Keys to the Big Games

Purdue vs. Minnesota

By John Harris

a. No decoys – Okay, let me ask you a question. You’re the coach of a college football team, and you have an absolute stud on your team. WR, QB, RB, it doesn’t matter, but you have a game changer in your stable. You give him the ball? Or, do you use him as a decoy? If you answered ‘decoy’, click out of this article right now. Go back to your triple decaf choco-caramel latte coffee house wi-fi kiosk. If you’ve continued on in this article, then repeat after me, no decoys. If you have a stud, you ride him. Ohio State missed that point in the Texas game with Ted Ginn, who was more decoy than game breaker, and ultimately that could’ve cost the Buckeyes the game. So, what does that have to do with the Minnesota offense? Well, the U has arguably the best running back in the nation, Laurence Maroney. Give. Him. The. Ball. 25, 30, 35 times, it doesn’t matter, but give him the ball. Sure, Purdue will focus on stopping him, but that’s what this offense does best. They zone block and hit people in the mouth as well as any line in the nation. Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom get out on the perimeter and get a hat on someone and Maroney is so explosive that he turns their blocks into gold, Jerry, gold, I tell you (who doesn’t like a Seinfeld reference in his/her college football article?). Now, don’t be stupid. If on the first snap of the game, 10 guys are piled in the box, Bryan Cupito can check to a deep fade to Jared Ellerson or Ernie Wheelwright for six. But, that’s not the Gophers’ strength. It’s running Maroney again, again and again. This is the stage he’s wanted for three years – no more sharing carries, facing an experienced defense, national television and a shot at ending the myth that Minnesota can’t beat a top ranked team. But, the only way that’s going to happen is if Maroney is given the ball. All game long.

b. Safe isn’t what you’ll be in his area – Loquacious might be the best word to describe Purdue’s starting strong safety Bernard Pollard. The three year starter is as physical as any safety in the league, and there probably won’t be a more critical player on the Purdue defense this Saturday than Pollard. Given Minnesota’s propensity to run Maroney, Pollard has to be the X factor in secondary run support. Maroney is so good at finding the cutback lanes, all the while taking the corner if he has it. Pollard plays a role in stopping both types of runs. If the Boiler front seven plays the outside zone well, then Maroney will have to bounce runs to the outside, essentially going one-on-one with Pollard. But, he can’t be too anxious to get to the perimeter because Maroney will cut back behind his lines blocks to get upfield and into the secondary. Pollard has to be able to read the blocks of the front and how his defenders are fitting into their gaps, such that he can be a cutback player or a perimeter support player. He can be both, but he’s got to be careful that Maroney doesn’t cutback on him, as well. If he does, it’s six. Regardless, keep an eye on how #31 is tracking the Gopher running back.

c. Back to the Future? – It must be a misprint. 225 yards per game rushing? Not the Purdue offense. Can’t be. But, maybe the focus on the run game has been more blessing than curse. Okay, you can believe that, but against Minnesota, the Boilers have to go back to the past for the passing game that they made famous. Wait, wait, wait, so, you’re saying that they should go against what has worked so well for them the past two games? Not entirely, but the Gophers’ defense has to fear a running/option attack that could honestly and realistically hurt them, as opposed to past years when the Boiler running plays did nothing but provide a quick break for the Boilers QB and WR. So, the Gophers take safety Brandon Owens and put him up in the box to help play the option and outside runs. With a safety up in the box, what’s open? The receivers on the perimeter. Get it now? Jerod Void still needs to get his carries, but play action off of a fake to Void is probably going to get Owens screaming to the LOS, which should open up the middle of the field for whippet quick Dorien Bryant, who leads the Boilers in receptions. Boiler QB Brandon Kirsch should be more Drew Brees than Jamelle Holieway this weekend.

Conclusion – All summer long, one of the most talked about surprise teams for a Rose Bowl trip was the Purdue Boilermakers. Most people pointed to a schedule void of Ohio State and Michigan as evidence that they could run the table against a sub-par schedule all the way to Pasadena. But, this is the ultimate trap game for the Boilers. After a tough trip to Tucson, Joe Tiller’s bunch has to get back on the plane and head for the Dome to face a seemingly much improved Minnesota squad. Purdue will adjust to Maroney and his quickness sometime during the game, but he’s just too good to shut down for a full game. Then, by the time they adjust to him, one of the ‘big’ Minnesota receivers makes a huge play on a deep takeoff/fade route downfield for six. Maybe we’re crazy, but we’re going with the U in an upset. Minnesota – 31 vs. Purdue - 29