Another camp, another QB 'competition' for Purdue
CHICAGO — For the fourth consecutive season, Purdue will enter training camp without an announced starting quarterback.
It’s seemingly only an issue now because Darrell Hazell refuses to do so, not because the Boilermakers enter 2016 with real questions at the position.
Sophomore David Blough started eight games last season, missing the finale with a concussion. But he’s the likely projected starter for Eastern Kentucky, though redshirt freshman Elijah Sindelar is a promising young player with a big arm.
Still, even with Blough’s apparent edge — Hazell did admit that on Monday at Big Ten media day — Hazell will hold off to officially name a player until after the first few weeks of training camp, which starts Aug. 4.
“What I’ve liked about those guys is they’ve slowed the game down, they’ve shown tremendous leadership, they’re throwing it with accuracy and playing with some confidence,” Hazell said.
Blough completed 58 percent of his passes last season, while throwing for nearly 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had eight interceptions. Sindelar stayed on the sidelines to preserve a redshirt.
Unofficially, Blough and Sindelar completed nearly the same percentage of passes in the spring during team periods.
In Terry Malone’s new quarterback friendly offense, the completion percentage is expected to be high, and Hazell thinks both quarterbacks are capable of making the correct reads and responses after being tutored by new quarterbacks coach Tim Lester in the spring.
Blough said this summer that Lester helped the position group vastly improve, and Hazell has seen it.
“Tim Lester has played the position at a high level and he has a way of telling the quarterbacks what’s real,” Hazell said. “(He can say), ‘You’re going to be high at some point in time, you’re going to be low at some point in time. You can’t be there.’ He shares those things with them. A lot of guys will get on the board, draw up a play and tell you where you should be going with the ball, but those highs and lows and things a quarterback has to go through, he’s able to share it with them. That’s why there’s such a tight bond with those guys.”
It’s up to Lester and Malone to cater the offense to the QB’s strengths.
Hazell says both options have plenty.
“David Blough is a guy who makes really good decisions. The ball comes out of his hands fast. I think his accuracy is probably an A-,” Hazell said. “Elijah has a cannon. His arm is as big of an arm as I’ve ever been around, maybe other than (Ohio State’s) Troy Smith’s. He’s still learning the game, but his upside is through the roof.
“They both have enough mobility to get themselves out of trouble and extend the play.”
Perhaps after Hazell chooses a quarterback this fall, he will stick with him for an entire season.
That hasn’t happened yet during his tenure.
In Year 1, Rob Henry was replaced by true freshman Danny Etling, who is now at LSU. In Year 2, Etling got benched in favor of Austin Appleby, who is now at Florida. In Year 3, Appleby was removed for Blough.
“There’s something to be said about continuity if you can do that,” Hazell said. “If the guy is performing well, you’ll do it. If he’s not, you won’t. That’s what it’ll come down to. Obviously you want him to do well so you keep him in there. But the whole main goal is to win games. That’s the objective.”
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