Coming off bye, Purdue in 'playoff mode' as it makes postseason push
Purdue’s window to earn a bowl bid for a third season in a row is narrowing. Boilermaker boss Ryan Walters knows it. Can he sense the urgency?
“Absolutely,” he said. “Absolutely. We are in playoff mode right now. Definitely set the tone and the temperament in our team meeting on Sunday, and as a result guys went to work.”
To make the postseason, the Boilermakers (2-5 overall; 1-3 Big Ten) must win at least four of their remaining five contests, one of which is a trip to undefeated and back-to-back league champion Michigan.
The other four games appear more winnable than the trip to Ann Arbor on Nov. 4, though, including the junket to Nebraska (4-3; 2-2) that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 on Saturday.
“I think our mindset is in the right place,” said Walters. “I’ve been honest and open about what needs to happen the last five games and what we’re capable of doing.
“So, because of that, everybody is holding each other accountable to those standards. I’m excited to see what that looks like down the stretch of the last five weeks.”
Purdue enjoyed a bye last week. Younger players were deployed and evaluated in scrimmage situations, coaches hit the road recruiting and veteran players were able to rest and get healthy.
Players like RB Tyrone Tracy (groin), OT Mahamane Moussa (ankle) and WR Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (knees) missed the last game, a 41-7 loss to Ohio State. K Ben Freehill (blood clot) also has been out.
Early signs point toward Tracy, Moussa and Freehill playing at Nebraska. Yaseen’s status appears to be murky. Of those players, Moussa–the No. 1 left tackle–is perhaps the most vital for an offense that’s already without No. 1 right tackle Marcus Mbow, who is out for the season with an ankle injury.
“He’s still day-to-day, but we’re confident he’ll be available and be ready to go by Saturday,” said Walters.
Another player who has been banged up but is feeling better: QB Hudson Card.
“Hud looked like himself yesterday for the first time since that second or third series after Illinois (Sept. 30), so he’s back with a bounce in his step,” said Walters. “Ball is coming out of his hands with some velocity. It’s pretty when it’s in the air.
“Saw him run around a little bit, which was exciting. Just feels like he’s back to himself, so that will hopefully bode well for us.”
Purdue will need Card feeling well if it hopes to topple Nebraska for a fifth time in six games–and a third time in a row in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers are a physical team that excels at running the ball and stopping the run under first-year coach Matt Rhule.
“My history with Coach Rhule goes back to his Temple days,” said Walters. “When I was at Memphis, we were able to play them. You just see his teams, they are tough, physical, they’re smart. They don’t beat themselves. That’s exactly what you see on tape.
“Like I said, they make you play with all 11 on offense. They’re really physical and try to dominate you up front on defense. They get creative with exchange in gaps with their front seven, and do a good job of disguising and mixing up coverages in the back end.”
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