Purdue Football: Depth Chart Review vs Wake Forest – Defense

Note: Starters in bold

Defensive Line

Defensive End

1. Keyshawn Burgos: Snaps – 44 – Tackles – 3 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0
2. TJ Lindsey: Snaps – 22 – Tackles – 3 – T.F.L. – 1 – Sacks – 0
3. Breeon Ishmail: Snaps – 18 – Tackles – 3 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0
4. CJ Madden: Snaps – 10 – No Stats

Nose Tackle

Curt Neal: Snaps – 43 – Tackles – 3 – T.F.L. – .5 – Sacks – 1

Defensive Tackle

1. Ian Jeffries: Snaps – 39 – Tackles – 2 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0
2. Rodney Lora: Snaps – 28 – Tackles – 1 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0
3. Wisdom Simms: Snaps – 8 – No Stats

Grade: C+

First off, as you can see, defensive coordinator Kevin Kane changed Purdue’s base defense from a 4-2-5 to a 3-3-5 for this game. Virginia Tech transfer Keyshawn Burgos stepped into the starting lineup, and the 6’5”, 285-pound defensive end held up nicely against the run. When Purdue goes to a 3-man front, that’s what they’re looking for out of their defensive linemen. They need to maintain the line of scrimmage,

eat blocks, and keep the linebackers clean to make plays.

That went reasonably well. Purdue’s defense limited Wake’s running backs to less than 4 yards per carry on 24 attempts. I’ll take that all season.

Linebacker

Middle Linebacker

1. Charles Correa: Snaps – 70 – Tackles – 12 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0

Middle Linebacker

1. Jojo Hayden: Snaps – 58 – Tackles – 11 – T.F.L. – 1 – Sacks – 0
2. Anthony Speca: Snaps – 10 – Tackles – 2 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0
3. Winston Berglund: Snaps – 11- Tackles – 2 – T.F.L. -.5 – Sacks – 0

Outside Linebacker / Edge Rusher

1. Jeremy Lewis: Snaps – 36 – Tackles – 5 – T.F.L. – 2.5 – Sacks – 2
2. Trey Smith: Snaps – 26 – Tackles – 2 – T.F.L. – 0 – Sacks – 0
3. Tre Moore: Snaps – 13 – Tackles – 2 – T.F.L. -.5 – Sacks – 0
4. Elo Modozie: Snaps – 7 – No Stats

Grade: C+

If I had to guess, one reason Coach Kane switched up his front was to highlight junior college transfer Jeremy Lewis’s pass-rush skills. That move paid off. Lewis brought the burst off the edge that Purdue lacked last season. Veteran Trey Smith started the game, but Lewis finished it and played 10 more total snaps. Smith was credited with a hit on the quarterback and a QB hurry in one of his more active games for the Boilermakers.

Hayden and Correa were both tackling machines in the run game. That’s their main function in a 3-3-5, but as good as they were against the run, they struggled in pass defense. Hayden gave up one of the touchdowns, and Correa got burned for a 20-yard completion.

I was surprised to see Georgia transfer Elo Modozie get so few snaps, but it looks like Jeremy Lewis has ascended to the top of the depth chart, and that leaves little work for Modozie. I think Lewis is the real deal, but Modozie and San Diego transfer Tre Moore could chip away at some of Trey Smith’s snaps moving forward.

Outside of the coverage issues, Purdue’s linebackers played a solid game.

Secondary

Right Cornerback

1. Don Saunders: Snaps – 66 – Tackles – 7 – Pass Break-Ups – 0
2. Dee Newsome: Snaps – 4 – Tackles – 1 – Pass Break-Ups – 0

Left Cornerback

1. Hudari Hines: Snaps – 68 – Tackles – 2 – Pass Break-Ups – 0
2. Traveon Wright: Snaps – 1 – No Stats

Nickel Back

1. Smiley Bradford: Snaps – 47 – Tackles – 5 – Pass Break-Ups – 0

Free Safety

1. John Slaughter: Snaps – 62 – Tackles – 9 – Pass Break-Ups – 0
2. Jaden Mangham: Snaps – 22 – Tackles – 4 – Pass Break-Ups – 0

Strong Safety

1. Justin Denson Jr.: Snaps – 55 – Tackles – 8 – Pass Break-Ups – 0
2. Emoni Smith: Snaps – 2 – No Stats

Grade: D

It wasn’t a good day for Don Saunders. Purdue’s top cornerback was targeted 5 times, and Wake completed 4 passes. It’s not good when your CB1 gives up 18.5 yards per reception. Deacon wide receiver Carlos Hernandez touched Saunders up for 43 yards, including a long of 25 yards and two first-down receptions. He also gave up a first-down reception to slot receiver Kam Shanks. Covering the opponent’s best receiver is one of the toughest jobs on the team, and Saunders is going to give up some receptions, but I’d like to see him make a few plays in the process that didn’t happen on Saturday.

Hudauri Hines continued his solid performance opposite Saunders. He’s not asked to do as much in man coverage, but he was targeted 3 times and only gave up 1 reception and an 11-yard first down to Kam Shanks. It feels like Purdue has two solid #2 corners, but is missing the top-line, lockdown corner who can erase a receiver by himself.

Smiley Bradford returned to his familiar nickelback position and held up well enough, only allowing a single 11-yard pass in coverage. Purdue didn’t miss Mister Clark’s absence in their base defense, but it was tough going without him as an option in the dime package late in the game.

John Slaughter and Justine Denson Jr. both held up as run defenders, and Wake wasn’t able to get anything over their heads, which is a positive change from last season. Purdue’s secondary didn’t give up any big plays, but they didn’t make any either. Gio Lopez threw the ball 27 times, and the Purdue secondary didn’t get their hand on any of them. Wake worked the short passing game, and it always seemed like Lopez had an open receiver. Mind you, not all the way open, but open enough for him to deliver a ball only his receiver could catch.

Purdue’s main issue in the secondary is that it appears they have only six guys they really trust, and when one of those six can’t play (in this case, Mister Clark), the drop-off to the 7th defensive back is precipitous. That came back to bite the Boilermakers on the cursed 4th-and-15 in overtime because going to 6 defensive backs was the correct call on that play, but having one of those 6 be freshman Emoni Smith playing his second snap of the game was a disaster. It’s hard to blame Smith. Part of coaching is putting guys in spots where they can succeed, and Smith clearly isn’t ready to play a significant role on a game-deciding 4th-down attempt. I think Coach Kane would probably go with 5 defensive backs and an extra linebacker if he had to do it again, but you only get one bite of that cherry.

Purdue did enough on offense to win, played the run about as well as can be expected on defense, but couldn’t stop Wake’s passing game on critical possessions. Purdue’s corners and safeties have to do more than tackle receivers after they make a catch against UCLA, or it could be a long night in Southern California for the defense.