PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB David Blough had a setback against Michigan State, throwing three interceptions for the first time in the two-year Jeff Brohm era. The staff plans to spend extra time this week having Blough practice under pressure with a hand in his face so he can be ready for what he will see on Saturday.
–WR Rondale Moore is always going to catch a ton of passes, but Michigan State may have provided other Boilermaker opponents a way in limiting the damage. He had 11 catches against the Spartans but totaled just 74 yards receiving and his longest gain was for 18 yards. Iowa may try a similar approach of allowing him to get his catches but making sure someone is always behind him to keep him from turning those receptions into big plays.
–DT Lorenzo Neal is coming off one of his best games in a Purdue uniform, despite dealing with nagging injuries. The coaches would like to rotate more players on the line and limit his snaps, but that’s been tough because of the lack of depth at the position.
–K Spencer Evans had a key field goal attempt blocked against Michigan State, and coach Jeff Brohm gave a tepid excuse at best that it wouldn’t have gone through the uprights anyway. The Purdue special teams made a number of critical errors in the loss to the Spartans, and nobody has a lot of rope if those mistakes manifest themselves again this week.
SERIES HISTORY: Purdue leads Iowa 47-38-3. The Boilermakers knocked off the Hawkeyes 24-15 last season in Iowa City.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “This quarterback that Michigan State had who hadn’t played, he looked like Joe Montana out there, and I don’t like to see that.” — Coach Jeff Brohm, on his team’s lack of pressure on both the quarterback and receivers against Michigan State.
