2008 Purdue Boilermakers Preview

Joe Tiller is optimistic. Maybe that’s because “Hope springs eternal” in his final season as Purdue’s head coach. Or maybe he really does believe his team has some talent despite having to replace five starters on defense, including its sacks, interceptions and tackles leaders and its two biggest playmakers on offense.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Boilermakers

The last two seasons, Purdue hasn’t performed to its talent level. It’s no secret. “We’ve kind of progressed, but we haven’t gotten there yet,” quarterback Curtis Painter says. Making the next step could sit squarely on Painter’s shoulders. His worst statistical games in his three seasons as a starter have been against the best opposing defenses. If he doesn’t play like a senior quarterback, continually poised and making the best decisions, the Boilermakers could see a repeat of the last several seasons — a quick start in non-conference followed by a quick fade when the Big Ten powers hit the schedule. This season, that’s right from the start. Purdue opens conference play with Penn State and Ohio State. Winding up in the top or bottom half of the Big Ten also could hinge on the defensive linemen’s ability to get pressure on quarterbacks. If they shine early, it could allow the coaches the luxury of finding the right mix at linebacker and in the secondary. It’ll be nice if that is the case, and if Painter emerges as a true star. For all that coach Joe Tiller has done for the program, he deserves to be sent out in style. It’s too bad that won’t be in the form of his first 10-win season with the Boilermakers.

“I think we could have a good team,” Tiller says. “I don’t know if I’m trying to talk myself into something or what, but I really don’t think our losses are as big as people think they are. Maybe that’s good. Maybe people think we’ve got some huge losses.

“I don’t view it that way.”

There certainly seem to be questions abounding.

There’s only one linebacker returning who has any starting experience, and there’s hardly depth at the position. The center position needs to be filled, and the choices are players without experience. There’s no true punter on the roster. Quarterback Curtis Painter has to prove he can win against tough competition — and he will have to do it by relying on a mostly new group of receivers.

The Boilermakers have some bright spots with an experienced backfield and a deep, talented defensive line. But that likely won’t be enough to challenge for a Big Ten championship.

Instead, they’ll probably settle for wrapping up Tiller’s career with an 11th bowl trip in his 12 seasons with the program. That certainly wouldn’t be a bad finish for the man who will leave as the program’s winningest coach.

Quarterbacks

By the time Painter’s career is done, he’ll likely leave as the school’s record holder in every major passing category. He needs 267 completions and 3,030 yards to move in front of Drew Brees in those career categories. Barring injury, that should happen. On the way, he’ll pass Kyle Orton and Mark Herrmann in many categories. He’s already left Jim Everett behind. But rarely is Painter mentioned when discussing great Purdue quarterbacks. That’s largely due to his inability to perform against quality opponents. In three seasons, he’s 0–7 and has a combined two TD passes and eight interceptions against Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State. His flawless, last-minute drive that led to a game-winning field goal in the Motor City Bowl last season has boosted his confidence, he says. That also happened to come using a hurry-up offense, a style Purdue hopes to employ more. But Painter must continue to make strides. The slow starts can’t continue, and he has to keep his interception total down. Regardless of how Painter fares, expect to see a healthy dose of Justin Siller, an athletic quarterback who is accurate on shorter routes, the kind that fill up Purdue’s playbook.

Running backs

Jaycen Taylor and Kory Sheets have formed a nice combination in the past, but Sheets may see his playing time suffer if he continues to fumble. He’s had trouble learning when to try to break a play and when to give up on one, and he started getting yanked for dropping balls by the middle of the season. Taylor may not have the big-play capability of Sheets, but he is more reliable. He’s a north-south runner who can get the tough yards inside the tackles, and he’s also a solid blocker and a threat catching the ball out of the backfield.

Receivers

Greg Orton is the only returning starter. He’s a talent, though — a 6'3", 200-pounder who excels at snagging balls by leaping over smaller defensive backs. He should get some help from junior college transfers Arsenio Curry and Aaron Valentin, much in the same mold as Orton. They’re big, physical guys who aren’t “allergic to blocking,” Tiller says. The 6'4" Curry has good hands and likes to be physical. Valentin may be the most talented of the bunch, with great route-running ability, good speed and athleticism. It helped that Valentin participated in spring ball. Curry will enroll in the summer. Their development will be crucial. Tight end Kyle Adams doesn’t have Dustin Keller’s athleticism but is sure-handed and will catch plenty of passes because Purdue likes to utilize the position.

Offensive linemen

Left tackle Sean Sester has made 38 consecutive starts, but he’s the only player back with that kind of experience. Zach Jones (right tackle) and Zach Reckman (left guard) were first-year starters last season, but they missed spring ball (as did Sester) while recovering from surgeries. That could have been valuable time for them to develop, especially considering they’ll be adjusting to a pair of new starters up front. The biggest question is at center. Converted defensive tackle Jared Zwilling battled last year’s backup Cory Benton for the spot in the spring, but it may not matter with freshman Andrew Brewer’s arrival. Even before offseason conditioning, Brewer was lifting loads (benching 400 and squatting 550), and that strength could have him contending for the spot. Consider, too, that Purdue operates almost exclusively in the shotgun, so having a first-year starter at center could be interesting.

Defensive linemen

The line is the strength of the defense and perhaps the team. Tiller says the tackle position “maybe has never been as good as it is” with seniors Alex Magee, Ryan Baker and Jermaine Guynn and junior Mike Neal. Changes to the defensive alignment and read responsibilities up front should free up the explosive young ends to get to the quarterback. Sophomore Ryan Kerrigan and junior Keyon Brown surged at the end of last season and should start, but ultra-quick redshirt freshmen Nickcaro Golding and Gerald Gooden will get plenty of playing time. “They’ll come off the edge as good as anybody we’ve had here in awhile,” Tiller says of Golding and Gooden.

Linebackers

Last season, Anthony Heygood was a first-year linebacker and the least-experienced player to get time at the position. Now, he’s the leader of an even younger group — and one that’s not very deep. Heygood often had trouble reading the offense, realizing if a play was a run or a pass. But when he made the right reads, he was explosive. He has nice speed and agility to play on the outside, but he’s also tenacious enough to play in the middle. Other than Heygood, though, there aren’t any proven options. Jason Werner has had a history of back problems, though he got more playing time in the middle as last season progressed and likely will start on the weak side. Tiller is counting on true freshmen Chris Carlino and Dwayne Beckford to be physical enough to play immediately.

Defensive backs

Royce Adams could wind up back in the starting lineup at cornerback almost by default. He lost his starting job last season to David Pender, a more athletic player who uses his length and leaping ability to break up passes. But that move was easy to make because senior Terrell Vinson was playing a lock-down role at the other corner spot. Vinson is gone now, depleting a position that already had little depth. There’s more talent and depth at safety. Returning starter Brandon King packs a wallop in his 5'11", 195-pound frame. Keep an eye on Torri Williams. If he can finally play a full season — he’s had foot surgery, a broken leg, a dislocated knee and is coming off a ruptured Achilles’ — that will boost the safety spot.

Specialists

After a dismal freshman season, kicker Chris Summers spent extra time in the offseason working with kicking guru Doug Blevins. The tweaks worked. Summers made 18-of-22 field goals last season, 10 more in two fewer attempts than as a freshman. He also handled kickoffs last season and did a nice job of mixing up squib kicks, corner kicks and booming ones into the end zone. He may have little choice but to add punting to his list of responsibilities this season, unless a newcomer emerges or Tiller decides to utilize Brody McKnight’s ability to “rugby kick.”

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