Purdue trades aerial circus for power game
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue has given up its high-flying passing game for a ground-and-pound style.
The Boilermakers have long been known for their aerial prowess — former Purdue quarterbacks Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter have started in the NFL this season. But with injuries at quarterback the past two years, Purdue has gradually shifted to a run-first approach.
The Boilermakers (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) have had some success, too. They rank 20th out of 120 teams nationally with 215 yards rushing per game heading into Saturday’s game at Penn State (5-1, 2-0).
The Boilermakers will be challenged to do as well on Saturday. Penn State ranks 17th nationally in run defense and fourth overall.
Purdue has rushed for nearly 1,100 yards as a team, but the team’s leader, Ralph Bolden, has just 273 yards. Akeem Shavers has run for 242 yards and speedy freshman Akeem Hunt has 141 yards.
“We have a good stable of healthy backs here now,” Purdue coach Danny Hope said. “We have some older backs that are tough guys and physical at the running back spot. I think all that is a big part of the chemistry of our football team and our offense right now.”
Quarterback Caleb TerBush has rushed for 120 yards, and Reggie Pegram, Brandon Cottom, Raheem Mostert and receiver Antavian Edison also have contributed to the rushing numbers.
“We’ll take Antavian Edison and put him in the backfield, or take a good running back out of the backfield and put him in the slot position and have a plan to get the ball in our play makers’ hands a certain amount of times,” Hope said. “It’s our game plan.”
It works in part because the Boilermakers’ multiple backs maintain their energy.
“I feel great every game because we rotate in every other series,” Shavers said. “We all get reps and stay fresh, so we get to come back in and run like it’s the first drive again.”
TerBush is impressed that Shavers has adjusted quickly from junior college.
“It’s good to see Akeem pick up the offense really well,” TerBush said. “He’s a humble person and he’s got that go get ‘em attitude. He’ll do whatever he can to help out the team.”
Bolden entered the season with the pedigree. He ripped through Toledo for 234 yards rushing in Purdue’s season-opening 52-31 win in 2009, the third-highest single-game total in school history.
He followed that with 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns and three catches for 52 yards and another score against Oregon. He had 136 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns against Michigan and two more scores against Michigan State. He finished that season with 1,196 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns, and his future looked bright.
He missed last season while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during spring practice, and Purdue went 4-8 without him. Now, he’s sharing carries so the team can keep him healthy.
“He’s still a great player, still a huge part of our offensive plan and the best player we have,” Hope said.
TerBush has noticed that Bolden and Shavers get along, despite competition for the starting job.
“There’s no hard feelings as far as him and Ralph,” he said. “You can tell they’re really good friends. They love the game of football, and they work at it every day for the betterment of the team.”