Purdue Game Day Discussion Thread [Sept 27, 08]

[NDMontana]

I feel alot better about this team after today. They really played an awesome game. This offense is going to be amazing in another year fellas. And man was I screaming and yelling like a lunatic when Blanton picked that one of in the first half!

I don't think we have to wait until next year; this Offense is going to be amazing henceforth.

Progress is what I've wanted and I saw phenomenal progress today. Great job by the coaching staff and all the players.

 

[jakerbluegold]

Yep, have to agree with you there NDMontana, they do look stellar. I'm getting a dog here next month after the wedding, naming it Golden, already decided, the Mrs. has no say in the matter.

 

[IrishFan4Life]

They looked 100 times better than last week. I didnt get to see the whole game due to work but from what i see. Im happy. LETS GO IRISH!!!!

 

[ndlb41]

It was a well played game that we deserved to win!!! IRISH 4 LIFE!!! GO IRISH!!!!

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

applause to the team and coaches for making the adjustments they needed to over the last week. 201 yds rushing is far beyond my expectations. clausen had great touch and vision. the grimes td was beautiful, esp from the arial camera. AA had a monster game. he deserves first dibs on the ice baths.

you have to be proud of these men.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

how could i forget. the freshmen looked great too. rudolph with a td and great block on two linebackers on AA td run. floyd was clutch, obviously something special. and robert blanton...i kid you not, i have witnesses for this. i called a pick six before the snap. i couldnt believe it actually happened. well done sir.

 

[Bubba]

Sorry if this was mentioned earlier, but I didn't read this whole thread.....

What is it with the Purdue halftime? I read an article earlier this week where Charlie mentioned that last year's halftime at Purdue was a turning point even though we lost. Today I saw 2 different offensive units....the 1st half unit and the 2nd half unit. It was like night and day. The line blocked, Clausen made good decisions, AA looked like the starter hands down. Grimes, Floyd and Tate looked great. We finally made some plays with the TE which will help on 3rd down. It's nice to see that they "clicked" finally. Very nice!

 

[Steve]

i liked how they showed rudolph's helmet and the paint was chipped and had a bunch of scuff marks. shows that he was really getting his head in there and blocking.

 

[mick2]

i think AA will be the starter from here on out the other two are good ol bruisers that we can use on occassion but we need as much speed on the field as possible and AA works best when we decide to spread it out.

great game, very impressive victory over a senior laden purdue team, bye bye tiller.

next week stanford!!!!!!

 

[JeremyND07]

Offense looked great but the defense still needs to get pressure on the QB a lot better for us to be big teams. In a 3-4 the NG position is the foundation...without it everything else does not work!!!

 

[MirageSmack]

I skipped the game thread today because of all the Debbie Dpowners", so I just got a chance to go throught it - After the game. It looks like this poster from the 1st page really nailed it today.

Today IS the day we get the running game going. I'm predicting 200 yards on the ground today, with one of the RB's going over the century mark...and to top it off Jimmy Clausen will have his first zero interception game of the year. A very efficient and balanced offense and some more big plays from our rock solid defense.

As you can see, I'm very optimistic today. My liver can't handle any more pathetic offensive displays.

GO IRISH!!!!

1) Today IS the day we get the running game going. :awesomewo

2) I'm predicting 200 yards on the ground today, with one of the RB's going over the century mark :awesomewo (201 yds / AA over 100)

3) Jimmy Clausen will have his first zero interception game of the year :awesomewo

4) A very efficient and balanced offense :awesomewo

5) some more big plays from our rock solid defense

Oh well, four out of 5 ain't too shaby!

 

[Bubba]

5) some more big plays from our rock solid defense

So the pick 6 by Blanton doesn't qualify as a big play? They did allow a lot of yards, but they also stopped them on 4th down in the red zone twice!

 

[sportallyr]

I skipped the game thread today because of all the Debbie Dpowners", so I just got a chance to go throught it - After the game. It looks like this poster from the 1st page really nailed it today.



1) Today IS the day we get the running game going. :awesomewo

2) I'm predicting 200 yards on the ground today, with one of the RB's going over the century mark :awesomewo (201 yds / AA over 100)

3) Jimmy Clausen will have his first zero interception game of the year :awesomewo

4) A very efficient and balanced offense :awesomewo

5) some more big plays from our rock solid defense

Oh well, four out of 5 ain't too shaby!

Thanks for the recognition MirageSmack. Since this thing seems to be working right now...

I'm predicting we win every one of the remaining games. Hey, it's worth a try.

 

[ojo_223]

Much better, I know the Purdue D isn't that stout against the run, but what a confidence builder for the line. Hopefully, they can build on that the offense will be more balanced and we can start driving the ball consistently.

On the D side, am I the only one who thinks that Tenuta needs to tone down the blitzing a tad? I just don't think we have the personnel to do it yet.

 

[mick2]

i really liked the comments that jc made after the game:

he basically said the team is feeling really comfortable in this offense and it fits the players well.

that is great.

 

[phork]

Blanton is going to be great. I love his go getem attitude. Rudolph and Floyd are going to be freaking amazing. With Tate on one end and Floyd the other, I see Rudy getting a whole lot of open field in the middle.

However, Kamara is heading toward the has-been bin.

 

[Bubba]

Blanton is going to be great. I love his go getem attitude. Rudolph and Floyd are going to be freaking amazing. With Tate on one end and Floyd the other, I see Rudy getting a whole lot of open field in the middle.

However, Kamara is heading toward the has-been bin.

I agree. Our playmakers are going to open things up and once the TE is a major factor our run game will follow. I'm not sure what's going on in Kamara's head right now, but I think he CAN be that 3rd guy once Grimes leaves. When we have 3 WR and a TE that are offensive threats, this offense is going to look good. You just can't gameplan for 4-5 guys. Before, teams could gameplan to take out our best guy and do well. Soon, there won't be just one guy to gameplan for. I'm loving it. I know, I know, I'm just high on the kool-aid right now. But, it feels so good!!!!

 

[mick2]

yea kamara just needs to regain focus but the best recievers are on the field with tate, floyd, and grimes. finally a clear cut #1 at running back, and jimmy lit it up.

i'm i the only one thats amazed at almost every ball jc throws, tremendous zip and accuracy, he was on target today and should have had 4 tds if it werent for that bad call.

 

[Bubba]

yea kamara just needs to regain focus but the best recievers are on the field with tate, floyd, and grimes. finally a clear cut #1 at running back, and jimmy lit it up.

i'm i the only one thats amazed at almost every ball jc throws, tremendous zip and accuracy, he was on target today and should have had 4 tds if it werent for that bad call.

That call was really close. You really can't blame the ref. I knew they wouldn't over-turn the call on the field. I think that was Kamara? and that really could've helped his confidence.

 

[mick2]

That call was really close. You really can't blame the ref. I knew they wouldn't over-turn the call on the field. I think that was Kamara? and that really could've helped his confidence.

yeah that was kamara, i thought it was a td, an illinois reciever made a very simlar catch and they counted it. but i guess its just something they can use for motivation.

I haven't seen them overturn a call yet!

 

[Bubba]

yeah that was kamara, i thought it was a td, an illinois reciever made a very simlar catch and they counted it. but i guess its just something they can use for motivation.

I haven't seen them overturn a call yet!

They overturned the catch by Tate today. It was originally called an incomplete pass, but he had possession and a foot down before the ball came out. But, they have been very tough on over-turning calls this year.

 

[mick2]

you just overturned my call of saying they never overturn calls.....good call.

p.s. i am too wired to go to bed

 

[JeremyND07]

However, Kamara is heading toward the has-been bin.

Wow! A has-been already as a sophmore? Everyone needs to remember this kid is only a sophmore!!!! He is still a raw talent...he will get better. I still think in the red zone the next couple of years he will be a beast!!!! Give the kid a break!!!

 

[irishmarine]

yeah youre right. i think alot of us had high expectations fro him this year. but we have all fell off the table for number 3. he is unbelievable. his speed his quickness and when he jumps he comes down with the ball. unreal talent and he will be the the best reciver we have had here ibn 20 years

 

[smerky]

One of the (many) things that impressed me, was the way they came out to start the second half. This was the M.O. of the Holtz teams. They regrouped, made adjustments, and took control to start the second half. That set the tone for the rest of the game. I know it's only 1 game, but I can't remember the last time I felt confident that they would take control in the second half, like they did yesterday. I hope it wasn't an apperition.

 

[NDinL.A.]

This is what good teams do. Whatever CW did this week in practice he should continue because the progress is phenomenal.

This is what you amd I argued about all week! You gave me a bunch of numbers about how there was no progress, and I told you that football isn't all about numbers, that as athletes we could see with our eyes that the progress the offense was making was huge. And you KILLED me for it. Remember, the numbers do not always tell the story.

And what about the zip on Clausen's throws now? Also got killed by you for defending him, while your NFL and college scouts in your family said there was nothing special about him. Do they still feel that way? Only a true soph, whereas most stud QB's are already juniors, and making every throw, even the DEEP OUT throw, the toughest throw in football, on a line (Grimes for 24 yards), which you doubted he could throw (I believe you said he was throwing 5 yard outs).

Back and forth we argued for 2 days, and I DEMAND AN APOLOGY!!!!

J/k

At least you seem to be all in on witnessing our progression. This year will still be a work in progress for our boys, especially Jimmy, but 2009 is going to be sick...

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Well, I was a little too amped yesterday and the Guinness was flowing too much, so I wasn't in any shape to write. Everything has already been said more eloquently than I could ever write, but I am really pleased with what I saw. FINALLY, a 100 yard rusher. Jimmy was a bad call and a close miss away from being over 300 and the line was opening some holes. A couple times I saw Trevor Robinson getting out and pulling - he would get a full head of steam and lay the hurt on people. Very nice!

Great job Boys!!! Don't let up on the Cardinal!

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Wow! A has-been already as a sophmore? Everyone needs to remember this kid is only a sophmore!!!! He is still a raw talent...he will get better. I still think in the red zone the next couple of years he will be a beast!!!! Give the kid a break!!!

I agree with you that calling him a has-been is a little rough at this point. However, if he doesn't start to pick it up this season, he will have a tough time doing so later. He has already seen his classmate (Tate) start to get more playing time than him and now a Frosh (Floyd) is starting and getting a lot more looks. There is also some talent waiting in the wings (Goodman and Walker) that are chomping at the bit to get on the field. I feel bad for the kid and I would have liked to see that TD go his way, but he just seems to lack focus sometimes. Great physical attributes, but he just doesn't look like he gives 100% on every play. Just my opinion. I am not writing this kid off yet. I think he is going to have a monster game this season at some point.

 

[Brown]

The team is just finding their identity. Kamara will find his niche; you can't write him off as a "has been" for 2 reasons:

1. He never was anything, and
2. His skill set is complimentary as a possession/red zone WR.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I really do hope he finds his niche, but he is going to continue to have more and more competition - not only for touches in the games, but also for playing time period. I really like the kid, but the depth at WR is getting really competitive. I can't wait to see Goodman get out there next year.