PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB David Blough has a tough task this weekend. Though he’s put up big numbers in recent weeks, Illinois coach Lovie Smith has made his living by coaching defenses that were both stifling and innovative. Illinois already has 10 interceptions through the season’s first five games, and Blough has to retain his aggressive decision-making to generate big plays without being tricked into throwing into deep coverage. His ability to accomplish this likely will decide the game’s outcome.
–WR Rondale Moore will rewrite the record books at Purdue if he can continue his early-season pace. He has 41 catches through five games, with four touchdowns and 457 yards. It’s possible that the true freshman will wear down in the second half of the Big Ten schedule, but if he can stay healthy he’ll continue to cause nightmares for Big Ten defensive coordinators.
–S Jacob Thieneman has made the most of his ability at Purdue, and the coaching staff has helped by relying on him more for run support and pressuring the quarterback than hanging back deep in the secondary. He’s another player who will have to be at his best against the Illinois zone read offense, and the secondary in general has to do a better job of staying in their lanes and preventing big plays.
–LB Markus Bailey is coming off his second big game in a row, with 11 tackles and a sack against Nebraska. As a defensive front, however, Purdue had big problems with the read option, and Bailey will have to take the lead in helping this unit to be much better against the Illinois offense this week.
SERIES HISTORY: Illinois leads Purdue 44-43-6. However, that’s a little misleading — the Illini went 15-2-2 between 1897 and 1919. The Boilermakers have won five of the last six games in Champaign.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think we’ve kind of evolved and we want to go down swinging each game. If we happen not to win, it’s not because we played scared. We are going to play aggressive, take shots.” — Purdue coach Jeff Brohm on opening up his offense.
