Purdue Football: Running Game an Emphasis Prior to Showdown With Illinois
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With a disappointing 2-5 record, the one area that's been most troubling all year for Purdue has been its inconsistent running game.
The Boilermakers have been up and down in most areas this season, but nothing comes close to how poor the running game has performed every week.
“We’ve got to make sure we get positive yards with it, and do some different things with it,” Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. “But yes, I’d like to be more efficient running the football, and it’s something we need to work hard at.”
Last week’s game against Iowa — a 26-20 loss — epitomizes Purdue’s struggles. The team managed just 33 yards on the day and averaged an abysmal 1.8 yards per carry. After that performance, Purdue now enters Saturday’s contest against Illinois ranked 129th in the country in rushing yards per game, yards per attempt, and touchdowns.
That's out of 130 teams.
Brohm takes some of the blame for the poor numbers against Iowa, but these rushing performances have become too commonplace for this team.
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t have more rushing yards, but I’ll take some of the blame for that,” Brohm said. “You get in a rut where, while they’re not scoring touchdowns they’re scoring field goals, and you’re not getting many possessions. You want to make sure you go down swinging.”
Iowa’s defense played a big role in the rough performance, and things should get easier against an Illinois team that ranks 103rd in the country and 13th in the Big Ten against the rush, above only Rutgers. On average, the Fighting Illini allow 195 yards per game and more than 4 yards a carry.
If there was any week for Purdue to find success on the ground, this would be the time. To find that success, Purdue will need some running back to step up.
At the running back position, Purdue will cycle in King Doerue, Zander Horvath, and Tario Fuller — the latter two whom have been dealing with injuries. Richie Worship, a guy who saw his first carry of the season last week, also may get carries, but has dealt with some soreness in his knee after returning from injury as well.
Dourue is the ONLY Boilermaker who has rushed for more than 100 yards this season, which is stunning after seven games. He has 252, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. No one else has more than Horvath, who has 92 yards.
Those four aren’t the only guys who need to add production in the running game.
What worked well in the blowout win over Maryland were sweep runs to wide receiver Jackson Anthrop. He carried the ball three times, and gained 27 yards. But last week against Iowa, that part of the attack was nonexistent. Anthrop didn't have a single carry.
Quarterback Jack Plummer also can help the running game. He is athletic and has the ability to escape a pass rush and take off running. When lanes are there, he has the ability to scramble for positive yards, but, according to Brohm, it’s something that Plummer hasn’t been doing.
“When you’re a guy like Jack who has some athleticism and the ability to convert when they’re covering some plays, it has to be in your head that you running the ball to get some yards is an option,” Brohm said. “When teams are playing the pass, if the check-down is not there, the next check-down is you running the football, and that just has to always happen.”
