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If Purdue's offense could clean up the turnovers, then it might have something.

In three games, the Boilermakers have 1,482 yards of offense, with the average of 494 ranking third in the Big Ten (behind Ohio State and Indiana). The Boilermakers are second in passing offense, at 317.3, that's almost 75 yards more than No. 3 Nebraska, and are ninth in rushing, at 176.7. Yet their scoring output doesn't match the yardage; with only 89 points in three games, the average of 29.7 ranks in the bottom half (ninth) of the league.

Turnovers are the reason. Purdue is tied for last in the Big Ten in giveaways, but its 10 have come in only three games, while PSU has spread its 10 across four. And the Boilermakers are last in margin, averaging a minus-two.

Not only that, but several of Purdue's turnovers have come at particularly inopportune times, with four being in (or on the edge of) the red zone. Two of David Blough's five interceptions vs. Cincinnati came at the Bearcats' 20- and 21-yard-lines, while his only pick against Nevada was thrown from the Wolf Pack 4. And Brian Lankford-Johnson's third-quarter fumble came on a first-and-goal from the 3.

Clean up the turnovers and perhaps Purdue can get its first winning streak in the Darrell Hazell Era.

Evan Panfil was superb.

Not only do the senior's numbers look fantastic — the defensive end had five tackles, four of them for loss with two sacks — but he pursued with purpose. He's always been one to attack, but it looked more controlled; he looked quicker because of his technique Saturday, shedding off Nevada blocks, changing direction, using his speed as much as his power.

Panfil's not always done so. He's admitted to getting pulled into grudge matches with offensive lineman, feeling like he could overpower them. And he could occasionally. But Saturday, he used his athleticism just as much, it seemed, and was able to get into the backfield frequently. Not only did he have the sacks, but on at least two other occasions he had third-down pressures that forced punts on the next play.

Probably that Blough was sacked only once.

With a makeshift offensive line that included two new tackles — and the five-some had worked together only in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before Saturday's game — Purdue was able to piece together 466 yards of offense. Sure, Blough was pressured often, particularly off his blind side where left tackle Jalen Neal was making his first start, but he frequently made something of it. Probably an underrated skill of Blough's, that he has pretty good pocket awareness and can make subtle shifts to avoid pressure.

And now, at least more than last year, he's hanging out in the pocket until it breaks down while still looking down the field. Last season, he'd take off at the earliest sign of trouble.

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