More: Blough says he's 'good' to go | Brohm looking to instill belief | Vs.: Will Blough play Saturday? ($) | Brohms are 'first family' of Louisville | Depth chart notes
Elijah Sindelar doesn’t know when he’ll know.
But until then — Coach Jeff Brohm, at some point between now and kickoff Saturday, will decide on a starting quarterback vs. Louisville — Sindelar will prepare as if he’s going to be QB1, because that’s what he’s always done.
“(Coaches) don’t say anything (about who’s starting), to be honest with you,” Sindelar said following Tuesday’s practice, presumably after both he and David Blough, who is returning from injury, shared first-teams snaps. “David and I are both on ‘Go,’ because we are completely in the dark.
“I have always set out to be the starter and am going to prepare as if I am. And even if I wasn’t the starter — or if I am — it doesn’t matter. My role doesn’t change. I still have to perform every day.”
Sindelar thinks he’s more ready now than ever before, and there’s reason to believe that’s true. Physically, the sophomore looks the part, being a 6-foot-4, 230-pound pocket presence with a strong arm that’s capable of making all the needed throws.
But perhaps it’s the mental game where he’s taken the biggest steps, especially recently. With Blough sidelined two weeks — the returning starter was out Aug. 12 ‘til Sunday after straining his throwing shoulder during a scrimmage — Sindelar took the bulk of first-team snaps.
“It definitely excelled me in preparation, because being able to go against the 1s where the speed is slightly different than 2s, it helps,” he said. “Even the windows to throw the ball are smaller, so you know what you can throw and what you can’t throw, so just these last two weeks prepared me to be ready to go in a game and perform well and do my best. Really grateful for the opportunity I had to take those 1 reps.”
Sindelar thinks it’ll erase his timidity. He says he suffered from it in his early seasons at Purdue, including in 2016. Last season, coming in at the end of blowouts largely with second-teamers — probably not great conditions, to say the least — Sindelar threw three interceptions in only 32 attempts.
And he completed only 44-percent of his throws, seeming a bit slow to decide where to deliver with the football.
“I feel much better in the pocket, knowing where to go with the ball, how to open up guys, knowing that if I stare at them too long I’ll cover them, so I’ve got to be able to look them off to open them up,” he said.
“Things have really slowed down for me, which has helped a lot. I don’t think you can be at the best you want to be. There’s always room for improvement, but if I had to go into a game right now I’d be really confident.”
QB coach Brian Brohm thinks teammates are trusting Sindelar more too, after he was forced into a bigger leadership role over the last couple weeks.
“He’s shown leadership out there, running the huddle as he should be,” reserve QB (and part-time receiver) Jared Sparks said. “He knows the plays, he executes them. As a teammate, you use that to challenge yourself. He’s been doing an amazing job and that just pushes me to want to do better, too.”
Sindelar, the Kentucky Mr. Football in 2014, says Louisville — Purdue plays the Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis — doesn’t hold much extra significance as an opponent. Former UL coach Charlie Strong recruited Sindelar, but didn’t offer, after he was an early commitment to Purdue.
He might get the start.
Or maybe not.
Jeff Brohm says Purdue will make an internal choice, then tell the quarterbacks of the plan, but probably won’t let the public know.
Sindelar, who hasn’t started since the third game of the ’14 Kentucky state playoffs, when he tore his ACL, says not knowing right now decreases the nerves.
“There’s always nerves before a game, so not knowing you’re going to start probably holds them off a little bit,” he said, “but they’re still going to come, which is good. That means you’re ready to play, ready to perform. If you’re not nervous, then something’s wrong.”
“… (But) I feel really good, confident, composed, ready to go.”
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