Tag: Purdue

Preview: Michigan vs. Purdue

RUSH OFFENSE vs. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE
The big question this week is about RB Justice Haynes, who was seen in a walking boot earlier this week. He’s one of the top few backs in the country this season. Michigan is #14 in rushing (220.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.75). If Haynes can’t go, it will be Jordan Marshall (99 carries, 544 yards, 5 TD) and freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) who will likely handle most of the carries. The offensive line and tight ends are doing a fairly good job run blocking, especially considering three starters are redshirt freshmen. Purdue is #76 in rushing defense (149 yards allowed/game) and #61 in yards allowed per carry (3.95). Odom is a former defensive coordinator with a pretty solid track record, but the Boilermakers have been up and down, giving up 254 yards on the ground to Notre Dame and just 30 rushing yards to Minnesota. They’re led in tackles by senior LB Mani Powell (6’2″, 230) with 76 stops, sophomore LB Charles Correa (6’3″, 230) with 72, and senior S Tahj Ra-El (6’2″, 208) with 68. The team is #33 in tackles for loss (including 6.25 per game), led by senior DE C.J. Nunnally IV (6’3″, 265) with 7.5 and Powell with 7.0. Michigan has shown that it is committed to running the ball, and they should be able to do so pretty consistently, even if Haynes has to sit.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan 41, Purdue 13

I was a little nervous. Something was gnawing at my brain going into this game, and that was whether Michigan would look sloppy against the Boilermakers in the midst of Sign-gate. I was never nervous about the outcome of the game, but just about whether it would be a tight contest. Maybe something like a 14-10 contest at halftime. Or 17-13 in the third quarter before pulling away. The distraction of Sign-gate combined with the rustiness of coming off a bye week concerned me. So I was glad to see Michigan jump out to a 17-0 lead almost immediately. But the second quarter was boring for Michigan. Michigan was outgained by Purdue, as well as outscored 6-3, sending it to halftime at 20-6.

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Preview: Michigan vs. Purdue

RUSH OFFENSE vs. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #45 in rushing (174.3 yards/game) after entering last season’s Big Ten Championship game against the Boilermakers at #5 in running the ball. The Wolverines are #40 in yards per carry at 4.73. Blake Corum (111 carries, 605 yards, 11 TD) leads the way, and backup Donovan Edwards (66 carries, 211 yards, 1 TD) is following behind. Kalel Mullings (23 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD) has missed time due to injury, but reports indicate he should be back this week. Purdue is #83 in rushing defense (153.8 yards allowed/game) and #70 in yards per carry allowed (4.07). They’re tied with Michigan at tackles for loss per game (6.75), led by senior OLB Kydran Jenkins (6’1″, 260 lbs.) with 11.5 tackles for loss and sophomore OLB Nic Scourton (6’4″, 280) with 10.0. Freshman S Dillon Thieneman (6’0″, 205) leads the team and is #3 in the conference in tackles with 74, followed by sophomore S Sanoussi Kane (6’0″, 215) with 58. Purdue head coach Ryan Walters earned the head job after being a standout defensive coordinator at Illinois, but it might take a couple years to get the right guys in place and get them reacting instead of thinking.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan 43, Purdue 22

Hail to the Victors! It is truly incredible what this team, these coaches, and these players have accomplished over the past couple years. Michigan is 25-2 in that span. Back in the olden days, a 13-0 record would be good enough to be voted a national champion. Regardless of what happens in the College Football Playoff, this team is a national championship-caliber squad. Furthermore, Jim Harbaugh has cemented himself as one of the best coaches in modern football. If I had to name a top three, it would include Harbaugh, Urban Meyer (ugh), and Nick Saban (ugh again). Harbaugh has taken over struggling program after struggling program and made them elite, from Stanford to the San Francisco 49ers to Michigan. A lot of coaches are in the right place at the right time, including guys like Jimbo Fisher, Gene Chizik, Ed Orgeron, etc. to make once-in-a-lifetime runs and then fall off precipitously. There are very few who can consistently redirect a program wherever they go, and Harbaugh is one of them.

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All-Time Leaders: Top Performances Against Purdue

It was fun to walk down memory lane to remember the top games against Ohio State last week, so what the hell? Let’s do it for Purdue, too.

SINGLE GAME PASSING YARDAGE LEADERS

1. 271 yards – John Navarre (2002)
2. 270 yards – John O’Korn (2017)
3. 264 yards – Chad Henne (2007)
4. 259 yards – Chris Zurbrugg (1984)
5. 256 yards – Drew Henson (2000)

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