Express: Purdue has to limit Dexter Williams' running

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart11/23/22

TomDienhart1

Florida Atlantic’s N’Kosi Perry had 94 yards rushing. Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader tallied 83. Could Indiana’s Dexter Williams be the next quarterback to enjoy rushing success vs. the Purdue defense?

Williams, no doubt, will be the most athletic signal-caller Purdue will have faced this season. His passing? Eh. Williams hit only 2-of-7 attempts for 31 yards in last week’s 39-31 double OT win at Michigan State. It was his running that was deadly, as Williams dashed a team-high 16 times for 86 yards and a TD. Not bad for his first career start in what was a breakout effort in a surprising win that ended the Hoosiers’ seven-game losing skid.

“I do think we’re better equipped and prepared for it,” said Purdue coach Jeff Brohm when asked about facing quarterbacks that can run. “If you watch Indiana’s last game, they had some runs for their quarterback and some reads in certain sets and it was effective, and then started to get a little stale.

“Then they started to spread the field more and do it in a different way and hit a couple other big runs. So, they have multiple ways to run the quarterback, and when you have that type of athlete in the game and you can complete two passes during the game and you beat Michigan State at Michigan State, you’re obviously doing a lot of things correctly.”

Williams has played in three games in 2022—all in November—and has 156 yards rushing on 36 carries with a TD this season. The sophomore is hitting only 32 percent of his passes (12-of-37) for 179 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Still, it’s the running ability of the 6-1, 209-pound Williams that makes IU dangerous … and worries opponents.

“Dex really opens up the run for us,” said Indiana running back Jaylin Lucas after the MSU win. “A lot of the D-linemen get a key on Dex, and for them going to him that really opens up the gap.”

• With C Gus Hartwig out, Josh Kaltenberger gets his big moment. Is he ready?

• Jeff Brohm updates status of RB Devin Mockobee and other injured Purdue players

• Big Ten title game scenarios? Purdue coach Jeff Brohm’s focus is on beating Indiana

That’s what concerns Purdue (7-4 overall; 5-3 Big Ten) as it treks to play at Indiana (4-7; 2-6) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. With a victory, the Boilermakers not only would retain the Old Oaken Bucket, but they also would claim at least a share of the West Division title. If Iowa loses at home to Nebraska on Friday, Purdue will play in the Big Ten title game with a victory vs. the Hoosiers.

“Indiana went with an athletic quarterback this past game and was able to run the football effectively,” said Brohm. “Was able to quarterback-run the ball quite a bit as well and gave them a spark, so we definitely have to prepare for that, as well as the ability to put in other quarterbacks when they need to. So, that will be the challenge for us.”

For most of the season, Indiana has started Connor Bazelak under center, a Missouri transfer who is more conventional.

“They have taken it to a, ‘Hey, this is the full ballgame, we have a running quarterback in there, and you have to defend it.’ That’s not easy to do.

“We have to really prepare hard and make sure we have a plan for that, and then have a plan if they want to pass or if they put in a passing quarterback, as well.”

And then there is the dynamic of this being a rivalry game.

“In these type of games, doesn’t matter what your record is,” said Brohm, who is 3-1 vs. Indiana. “Anybody can win the football game. I know the game we lost a couple years ago (44-41 2OT in West Lafayette in 2019) they had a really, really good, talented team. They were playing well. We were not playing so well. … “

Indiana is pressure-free as kickoff approaches. It’s already eliminated from bowl consideration with seven defeats. But, it would love to sully Purdue’s season and win back the Bucket for the first time since that aforementioned 2019 game. This will be first time the teams will have met in Bloomington since a 28-21 Purdue win in 2018, as the 2020 game in Memorial Stadium was scrubbed due to COVID.

“Just going back to never laying down,” said Williams after the win in East Lansing. “I told these guys last week, whoever we were playing, just never lay down for anybody. Give it what you got, make them feel you and the rest will handle itself. Things aren’t going the way we wanted them to, you know, we just got a W and now it’s time to go work and get another one.”

• Opponent view: Indiana

• Gold and Black Radio podcast: Purdue preps for big Bucket weekend

• Big Ten power poll

Top 3 rushing QBs vs. Purdue in 2022

QB, schoolCarries-Rushing Yards
N’Kosi Perry, Florida Atlantic13-94
Garrett Shrader, Syracuse17-83
Cole Freeman, Northwestern9-18

You may also like