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Football notebook: Purdue in rush to get Devin Mockobee, run game on track

On3 imageby: Tom Dienhart5 hours agoTomDienhart1
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(Krockover Photography)

How does Purdue pump up its rushing game? It’s a question that echoed during the recent off week.

“I think it’s game planning,” said Barry Odom.” I think it’s blocking at the point of attack. I think it’s making an extra guy miss. I think it’s running tough. … When I say blocking at the point of attack, it isn’t always offensive line. It’s receivers on the perimeter, it’s a tight end, either at the point of attack or second level. It’s quarterback on the ball fakes, it’s quarterback run game.”

The rush numbers are jarring: Purdue is No. 17 in the Big Ten in rushing (106.3 ypg). The Boilermakers’ 3.1 yards per carry is last in the Big Ten. Purdue has one run over 20 yards, and that’s by QB Ryan Browne (26 yards).

“I think it’s just up front, making sure we have all of our keys and we’re just executing, getting guys on bodies, where we where we need to be each play,” said Devin Mockobee, who has 70 carries for 246 yards (3.5 ypc) and three TDs. “I think that’s going to be a really important thing that we got to do going forward. But just from then on, it’s just making your reads and reading out right.”

Maybe the run game will get traction Saturday vs. Illinois, a foe Mockobee has gashed for 343 total yards (275 rushing) against in his career. Illinois is No. 14 in the Big Ten vs. the run (132.0 ypg).

“They like to do their their five-down defense up front,” said Mockobee. “So, they’re trying to have big bodies up front, trying to stuff everything in. That’s exactly the same defense that I went against the past two years. So, I’m more familiar with it.

“I’ve just always kind of been good against that kind of 5-1 defense. It’s just been something that always kind of suits my play style. I think we’re just kind of a good match for that defense in general.”

NOTES:

• Mockobee is in the Top 10 at Purdue in 100-yard rushing games (4th); rushing yards (5th); rushing TDs (9th).

• Myles Slusher is No. 6 in the nation, averaging 5.8 solo tackles per game. Tahj Ra-El ranks No. 9 nationally with 5.5 solo tackles per game.

• The last time Purdue won coming off a bye week was 2021, when the Boilermakers knocked off No. 2 Iowa in Iowa City.

• October looms as a big month, with games at Minnesota, at Northwestern and vs. Rutgers, in addition to this Saturday’s visit from Illinois.

“Yeah, with this stretch of games, we can definitely create momentum for ourselves,” said Mockobee. “But we’re trying to focus on one game at a time, because that’s the only one that’s important right now. But, yeah, I mean, depending on what we do this month, it can change a lot about how we operate the rest of the season.”

• The weather for Saturday does not include storms. This, after Purdue has endured weather delays totally 299 minutes (4:59 minutes) over the last two games.

• Spencer Porath is 7-of-7 on field-goal attempts, the most consecutive makes by a Purdue kicker to start a season since Mitchell Fineran made nine in 2021.

MORE: Matchup preview: Purdue-Illinois | Purdue projected depth chart | First Look: Illinois | First and 10: Illinois | Purdue aims to turn four-game lessons into results after bye | The 3-2-1: Maturation of a QB, October possibilities, respect for Bret and more | Full circle moment comes for Purdue’s Ryan Browne against Illinois

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