Quarterback
#15 – Ryan Browne: So. – 6-4 210 – Clarkston, Mich. (Venice (Fla.))
Vs S.I.U.: Comp 14 – Att 23 – Comp% 61 – Td 2 – Int 0 – Yds 170 – Long 29 – Sack 0
Vs S.I.U.: Rushing Stats: Att 9 – Gain 50 – Loss 0 – Net 50 – TD 0 – Long 12 – YPA 5.6
Vs USC: Comp 24 – Att 39 – Comp% 61 – Td 1 – Int 3 – Yds 305 – Long 33 – Sack 5
Vs USC: Rushing Stats: Att 9 – Gain 44 – Loss 40 – Net 4 – TD 1 – Long 26 – YPA .4
Thoughts
Purdue had to go way out on the ledge to make things happen. I thought this team would be built around a slow-paced rushing attack. Despite the outcome, I like this better.
I saw this from Browne last year in his limited film. He’s a playmaking quarterback who is going to put the ball in jeopardy on occasion. At the same time, he’s going to make some plays that otherwise wouldn’t be available with a different quarterback. I’ll take a quarterback with Browne’s mentality over someone looking to manage the game and avoid mistakes with this roster.
Purdue’s not going to win many games, but I was entertained on Saturday by Ryan Browne’s play. The long-term goal is for Browne to improve decision-making while maintaining dynamic play-making. He has the leadership, intangibles, and physical traits to make a high level quarterback.
If the decision-making joins the party, and there is no guarantee that it does, Browne has the potential to be the next quarterback swaddled in the cradle.
Running Back
#45 – Devin Mockobee: Sr. – 6-0, 202 – Boonville, Ind. (Boonville)
Vs S.I.U.: Att 14 – Gain 62 – Loss 3 – Net 59 – TD 1 – Long 13 – YPA 4.2
vs USC: Att 12 – Gain 53- Loss 8 – Net 45 – TD 0 – Long 17 – YPA 3.8
#22 – Antonio Harris: So. – 6-0, 210 – (Chandler, Ind. (Castle)
vs S.I.U.: Att 5 – Gain 26 – Loss 0 – Net 26 – TD 0 – Long 17 – YPA 5.6
vs USC: Att 1 – Gain 0 – Loss 2 – Net -2 – TD 0 – Long 0 – YPA -2
# 24 – Malachi Thomas: Sr. – 6-0, 220 – Hartwell, Ga. (Virginia Tech)
Vs S.I.U.: Att 6 – Gain 20 – Loss 3 – Net 14 – TD 1 – Long 7 – YPA 2.3
vs USC: Att 2 – Gain 5 – Loss 0 – Net 4 – TD 0 – Long 5 – YPA 2.5
#23 – Jaheim Merriweather: S0. – 6-2, 215 Jackson, Tenn. (Bearden)
vs USC: Att 2 – Gain 4 – Loss 0 – Net 4 – TD 0 – Long 2 – YPA 2
Thoughts
After their ground and pound attack last week, I was surprised to see how few attempts Mockobee received this game. I thought we were going to get a Mockobee centric offense, but we got a Browne centric offense instead. You have to score points to beat a Lincoln Riley led USC team, and the coaching staff thought putting the ball in the hands of Browne was the best option.
I tend to agree when you take into consideration the offensive line and Mockobee’s inability to either break a tackle or make someone miss in the second level. He’s getting what’s available, maybe even more than is available on some shorter runs, but he’s yet to turn something small into something big. Purdue isn’t going to be able to put together 10-12 play drives consistently. That means they need their star back to start helping shorten the field with big runs. Until that happens, I think you’ll continue to see the offense lean on Browne and use Devin to compliment him, instead of the other way around.
It was interesting to see three different backs off the bench, including the first appearance of power back Jaheim Merriweather. I get the feeling the coaching staff is looking for someone to step up and start making some plays at running back. They’re giving everyone a shot to make it happen.
Tight End
#81 – George Burhenn: So. – 6-5, 235 – McCordsville, Ind. (Mt. Vernon)
vs S.I.U.: Targets 3 – Rec 3 – Yards 48 – Yards After Catch 25 – TD 0 – Long 21
vs USC: Targets 4 – Rec 4 – Yards 26 – Yards After Catch 26 – TD 0 – Long 17
#44 – Christian Moore: Sr. – 6-3, 250 – Huntington Beach, Calif. (UNLV)
vs S.I.U.: Targets 1- Rec 1 – Yards 2 – Yards After Catch 1 – TD 0 – Long 2
vs USC: 4 Snaps – 69.6 Pass Block Grade
#87 – Christian Earls Sr.: – 6-8, 280 – Chandler, Ariz. (UNLV)
vs USC: 2 Snaps – 68.7 Pass Block Grade
Thoughts
It’s clear the coaching staff considers Burhenn a weapon with the ball in his hands. They ran four screen passes for him behind the line, and he managed to bust one for 17 yards. The problem with George his he’s a giant wide receiver, not a fully functional tight end, PFF thought he was poor in both run and pass blocking against USC.
The good news is that Christian Moore and Christian Earls are both solid blocking options when Purdue needs a little extra beef in the blocking department.
Slot Wide Receiver
#2 – Michael Jackson III: Sr. – 6-0, 205 – Las Vegas, Nev. (Georgia)
vs S.I.U.: Targets 2 – Rec 1 – Yards 7 – Yards After Catch 4 – TD 0 – Long 7
vs USC: Targets 8 – Rec 7 – Yards 70 – Yards After Catch 65 – TD 0 – Long 31
#10 – Jesse Watson: R-Fr. – 5-9, 172 – St. Louis, Mo. (East St. Louis)
Vs S.I.U.: Targets 2 – Rec 1 – Yards 5- Yards After Catch 0 – TD 0 – Long 5
vs USC: Targets 2 – Rec 1 – Yards 20 – Yards After Catch 0 – TD 0 – Long 20
Thoughts
Michael Jackson spent the majority of the game in the slot to give Browne a quick option in the pass game. Jackson came close to breaking a couple despite catching the majority of his passes at or behind the line of scrimmage. He was utilized more like a running back than a wide receiver on Saturday.
Watson continues to flash. Purdue may have something in the diminutive freshman out of St. Louis.
Boundary Receiver
#13 – EJ Horton Jr.: Sr. – 6-1, 190 – Louisville, Ky. (FAU)
vs S.I.U.: Targets 4 – Rec 2 – Yards 17 – Yards After Catch 5 – TD 0 – Long 13
vs USC: Targets 8 – Rec 5 – Yards 70 – Yards After Catch 13 – TD 0 – Long 21
#6 – Arhmad Branch: So. – 6-0 185 – Festus, Mo. (Festus)
vs S.I.U.: Targets 4 – Rec 2 – Yards 31 – Yards After Catch 6 – TD 1 – Long 18
vs USC: Targets 3 – Rec 2 – Yards 35 – Yards After Catch 2 – TD 0 – Long 20
Thoughts
Horton moving into the starting lineup over Branch and getting significantly more snaps was an interesting move by the Purdue coaching staff. I think it boils down to Horton’s more polished overall game, while Branch is still earning his first playing time. The coaching staff likes Branch as their explosive deep threat, and with good reason, but Horton appears to have grabbed the steadier role for now. He paid it off on Saturday with five receptions.
Field Receiver
#0 – Nitro Tuggle: So. – 6-1, 195 – Goshen, Ind. (Georgia)
vs S.I.U.: Targets 2 – Rec 1 – Yards 29 – Yards After Catch 29 – TD 1 – Long 29
vs USC: Targets 7 – Rec 4 – Yards 69 – Yards After Catch 23 – TD 1 – Long 33
Thoughts
Tuggle has established himself as one of the top two receivers on the team. He monopolized almost all the snaps at the field position and paid it off with another 20+ yard reception and touchdown. Purdue needs their top talent to play like their top talent, and I’m pleasantly surprised with how Tuggle has stepped up immediately to be a reliable threat in the offense. It looks like he may be the long-term solution for WR#1.
Offensive Line
Note: This season, I bit (or bought?) the proverbial bullet and procured Pro Football Focus to provide some insight on the offensive line. The grading scale goes from 0 – 100 (with 100 being the best possible grade).
You can find more information on what these grades mean and how they are determined here.
Left Tackle
#79 – Joey Tanona: Jr. – 6-6, 305 – Zionsville, Ind. (Notre Dame)
vs S.I.U: Snaps – 79 – Pass Blk 73.9 – Run Blk 59.9 – Ovr Grade 64
vs USC: Snaps – 71 – Pass Blk 60.1 – Run Blk 65.3 – Ovr Grade 64.7
Left Guard
#74 – Jalen St. John: Sr. – 6-5, 330 – St. Louis, Mo. (UNLV)
vs S.I.U.: Snaps – 79 – Pass Blk 84.7 – Run Blk 57 – Grade 60.7
vs USC: Snaps – 71 – Pass Blk 45.3 – Run Blk 55.7- Ovr Grade 45.3
Center
#55 – Bradyn Joiner: So. – 6-2, 310 – Anniston, Ala. (Auburn)
vs S.I.U.: Snaps – 79 – Pass Blk 82.5 – Run Blk 59 – Grade 63.2
vs USC: Snaps – 71 – Pass Blk 66.7 – Run Blk 54.5 – Ovr Grade 58.5
Right Guard
#76 – Ethan Trent: So. – 6-2, 295 – Carmel, Ind. (Carmel)
vs S.I.U.: Snaps – 79 – Pass Blk 84.7 – Run Blk 58.8 – Grade 62.2
vs USC: Snaps – 71 – Pass Blk 37.6 – Run Blk 55.2 – Ovr Grade 53.4
Right Tackle
#78 – Bakyne Coly: Sr. – 6-7, 300 – Farmington, Mich. (Lawrence Tech)
vs S.I.U.: Snaps – 79 – Pass Blk 58.4 – Run Blk 57.8 – Grade 58.4
vs USC: Snaps – 71 – Pass Blk 43.9 – Run Blk 45.4- Ovr Grade 43.9
Thoughts
Welp, we found a few things out on Saturday. Namely, that the right side of the offensive line might be a huge problem against better opponents.
When it was announced that Ethan Trent was going to start at guard, I was interested to see what it looked like when Purdue faced off against a defensive line with high-level talent. It wasn’t great (to say the least). Trent gave up a team-high five pressures from his right guard spot. That’s not a spot you should be getting consistently beaten.
The same can be said about Coly. He has an intriguing physical skill set, but it’s not translating to the field against high level competition yet. At least Trent was decent in the run game, Coley gave up three pressures and had the only offensive line penalty called on him. PFF hasn’t been impressed with his work thus far.
The biggest disappointment of the early season is the play of Jalen St. John. He was great at UNLV last season at left tackle, but he has struggled with the move inside to left guard. Your veteran left guard and supposed anchor of your line can’t give up three pressures and a sack from right guard. You have to protect the quarterback up the middle first and foremost, and that didn’t happen against USC.
The two positives for Purdue’s offensive line, not surprisingly, come from the two highest-rated high school players on the Boilermaker offensive line. Again, the Boilermakers need their best players to play like their best, and Tanona and Joiner are the best Purdue has to work with in terms of talent.
Tanona did give up a sack and three total pressures, but he received the best run blocking grade by far. Whenever Purdue had success on the ground, it was usually off left tackle. Joey’s play to start the season is a reason for optimism moving forward. I think the Boilermakers have a long-term solution at the most critical position on the offensive line.
Thank goodness Joiner was in the center to help shore up the struggling guards because bad could have turned to really bad in a hurry. Bradyn had the best pass block grade from PFF, and it wasn’t particularly close. He didn’t cover himself in glory when it came to the run game, but it’s tough when the guys next to you are struggling to do their job. Like Tanona, Joiner looks like he should be a fixture on the line for years to come.
I don’t anticipate Purdue making any changes to the line heading into the Notre Dame game. There isn’t enough time to bring everything together, but a similar performance from St. John, Trent, and Coly against Notre Dame could up the depth chart heading into the off week. If your guys are going to struggle anyway, I’m a proponent of struggling with your best talent. That could mean getting Georgia transfer Marques Easley, Hank Purvis, and Marc Nave Jr. up and running.
This could be a significantly changed group when Purdue squares off against Illinois on October 4th.
