Resources keep Purdue 1 step behind, but climb not impossible

IOWA CITY - Purdue's upward climb out of the Big Ten cellar begins off the field, where the Boilermakers are two steps behind their competition.

The league's West Division doesn't have the financial disparity of the East, but it still has two revenue tiers. Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin all brought in more than $50 million in football revenue alone in fiscal year 2013. Among the West Division's six public schools, Purdue was last at $20.2 million. Nebraska and Iowa each earned more than $21.6 million in ticket sales, while Purdue failed to make $9 million.

So for Purdue to contend in football, its success must belie its resources. Is that even possible?

'They only control half the equation,” said Big Ten Network football analyst Gerry DiNardo. 'There's seven teams in the West. If they're all maximizing their resources, where is Purdue fitting in? When you ask that question about Purdue, is Nebraska doing a good job? That makes (Purdue) two. Is Wisconsin doing a good job? That makes them three. Is Iowa doing a good job? That makes them four. You can't talk about Purdue in the bubble. You have to talk about what everyone else is doing in that division.”

Joe Tiller overachieved in his first 11 seasons at Purdue, compiling an 83-54 record and earning 10 bowl berths. But since 2008, the Boilermakers have fallen off, going 27-47. Last year under first-year Coach Darrell Hazell, Purdue finished 1-11.

To call this a transition is modest. Tiller and his successor, Danny Hope, employed a spread attack. Hazell's West Coast-style failed miserably last year. Purdue's total yardage was 3,395 last year, the program's low since 1988. Purdue's yards per game was 282.9, fifth worst in college football.

Purdue ran for only 805 yards (67.1 yards per game), the second-lowest total in Division I football last year. Hazell noticed he had to make changes.

'During the off-season Darrell said, ‘We've got to get our playmakers the ball,'” DiNardo said. 'We go there in the spring and they've broken the formation.

'His reason is you have Raheem Mostert, you have Akeem Hunt, (Danny) Anthrop, all these small quick guys if you will. He said we've got to get them the ball out in space and let them make a play. That's kind of where they've gone. They've stuck to that, and I think that's really helped them.”

Purdue's offense has improved. In four games the Boilermakers have rushed for 587 yards, averaging 146.8 a game. Purdue puts up 351 yards a game of total offense. There are plenty of formations, lots of motion and pass-first quarterback Danny Etling is a run threat. Purdue has speed at running back and wide receiver. The strides are obvious, as are the deficiencies.

On its four game-opening drives, the Boilermakers have gained just one first down. In its last three games, Purdue has scored just three points combined in the third quarter. Purdue's offensive line remains a work in progress, as demonstrated by its 56-yard rushing performance against Notre Dame.

'I think we're much better, we're improving by the day, by the minute,” Hazell said. 'We need to keep getting better.”

I think what they're doing offensively helps Purdue and helps their offensive line, but they're a ways away,” DiNardo said. 'It's just going to take some time.”

Purdue also scrapped its 3-3-5 defensive alignment, which was steamrolled in Big Ten play last year. Its opponents averaged 235.4 rushing yards per game (116th overall) and 459.9 yards of total offense, which ranked 105th. Purdue allowed 61 touchdowns, 456 points and 38.0 points per game, both school records.

The Boilermakers now are in a base 4-3, but they still operate out of five defensive-back sets.

'We've been playing so much with those five defensive backs, four defensive linemen, two linebackers, when you get better athletes on the field, now you gotta say, ‘OK, where do you sacrifice?” Hazell said. 'Do you get that extra big guy in, by taking the secondary guy out? There is going to be a blend of base personnel as well as corner personnel this week.”

Purdue also has allowed a Big Ten running back to run for more than 100 yards in nine consecutive games. Last year Iowa plowed the Boilermakers for 318 rushing yards, and Jordan Canzeri put up 165 in West Lafayette.

'As you go through your film study to watch last year's game, we weren't very good last year,” Hazell said. 'We're a lot better now as a football team than where we were 10 months ago.”

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