GBMWolverine: Coach's Corner -- Michigan Football -- Purdue at Michigan -- Preview

Posted at 6:00am — 10/28/2011

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Purdue at Michigan — Preview

Purdue is a good team, not great, not on the bad side of the college football bubble. Michigan is a good team, with high aspirations of becoming great. A good team can certainly beat a good team. Michigan has much more to lose, even though Purdue needs some wins to get to a bowl.

Purdue’s offense looks impressive and moves the football. Against lower tier teams, Purdue scores above thirty points per game, against top teams the Boilers struggle to get past the 21 mark.

Here are some general points about the Purdue offense to start the preview. Purdue runs the spread and like many spread teams places forward as a central objective the ability to run the ball in a physical game. This has happened with some success. The passing game is spread out to many receivers, including backs. Purdue employs multiple formations with multiple personnel packages.

There have been times when Purdue has played two quarterbacks this season, but last Saturday Caleb TerBush got the hot hand and went the distance. He is a good combo athlete and has enough support to hurt a team on a given day. Caleb is hitting over 61% of his passes, not unusual for a spread team that often throws safe and short.

Tailback Ralph Edison is a talented tailback coming back from injury. He was all Big Ten in 2009. Ralph can hit the edge and has the shakes to be very good in space. The defense must prepare for him and prevent the home run, both at the edge and up the middle. Akeem Shavers sees time and has done well. Both backs are averaging around five yards per carry. The total package of all the backs, quarterbacks, and receivers that carry the ball averages out to just less than 200 yards per game.

One potential rusher is wide receiver Antavian Edison who is probably Purdue’s most versatile player. Antavian lines up on the perimeter, the slot, and even in an I formation. He frequently goes in motion and runs the jet, counter, and reverse. He forces a defense to pay attention. Justin Siller is a very good receiver who can break the big play.

The downside for Purdue has been third down against good teams. The yardage looks impressive but sometimes the results are average. While the offense features a bevy of possible contributors, no one player can carry the game load for the Boilers.

The defense has improved and played pretty well against Penn State and Illinois. The Purdue defense may more than any of the four units on the field Saturday determine the game outcome. That is, unless the Michigan defense makes a statement of its own.

One thing is far more certain; the Boilers’ defensive focus will be to pressure the passer. Everyone from now on will make that mission one against the Michigan offense. Purdue did have four sacks against a talented Illinois quarterback and caused some bad throws. The defensive line has increased production the last few weeks.

The kicking game of Purdue is sound. Many kicks have been touchbacks, the field goal production is about par, and the punting average is impressive. Michigan must guard against kick returner Raheem Mostert breaking a big one; he averages over 28 yards per return.

Both teams can win this game. Perhaps the key players in Saturday’s game will be Michigan’s coordinators. The offense must find a way to counter Purdue’s pressure and the defense must defend the edge and make key tackles in space. Michigan can give up four or five yards per play, but not on every down. Whichever defense can stop the other team’s offense on third down probably has a hand up in the game.

Like always, we will all see.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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