High-powered offenses ready to collide in NU-Purdue game

They are enjoying themselves again, generating big yards and big points, clutch plays and comebacks, just like old times.

But last year against Purdue, the members of Northwestern's offense reached rock bottom. For the third straight Big Ten game, the Wildcats scored 10 points or fewer. The unit that had saved Northwestern for years looked like a lost cause.

Was the game a low point?

"On the offensive side, it was," guard Adam Crum said. "We had struggled on offense the whole year.

"It was just a real difficult game."

After marching 80 yards for a touchdown on its opening possession, NU flatlined. The Wildcats finished with only 83 passing yards against a Purdue defense that allowed more than 240 per game.

They struggled behind a run-first quarterback (Andrew Brewer) and a play-caller (Garrick McGee) still trying to find himself. Left tackle Dylan Thiry missed the game and NU allowed 5 sacks.

The only plus came late in the fourth quarter as reserve quarterback C.J. Bacher led a 55-yard drive with the game out of reach. Bacher would end up starting the next week against Michigan State and started to help the offense get back its old look.

Since the Purdue pasting, NU has gone 7-6 and the offense has revived behind Bacher. With running back Tyrell Sutton back in the mix, the Wildcats need their most potent unit to be near top form Saturday against high-powered Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium (11 a.m., Big Ten Network).

"We've been looking forward to this game for a while," Bacher said. "The way we were beat in our house last year, we're looking for maybe a little redemption."

Bowl eligibility isn't a bad incentive, either. If the underdog Wildcats (5-3, 2-2) prevail against Purdue, their postseason prospects become considerably better.

They likely will have to outslug a Purdue offense that averages 35.8 points per game. Bacher and Boilermakers senior quarterback Curtis Painter rank first and second in the league in passing average.

While Bacher has been the league's best offensive player in October (1,351 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, 1 interception), Painter and the Boilermakers gain more acclaim for their staggering production year after year. Purdue has averaged 43 points in six wins this season.

After getting shut down by Ohio State and Michigan, the Boilermakers put up 31 points last week against Iowa.

"We had two bad games on offense, and we're back on track," Painter told The Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette. "To show that we still have success, we're still doing things right, that we can still produce the big numbers against a very good defense, that gave us a lot of confidence."

The game pairs the league's top two passing offenses (Northwestern ranks first, averaging 326.1 ypg and Purdue averages 298.1 ypg) and two of the top three total offenses.

"We want to put up a lot of points and show them that we are the offense of the Big Ten," Crum said.

Bacher corrects his teammate.

"We want to win games so we can be the team of the Big Ten," he said.

To do so, NU must slow down Painter, who set career highs in passing yards (431), completions (35) and attempts (49) last year in Evanston. The Wildcats have struggled against Purdue's short crossing routes, which wide receiver Dorien Bryant and tight end Dustin Keller run to perfection.

After generating a season-high 4 turnovers last week, 3 in the red zone, NU's defense likely needs a few more takeaways to curb Purdue. The Wildcats struggled to effectively blitz Eastern Michigan last week, and Purdue's precision with short passes could limit blitz opportunities.

"Purdue is as good as anyone in the country in not only changing up their protections but they get rid of the ball quick," NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "Watching them spread the ball around, it's a very big challenge."

Sutton is expected to start after playing sparingly against Eastern Michigan. Though the junior will be limited in number of plays, his return could give a pass-heavy offense better balance.

The Wildcats rank 10th in the league in rushing offense (124.8 ypg) despite receiving strong performances from backups Omar Conteh and Brandon Roberson.

"He adds a different dimension attitude-wise," Crum said of Sutton. "He's a very fiery guy and he keeps everybody locked in."

Northwestern (5-3, 2-2) vs. Purdue (6-2, 2-2)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network Radio: WGN 720-AM, WNUR 89.3-FM

Series: Purdue leads 48-25-1

Coaches: Pat Fitzgerald (9-11, 2nd year at NU and overall); Joe Tiller (81-51, 11th at Purdue; 120-81-1, 17th year overall).

Players to watch: NU senior linebacker Adam Kadela is playing his best football, racking up 27 tackles with an interception in his last two games. Quarterback C.J. Bacher has passed for 1,351 yards and 10 touchdowns in three October games.

Purdue's Dorien Bryant leads the Big Ten in receptions (57) and ranks second in all-purpose yards (1,371). Tight end Dustin Keller had 6 receptions for 91 yards and a TD against NU last season.

The skinny: A win makes Northwestern bowl eligible and raises the ceiling for a season that looked bleak after early losses. But Purdue traditionally has been a bad matchup for NU, which struggles to defend passes over the middle. The Wildcats must improve their kickoff coverage. Behind Dorien Bryant, Purdue ranks second nationally in kickoff returns (28.3 ypr). NU is 117th in kickoff return defense (26.8 ypr). "That play is pretty simple," coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "It's a 70-yard sprint with a full-speed collision. -- We need to get a better attitude on that play."

Flipping quarters

Today's game pairs the Big Ten's top two passers in Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher and Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. Here's a closer look at the two signal callers.

Bacher

Vitals: 6-2, 210 pounds, Jr.

Season stats: 216-for-346 passing, 2,598 yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs, 134.2 passer rating

National rankings: 3rd in passing yards (2,598), 6th in total offense (331.9 per game), 8th in completions (27 per game)

Best games: 38-for-48, 520 yards, 5 TDs against Michigan State on Oct. 6; 41-for-58, 470 yards, 4 TDs against Minnesota on Oct. 13

Painter

Vitals: 6-4, 223 pounds, Sr.

Season stats: 213-for-339 passing, 2,238 yards, 22 TDs, 6 INTs, 136.2 rating

National rankings: 9th in passing yards (2,238), 10th in completions (26.6 per game), 14th in passing average (279.8 per game).

Best games: 38-for-49, 348 yards, 6 TDs against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 8; 33-for-48, 338 yards, 3 TDs against Minnesota on Sept. 22