GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Purdue at Michigan — What May Happen
Posted at 6:00am — 10/29/2011
GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Purdue at Michigan — What May Happen
The short answer to the question in the title is about anything may happen. Either team could win, I suspect most would give UM a 2/3 odds. The weather should be all right, the ball may start to get a little slick, but upper 40’s is still good football weather.
Michigan has had two weeks to prepare for Purdue and that is a good thing for the defense as Purdue has good skilled players and a big offensive line, one that runs ok but is far from dominating.
Purdue uses many formations and talent groups, so Michigan needs to be very well prepared. It is not unusual for over a half dozen guys to get a touch in one quarter. Receivers running and runners receiving are very common occurrences in this offense.
Purdue will run the dive up the middle, pull and hit the edge, run the read, run planned quarterback scrambles, and usually runs both reverses and counters in the same game. For the Michigan defenders this means discipline, discipline, and preparation to be disciplined.
Purdue will dink and dunk, but eventually this team loves o go deep over the top, and will do so down either sideline, or down the middle seam. Look for the sidelines for sure. Also watch for pump fakes and then the receivers go up the sideline. Backs are well used and force defenders to cover in space. The defenders are also spread out and occasionally the offense creates enough confusion to get an easy gift.
Purdue will run the entire base running series and much of the passing series. When the best shot at success is found the Boilers will come back for more. It would make sense for Purdue to use the backs for hot reads and go to vacated areas like MSU did. Look for shots to the flat and a couple of dinks over the middle to slow down Coach Mattison. Purdue will almost certainly isolate UM linebackers in space and attempt to make that part of the game a big advantage.
Michigan has had time to put in a couple of wrinkles, and so I expect both teams will throw a trick play or two out for public view.
People have argued what part of the Purdue defense is strongest or weakest. From here the groups do not look that far apart in overall ability to contribute. The front four has and is focusing on pressuring the quarterback. This could be a calculated gamble and the first quarter will tell if Purdue attacks like MSU or plays to keep Denard in front. Purdue will play tight and the wide outs need to be nasty enough to get a little separation. Purdue knows that every second Denard hangs onto the ball the greater the chance the passing game breaks down
If Michigan can beat the Purdue front seven, it could be a long game for the Boilers.
We are hoping for noted improvement as good competition is on the horizon.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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