clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Closing Arguments: Purdue will score its way to a bowl game

Do the Boilermakers have the defense to squeak past a tough schedule and into more December football?

Indiana v Purdue Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

I. Case History and Opening Statement

A. Case History

Coming off a disaster of a season in 2016, no one expected much for the decade-long doormat known as the Purdue Boilermakers in 2017. Then Mr. Brohm came running down from the hilltops of South-Central...Kentucky. What occurred was perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises in college football last season. Brohm decided the B1G was due for a dose of Madden 2K17, unleashing every trick-play in the book. Borderline madman Nick Holt took an average defensive unit and installed some good old fashioned aggression. The result, Purdue reclaimed The Bucket and savored a Bowl win for the first time since 2011.

B. Opening Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen of OTE, let me be frank. This offense has the potential to be good. Maybe not basketball-on-grass good, but still really good.

There’s speed in the receiving corps. There’s any mix of power and agility in the backfield. And the TE position may end up being as strong as it’s been in a long time. Three seniors anchor an offensive line that’s set to protect whoever finally wins the QB battle (I’d put my money on Sindelar).

The defense? Well, we’ll get there soon enough. Just know that Nick Holt is borderline psycho and the defense will need to match his intensity.

II. Discovery

2018 Preview and Outlook

Purdue Coaches with the Best Pro Careers

Podcast: The Very Useful Engines

Purdue and the Snakebitten Fanbase

Potluck: Tricky (Plays)

Mailbag!

III. Emotional Plea

You know you’re happy about Purdue’s re-emergence, unless you’re an Indiana fan. Brohm’s willingness to throw any and all trick plays at your team makes you smile and yet fear at the same time. Sure, the defense is in rebuild mode but this team is fun. The games will be fun to watch. The results will be a touch unpredictable. And when the dust settles, Cowboy Joe will be smiling down upon Ross-Ade.

IV. Verdict

2018 Purdue Football Schedule

Purdue 2018 Schedule

Date Opponent Where
Date Opponent Where
Aug. 30 (Thurs) Northwestern Home
Sept. 8 Eastern Michigan Home
Sept. 15 Missouri Home
Sept. 22 Boston College Home
Sept. 29 Nebraska Road
Oct. 13 Illinois Road
Oct. 20 Ohio State Home
Oct. 27 Michigan State Road
Nov. 3 Iowa Home
Nov. 10 Minnesota Road
Nov. 17 Wisconsin Home
Nov. 24 Indiana Road

Well, those in charge of scheduling haven’t really done Jeff Brohm many favors.

The Thursday night kickoff for Northwestern should be fun-filled and I plan to attend. However, the OOC includes Missouri looking to return the favor from last year’s 35-3 drubbing. Follow that up with Boston College, who is always stout on defense and received votes in the preseason poll. Most of the other tough games are broken up save playing Ohio State and Sparty back-to-back.

A bowl game is definitely in the realm of possibility, but it’s going to be a hard-fought battle to get there.

Let’s see how the “writers” like Purdue’s chances:

Poll

Predict Purdue’s 2018 finish:

This poll is closed

  • 6%
    9-3 or better
    (15 votes)
  • 13%
    8-4
    (31 votes)
  • 37%
    7-5
    (86 votes)
  • 29%
    6-6
    (66 votes)
  • 9%
    5-7
    (21 votes)
  • 3%
    4-8
    (7 votes)
  • 0%
    3-9 or worse
    (1 vote)
227 votes total Vote Now