Gold and Black Radio Express ($): Analysis of Blough's injury
What it means: Blough's injury ($)
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Quarterback David Blough, who was one of the Big Ten's leading passers last season, has a shoulder strain in his right, throwing shoulder and is "day-to-day," Coach Jeff Brohm said Tuesday.
Blough was injured during Saturday's scrimmage during a two-minute period when he went to stretch for the pylon and jarred the shoulder. Brohm said "everything came back clean" in an MRI Monday.
"I’m not for sure how long it will take. I think he’ll be back here fairly soon, but it is a day-to-day thing that we’ll gauge and be very cautious with it and make sure we get him healed up," Brohm said.
Elijah Sindelar, a third-year sophomore, will move into the No. 1 role, and Jared Sparks moves into the backup spot until Blough returns. Sindelar had been getting some first-team reps in camp, but Blough still was the starter up until the scrimmage.
Blough passed for 3,352 yards and 25 touchdowns last season as a full-time starter. He recently was voted one of the offense's three captains, earning that honor largely because of how he carries himself. Teammates have called him a player who does everything right, whether it's in the classroom, in the community or as it relates to football and preparation.
They likely have no doubt he'll attack whatever rehab requires with this injury, too.
"Any time a teammate or especially a friend of mine gets hurt, it hurts me to see because I know how much he wants to play and the potential that he has. But, at the same time, I know David, and he’s a pretty strong kid," senior defensive tackle Gelen Robinson said Tuesday. "He’s not going to let that stop him. If there’s any chance that he can come back and play tomorrow, he would do anything he could to do it. So I know he’s doing the right things to get better. For a fact, whenever he comes back, he’s going to be 100 percent and more competitive than ever."
Last season as a redshirt freshman, Sindelar's appearances came largely with Purdue already at a considerable deficit, and he was forced to throw the ball with the defense knowing it was coming. That resulted in not great statistics: He had three interceptions on 32 attempts.
But Sindelar knew this season — even before Blough's injury — there was a chance to see more significant game reps than before, too, based on Brohm's track record of competition. And that helped keep him ready, prepared and fueled to "dominate," which is what he said his approach was toward camp, to dominate every time he got a chance.
"I don’t care if I’m first string, second team, I’m going to give my best and win, lose, fail or success give glory to God because He’s the reason I’m here. That’s all I can do, that’s all I can ask, and it’s been a blessing to even be here," Sindelar said after the second day of camp.
“This one more than last year, I feel that I have to be ready at any point. No matter what, (Brohm is) not scared to put in the next guy. Last year, I felt like it didn’t matter if we stalled (early in the game), it wasn’t going to be until the fourth quarter and then I would get a chance. This time, it could happen any time in the first half. It could be not the first game at all. You never know with these guys. It’s next man up with these guys, which is good. ... I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have no idea, but I’m going to be ready.”
Brohm said Tuesday that he's liked Sindelar's poise in the pocket and that he's made big plays up the field — and connecting on a vertical passing game is a key piece in Brohm's offense.
At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Sindelar is a prototype-looking quarterback and also has a big arm. He just needs some fine-tuning at this point in his development, Brohm said.
"We’ve got to continue to get him better, make sure he has a good feel for things," Brohm said. "Really (what) it comes down with a lot of these quarterbacks when things don’t happen in rhythm, how can you handle it? Some people will stand in there and deliver and take the shot. Others will step up and find a little lane and make a play that way. Others will maybe find a way to maybe get through there and get some yards with their feet. It has to be practiced. We do practice it quite a bit. We practice the scramble. It’s important our guys get a feel for it and finding lanes with our eyes up the field and people coming at them. It’s not easy. Both guys need to continue to get better at it, but I have seen progress."
Brohm said Sparks will continue to get work at receiver — he started that dual-type role in the spring — but also obviously will get more second-team snaps now as the backup quarterback. Brohm said the team has a package in the offense for Sparks.
"As long as we feel good about going into the game and he feels good about it, he’ll get a few more reps as well," Brohm said. "He’ll play both (QB and receiver). He does have some speed. He’s got some athleticism, so we’ve got to make sure in some capacity, he gets at least some touches throughout the game."
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