FanNation - The Republic of Sport

When you're wrong, you're wrong and you should own up to mistakes.  Boy, was I wrong last week thinking the Purdue vs. Michigan game would be a low scoring affair.

I guess I'm not cut out for politics or sportswriting!

Wearing Purdue alumni t-shirts became fashionable this week as the Boilermakers put a bit more swagger in our steps beating the Michigan Wolverines last Saturday, 48-42.  Not only was it a scoreboard bursting final but it was the most points scored ever in the 54-game series.  Making his first appearance at quarterback, Justin Siller put on an impressive show throwing three touchdowns.  Curtis Painter hadn't done it yet this year.  Kory Sheets was equally impressive running for two touchdowns, catching one and racking up another 100+ yard rushing game.  So where did all this offense come from?  How did we manage to get 522 yards of offense, the most ever in a game this year?    Don't get too excited. The Michigan defense was just that bad. 

The Purdue defense wasn't much better.  While Michigan was limited to only 300 yards of offense, a freshman running back Michael Brandon carried the ball 24 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns!  As good as Kory Sheets was, Purdue's defense made Michigan's running back a little bit better.   Two of Michigan's scores came from 2-play series.  Combined with some Boilermaker special teams' mistakes, the Wolverines kept this one close.  Had Michigan somehow scored six points from their game ending "hail Mary" end zone throw, Purdue's Carson Wiggs' blocked extra point 25 seconds earlier loomed like the second round of Russian roulette.

Breathe deep.  Purdue isn't going to finish last in the Big Ten and there is still a chance at a bowl game bid IF the team wins out. 

Economic times are tough just like this year's football season.  The Boilermakers will feel the economic pinch this week when they RIDE A BUS to East Lansing for Saturday's game against Michigan State.  That's a four and a half hour bus ride!  But the economic crunch may not be the only one they feel.  The Spartans are having a break out season.  Currently 5-1 in the Big Ten, the Spartans are 17th in the USA TODAY Poll, and 18th in the Associated Press Poll.  Despite the Boilermaker curse of not being able to defeat a top-25 team, the series with "Sparty" is practically even and four of the last five games have been decided by 10 points or less.

Some might like to think the reason for Michigan's State's success is the head coach, Mark Dantonio.  Dantonio was well educated in football coaching as he spent the 1981 football season at Purdue as a graduate assistant under Jim Young.  Don't be fooled.  Michigan State features an extremely potent offense.  Senior running back Javon Ringer leads the NCAA in rushing touchdowns (18) and ranks second in rushing (142.7 yards per game), third in all-purpose yardage (178.1 ypg.) and fourth in scoring (10.8 points per game). Ringer leads the Big Ten in all four of those statistical categories:  touchdowns, rushing, all-purpose yards and scoring.  It's hard to say if he's a Heisman Trophy candidate since he has a similar website as on the Michigan State football team website as Curtis Painter has on Purdue's.  And fans know Curtis Painter isn't close to being considered a Heisman candidate! 

Throwing the ball for the Spartans is senior quarterback Brian Hoyer.  Tiller says Hoyer is capable of bad days but when he's on, he's on.  And when you combine his good days with Ringer, it can be a long one for opposing defenses.  Last year, Hoyer passed for 266 yards and two touchdowns, beating Purdue 48-31.  It didn't help Purdue had three costly turnovers that helped Sparty seal the deal and become bowl eligible.

Last weekend, Sparty came back from a 19 point half time deficit to beat Wisconsin thanks to a last second field goal.  Ringer had a poor outing, running less than a hundred yards as he normally does as the flu bug seemed to level the playing field.  The key in this week's game is stopping Ringer.  Period.  Tiller was questioned whether or not he watched the Wisconsin game tapes.  And while Tiller acknowledged he did, he also said Wisconsin has a different defense and plays more physical.  Purdue's defensive plan will have to change, possibly using more blitzes to match Ringer against sheer numbers of defenders.

As for Purdue's offense, Tiller doesn't know who will start as quarterback.  When asked about Siller's performance as compared to spring ball, Tiller said he wondered what happened and where did this quarterback come from?   Despite being satisfied by Siller's performance, Tiller would not say he would start, even if Curtis Painter felt better.  With Painter, according to Tiller, the offense has more plays available to them.  Somehow I think a limited playbook with increased efficiency offsets variety lacking efficiency.  In Tiller's mind, it's still the best quarterback who can execute the game plan and that quarterback will start.  Likely, if Painter is healthy, both quarterbacks will see action.

Looking at Michigan State's season statistics, opposing teams hang more total offense and first downs on Sparty than they can deliver.  Michigan State, though, likes to control time of possession.  That was a big factor last year at Ross Ade and that approach doesn't look like it changed.  The obvious key of the game will be whether or not Purdue can stop Javon Ringer.  Purdue's special teams also need to come around.  Michigan State may have an edge in that department as they possess a good kicker in Brett Swenson who is over 80% efficient.

There are three games remaining in the season Purdue faithful.  Those bus rides home can be extra long, especially if you come up on the short end of the scoreboard.  Last week gave the Boilers a bit of confidence and pride.  A win this week in East Lansing may create enough momentum to finish the season, bowl eligible.  Let's short-out the Sparty charge and Boiler Up!