What is the story about?
Purdue suffered one of the most disappointing losses in recent program history with a 34-29 defeat against a Maryland program that had lost six straight B1G games at Ross Ade Stadium. The Boilers, who had looked like a team that could easily make a bowl game following impressive back to back victories against Illinois and Minnesota suddenly are staring a 3-9 season squarely in the eyes. It isn’t just the losses but how Purdue continues to lose games with a defense that gives up 3rd and long conversions
and allowing explosive plays.
Following the loss, Purdue Head Coach Barry Odom and players Ryan Browne, Charles Correa, and D’Nylon Morrisette spoke to the media.
Purdue Head Coach Barry Odom
- I’ve covered nearly every post-game media session for Odom during his time at Purdue. This is the first time I’ve heard dejection and true disappointment in his voice and tone. This one hurt him.
- Odom started off this presser describing this as the most devastating loss in his time at Purdue. That’s not hyperbole. It’s a loss that likely sets this program back nearly to square one for the head coach that walked into the worst situation in the B1G. The last three opponents Purdue has faced entered without a single win in conference play and walked away making Purdue look like they hadn’t improved a single bit following the surprising Minnesota victory. Last season Odom was probably a bit wide-eyed about how bad his program’s foundation really way but this loss to this Maryland team seems to have shaken him to the core.
- Defensively, the wheels came off in the second half primarily because of severe structural breakdowns. Odom pointed to three specific blown assignments—defenders getting out of their assigned gaps on a run up the middle, getting picked in man coverage on a shallow crosser, and poor tackle angles on a screen pass. Those three sequences alone gave up 21 points and wiped out a strong early performance. When a defense allows an opponent to average nearly nine yards per play, individual mistakes compound quickly into a loss.
- Settling for field goals instead of finishing drives inside the 20-yard line ultimately sealed Purdue’s fate. Freshman Jacobo Echeverria Lozano going 5-for-5 on field goals for the game pushed him into first place for field goals in a season for a freshman (and he could set the single season record of 25 held by Ben Jones), but turning red zone trips into three points rather than seven leaves hope in your opponent’s back pocket. Purdue led 12-7 at half time but it very well should have been 24-7 instead.
- Odom’s vision for this defense clearly hasn’t been fullfilled. The former defensive coordinator stated he wants his defense to be around 35% for 3rd down conversion rate as a defense. Allowing Maryland to convert 50% continues the season trend that Purdue is one of the worst in the country in that regard as they allow 47.5%.
- Odom also mentioned what amounts to a lack of situational awareness by QB Ryan Browne. To end both halves, Browne took a sack instead of at least giving his receivers an opportunity to make a play. Taking a sack to end the first half from the 40 yard line isn’t as big of a deal as the final play of the game when a touchdown means a win. Simply put, Browne and the offensive line simply can’t allow that to happen.
- Odom was candid about the defensive unit’s fundamental flaws, specifically calling out poor leverage points, hesitation, and a tendency to grab at ball-carriers rather than running through contact when making tackles. On one particular play, that all seemed to converge into a Monty Pyhton-esq montage as Maryland receiver Chris Durr Jr. took a screen pass 87 yards and seemingly broke a tackle for every Purdue defender. Watching the play back, it was a comedy of errors where Purdue didn’t maintain proper leverage, reached with their arms to tackle, and weren’t fundamentally sound. That simply can’t happen in game 9 of the season.
- Odom was asked flat out about staff changes from Journal and Courier writer Sam King. Odom stated he doesn’t like making those things public but his answer to that and to a question at the about how his vision for the defense and the actual execution gave glimpses into what was coming when Defensive Coordinator Kevin Kane was fired on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see who Odom names as interim defensive play caller or if he will assume those duties himself. Considering he hired Kane following an absolute disaster two seasons under Ryan Walters (that Purdue fans largely admonished to begin with), taking that accountability would be a welcome sight.
- In some of his opening comments, Odom stated the following: ‘I expect more and I know everyone else does.’ That phrase is likely a bit more insight into what may likely be the rationale for more staff moves following the end of the season. Don’t be surprised if Odom is looking to hire an offensive coordinator in the off-season as well.
