Deep Dive Practice 12

It’s informative, it’s analytical, it’s opinionated, it’s the Deep Dive, a look at today’s football practice.

• Lots of energy during a crisp 22-period practice today in helmets, shoulder pads, and shorts. Is it hot enough for Barry Odom?

“Nope,” he shot back. “This morning looks like on (August) 30th (vs. Ball State), looks like a high of 82, little bit of humidity, like 2% chance of rain, wind northeast, six miles an hour. So, we need it to heat up a little bit. My guess is it’ll be a little warmer, you know, factor in the humidity.

“So, trying to get there through rep count. That’s why our scrimmage the other day went, you know, three hours and three and a half-hours. That’s what a game is. It’ll be three and a half, 3:40, whatever it is with TV timeouts. You got to train your team to be ready to do the mental work that it takes for that long to be able to stay focused in the game. We got to get them prepared to go do that.”

• Purdue continues to work through centers, looking for the right one. Today, it was Bradyn Joiner running with the first-team. So, there’s that.

“It’s good for us that we’re rotating, really, four guys at center, and we’ve got to be comfortable with any of them,” said Odom. “Because one goes down, or whatever the case is, you better be ready to go function as an offense with whoever’s playing center. So, I feel confident we got four guys in there that could snap it, and you can go execute the offense you need to.”

Others snapping are Ethan Trent, Giordano Vaccaro and Tom Ewing.

MORE: Photo gallery, camp practice No. 12

• K Seth Turner banged in a 56-yard field goal near the end of practice during a two-minute drill. And his kick had plenty of distance to spare.

• FYI: RB Antonio Harris is on scholarship.

• Speaking of special teams … Odom is ga-ga over his ST coordinator: James Shibest.

“The way he brings energy, emotion, X’s and O’s teaching every single day is unmatched,” said Odom. “Had a chance to work with him at Memphis, and I saw how that transformed our program. And then had a chance to work with him last two years at UNLV. We blocked eight punts last year. We won the field position margin every single game, and it doesn’t happen by chance. This is a bold statement, but I believe he’s the best special teams coordinator in all of football.”

• Purdue will scrimmage on Saturday … at night. Why under the Ross-Ade lights?

“Because Game Two (vs. Southern Illinois), we play at 7:30 (p.m.) and we haven’t been under the lights,” said Odom. “So, just a chance to do that. And then also the recovery piece from a scientific approach on the volume of work and rep count that we did this week, we’ll go again tomorrow morning, and then the rest time from the time practice is over until we scrimmage on Saturday night that was into the thought, as well.”

• After Saturday’s scrimmage, Odom said the staff would start to put together depth charts.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Odom. “We’ll crank it up a little bit more tomorrow, will be a big day. We went, you know, either full pads or shoulder pads all week so far. Banged pretty good. That’ll get us ready for how we prepare during our game week, because, that’s where we’re gonna prepare.”

• Sure seems like Myles Slusher and An’Darius Coffey and Tahj Ra-El are setting up to play big roles in the secondary.

• LB Alex Sanford is expected to be OK after Odom was asked about his absence from practice today. OL Marc Nave has been dealing with an issue.

“He’s making progress,” said Odom of Nave. “… Trying to get him game ready. He’s not there yet. I will never discuss injuries. It’s not fair to the kid. So, I think he’s done a lot from June when he got here until today, and I would expect him to be ready to go.”

• Heard some Guns N’ Roses today at practice: “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Probably should hear a song each practice from Lafayette native Axel Rose aka Bill Bailey.

• Thanks for reading! Purdue will be back on the field tomorrow morning in “spider” pads.