Lemonier, RB Tre Mason, CB Jonathan Mincy, WR Trovon Reed, OG Greg Robinson, OG Christian Westerman, WR JaQuay Williams, OT Avery Young

8Oct 2012
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Michigan vs. Purdue Awards

Michigan’s defense really handled its business on Saturday afternoon, with sacks from both Craig Roh and Jake Ryan
(image via AnnArbor.com)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Thomas Rawls.  I know I’ve been on the Fitzgerald Toussaint bandwagon for a few years, but Toussaint is having his worst year.  After averaging 5.6 yards/carry last season, he’s getting just 3.2 this season.  On Saturday he gained only 1.1 yards per carry on 17 attempts.  If Toussaint can’t get the job done, I’m not sure that Rawls can, either.  But it’s tough to do much worse than 1.1 or 3.2 yards/carry.  Toussaint looks like he has gained a few pounds and/or lost a step from last season. The coaches should get Rawls a few more touches earlier in the game, and perhaps go with the hot hand.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . a second tight end.  I really think Michigan needs to spread the ball around a little more if they’re not going to get the running backs going.  The second tight end has generally seemed to help more for the running backs than for Denard Robinson, but the running backs aren’t getting any seams to run through.  Denard can run the ball whether there are five wide receivers on the field or three tight ends; what Michigan needs to improve is running back production.  Put a fourth wide receiver on the field, spread teams out a little bit, and get Toussaint/Rawls going.  Robinson can’t last the season if he runs 24 times a game.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Keith Heitzman.  Heitzman has made just 2 tackles this season, but I’m liking what I see from him.  He truly looks like an athlete out there, and I think he could have a solid future as a strongside end type.  Michigan needs to develop an heir for Craig Roh’s spot, and Heitzman could very well be that guy.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody.  I thought Michigan’s defense played well on Saturday, and there wasn’t anyone on the field who was a real liability.  I’m still not sold on Michigan’s cornerbacks, but there aren’t many options; and even those two stepped it up from the Notre Dame game two weeks ago.

Play of the game . . . Jake Ryan’s sack of Caleb TerBush.  There were lots of big runs by Denard Robinson and the 63-yard pick-six by Raymon Taylor.  But I thought Ryan’s sack of TerBush really set the defensive tone in the first quarter, and from that point onward, Purdue’s offensive playcalls seemed designed to get the ball out of the quarterbacks’ hands in a hurry.  The Boilermakers seemed to know that they wouldn’t have much time in the pocket, and that made it easier for everyone on defense.

MVP of the game . . . Denard Robinson.  He ran 24 times for 235 yards, though he was held out of the end zone; and he completed 8/16 passes for 105 yards and 1 touchdown.  It was a grind-it-out game by the Wolverines, and the grinder was the 6’0″, 195 lb. Robinson.