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Sense of urgency settles over Purdue amid 1-3 start

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•09/27/23•

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(Chad Krockover)

Do you feel that? It’s a sense of urgency that has settled over a Purdue program that has stumbled out of the gate to a 1-3 start.

“Definitely, if not before, than there is definitely now,” said Purdue defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols when asked if there was a sense of urgency. “We’ve had some real talks with each other and just talking about what we really want to get from this. This is a new team. There’s a lot of guys that haven’t ever played together before.”

Purdue will get a chance to get on track on Saturday when Illinois (2-2) visits for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Peacock. The Boilermakers are looking to end a two-game slide and win their first game at renovated Ross-Ade Stadium.

“Of course there’s a sense of urgency,” said cornerback Markevious Brown. “Obviously, we want to win. I want to win. Everyone here wants to win. But, no sense of alarm. Nobody’s scared, nobody’s alarmed. We’re just coming in focused. We know what we have to do. We know the mission and we know the end goal for this season. We just got to get to work. That’s all.”

New Boilermaker coach Ryan Walters hit the portal hard upon taking the job in December, importing 19 transfers. Fifteen freshmen also were added, in addition to a JC transfer. Adding to the volatility: A new staff with new schemes.

The results through four game have been a mixed bag. The offense has struggled in short-yardage situations and on third downs. Big plays down field? They have been rare, while turnovers are becoming an issue.

The defense has had problems, too, bleeding some big plays with plenty of third-down busts en route to ranking last in the Big Ten in scoring (32.8 ypg). A big issue: Containing the quarterback run.

“There’s a lot involved with that,” said defensive coordinator Kevin Kane when asked about stopping quarterback runs “It’s guys playing in space better. How are they getting back out of a gap? How are we containing the guy in pass rush and pass lanes? All that stuff is part of it.

“If guys are gonna play man coverage, it’s a weakness. We obviously understand that we got to have spies, we have to have whatever we need to get those guys down for that type of stuff. … We just got to do a better job of seeing what we need to see and get out and help when they need to.”

Purdue’s schedule gets more difficult the last two months, with games at Iowa and at Michigan looming in addition to a visit from Ohio State. The goal: Bowl eligibility, which obviously would be easier to achieve if Purdue can exit September with a 2-3 mark.

“There’s a lot of things we have to work through and a lot of figuring out that we’re still doing,” said Nichols. “But, it’s crunch-time. … We’re in Big Ten play right now. We didn’t start off Big Ten play how we wanted to (38-17 loss to Wisconsin), but all we can do is look forward and keep working.”

MORE: First look: Illinois | First and 10: Illinois | Three Thoughts From The Weekend: Purdue-Illinois, Zach Edey and more | Purdue’s Ryan Walters seeks first Ross-Ade, Big Ten win vs. familiar foe: Illinois | The 3-2-1: What is Purdue’s offensive identity? | In the huddle: S Sanoussi Kane | acrepro.com Buy/Sell: Purdue football Week 5 | Number Crunching: Week Four | Illinois official website | Opponent View: Illinois

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