Express Deep Dive: Week 1

It's back and just as big as ever! : )

Let’s go!

First, no Jeff Brohm, no problem for Purdue?

That’s the great unknown for Saturday’s season-opening visit from Iowa. The Boilermaker boss will sit out the game after contracting COVID-19. When was the last time a Purdue football coach missed a game?You have to go back to the Jack Mollenkopf era. Twice, Mollenkopf missed games during his tenure (1956-69). And both times, Bob DeMoss filled in.In 1961, Mollenkopf missed two games (Michigan and Iowa) when he had cancer surgery at the Mayo Clinic. The Boilermakers lost to the Wolverines but beat the Hawkeyes. In 1968, Mollenkopf missed the final four games (Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan State and Indiana) because of infectious hepatitis. Purdue beat the Illini, Spartans and Hoosiers but lost to the Gophers.

Moore and Bell

There is a lot of excitement with Rondale Moore and David Bell back. The tandem played together in just four games last year after Moore was lost for the season with a left hamstring injury vs. Minnesota on Sept. 28. And before that, Bell hurt his shoulder vs. TCU on Sept. 14. So, the dynamic duo played together at full steam for just the first two games of 2019: at Nevada and vs. Vanderbilt. A look at their combined production together last year.

Nevada: Moore 11 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD; Bell 1 catch, 49 yards, 1 TD

Vanderbilt: Moore 13, 220, 1; Bell 4, 82, 0TCU: Moore 3, 25, 0; Bell 1; -1, 0

Minnesota: Moore 2, 18, 0; Bell 8, 114, 03.

Turnovers

Winning the turnover battle has been an issue during the Brohm era.The Boilermakers were -8 last year and -5 in 2018. Purdue was + 4 in 2017. Add it all up, and the Boilers have a -9 turnover margin in Brohm’s three seasons.

Underdog at home

Purdue is a 3.5-point underdog vs. Iowa. Under Brohm, Purdue has been a home underdog seven times. The Boilermakers are 3-4 in those games:

2017: Michigan +13.5 L 28-102018: Missouri +5.0 L 40-372018: Boston College +6.5 W 30-132018: Ohio State +12.0 W 49-202019: TCU +3.5 L 34-132019: Maryland +4.0 W 40-142019: Indiana +7.0 L 44-41The last 30 times Purdue has a home underdog, it has gone 4-26 and 9-21 against the spread.

Inexperienced opponent quarterbacks

Two of Purdue’s first three foes have projected starting QBs who never have made a college start: Iowa’s Spencer Petras and Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz.Northwestern’s Peyton Ramsey (Indiana) and Rutgers’ Noah Vedral (Nebraska) have started at their previous schools but not at their current schools.Purdue foe Projected starting QB

Iowa: Spencer PetrasI

llinois: Brandon Peters

Wisconsin: Graham Mertz

Northwestern: Peyton Ramsey

Minnesota: Tanner Morgan

Rutgers: Noah Vedral

Nebraska: Adrian Martinez

Indiana: Michael Penix, Jr.

Brohm vs. Iowa

'Purdue is 2-1 vs. Iowa since Jeff Brohm took over. Yes, Brohm won’t be on the sideline on Saturday. But expect the Boilermakers to take plenty of shots down field vs. the Hawkeyes. In a 2017 win at Iowa City, the Purdue torched three Iowa corners in the third quarter: Manny Rugamba, Michael Ojemudia and Matt Hankins. In 2018 victory in West Lafayette, Brohm and Co., targeted Hawkeye freshman corners Riley Moss and Julius Brents.Who could be targeted this year? Hankins is regarded as Iowa’s best corner. So don’t be shocked if the Boilermakers go after Moss or Brents.

Australian influence

Iowa’s punter on Saturday could be true freshman Tory Taylor. Why is that interesting? The 6-4, 225-pound Taylor is from Melbourne, Australia, and didn’t arrive in the United States until August because of pandemic travel restrictions. So, Saturday will be his first real college football game. Ever. As a fan or participant. Taylor played Australian football back home. Again, he never has punted an American football in a game.

Purdue's iron man at QB

Meet Purdue's Joe DiMaggio, Drew Brees, who started 37 games in a row for Purdue.8. Purdue hasn’t had a QB start every game in a season since David Blough in 2016. Which Boilermaker QBs have started the most games in a row since 1970?

1. Drew Brees: 37 (started each game from 1998-2000)

2. Mark Herrmann: 34 in row (started the last 10 games of 1977 and each game from 1978-79)

3. Curtis Painter: 32 (started every game from 2005-7 and the last five in 2005)

4. Jim Everett: 23 (started every game from 1984-85)

5. Scott Campbell: 23 (started every game from 1981-82 and the first one of 1983)

Man in the box

Co-OC/QBs coach Brian Brohm typically works from the press box during games, serving as Jeff Brohm’s “eyes in the sky” while offering play suggestions. But Brian will be on the field Saturday serving as acting head coach, in addition to calling plays. He said Tuesday he wasn’t sure who would be his “eyes in the sky” in the press box on Saturday.For the final game of 2019—according to the Purdue-Indiana game notes that day—Brian Brohm was joined in the press box by tight end/special team assistant Ryan Wallace and cornerbacks coach Greg Brown. All of the other assistants were on the field.

Niine in '64

Purdue is scheduled to play nine games. The program last played just nine in 1964, when the Boilermakers went 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten under Jack Mollenkopf. Purdue has a good shot to finish 2020 in a bowl for a 10th game. When did the program last play 10 games in season? It was 1971, when Purdue went 3-7 under Bob DeMoss.You made it to the end!Thanks for reading!