Purdue Snowflakes: The Defense
December 4th, 2022 at 12:03 AM ^
Amazing second halves are great. But we need to tighten up the defense from GO if we are going to survive the first half against Georgia.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:14 AM ^
What about vs TCU? Have we already won that one?
December 4th, 2022 at 12:28 AM ^
TCU has a great QB and some really solid receivers too. But if we slowed down OSU, I’m optimistic we can slow them down
December 4th, 2022 at 12:29 AM ^
No, but it's not impossible to win that one the way that we won the last three games.
It will be well nigh impossible to win that way against Georgia.
December 4th, 2022 at 9:31 AM ^
I’d just wager it’s probably much easier to overcome a slow start against TCU than it would be Georgia.
December 4th, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
TCU also tends to start slowly then gain steam in the 2nd half.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
Maybe this is what we are?
December 4th, 2022 at 12:03 AM ^
WILL FUCKING JOHNSON
infinite star player
December 4th, 2022 at 12:05 AM ^
After that performance I think they have to change their name to FurGue. Just outstanding defense in the red zone all night.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:15 AM ^
I like the ring of Unidue Purversity
December 4th, 2022 at 12:30 AM ^
More like Pur-don't score TDs, amirite?
December 4th, 2022 at 12:05 AM ^
Jim in disbelief as to how staunch our D is this year...
December 4th, 2022 at 6:28 AM ^
The fishbowl cam!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:05 AM ^
Tough
December 4th, 2022 at 12:06 AM ^
Charles Woodson! *checks notes* Will Johnson!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:12 AM ^
Will Johnson has done his number proud the last couple of weeks.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:06 AM ^
Stopped them in the red zone when it really mattered.
Made great adjustments in the 2nd Half, Minter is very smart and a damn good coach.
Will Johnson was all over the place, what a stud.
Taylor Upshaw had one hell of a game too.
Go Blue!!!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:07 AM ^
Tough
December 4th, 2022 at 12:07 AM ^
I like Will Johnson.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:07 AM ^
Not great adjustment in second half but great red zone D. Will Johnson’s game is blossoming
December 4th, 2022 at 12:15 AM ^
Is tough when the QB can get the ball out quickly
December 4th, 2022 at 12:56 AM ^
They scored 9 points in the second half. That is not great 2nd half adjustment against SpoilerMakers?
December 4th, 2022 at 1:20 AM ^
It is only 4 less than they scored in the first half. So, not a great improvement.
/s
December 4th, 2022 at 9:48 AM ^
We gave up TRIPLE the points to Purdue in the second half as The OSU offense. UNACCEPTABLE!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:07 AM ^
Red Zone D was outstanding. 1 TD, 5 FGs. Kudos to Will Johnson for making plays when they were needed.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:08 AM ^
Will Johnson is representing #2 very well!!!
Only a freshman!!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:09 AM ^
Will Johnson played amazingly well. Freshman ? Tremendous. Get well Mike Morris. Great effort. Salute to O'Connell who threw some dimes despite pass rush. Allowing 9 points in second half well above their season average, but 13 & 0 and Big 10 Champions winning by 19 says all. Lot of good plays made by playmakers.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:29 AM ^
M won by 21. Don’t short them, brother
December 4th, 2022 at 12:34 AM ^
Allowing 9 points in second half well above their season average
I know this is true and accurate but still funny to see. That and the "thats 3x more than OSU scored in the second half last week"
December 4th, 2022 at 12:09 AM ^
Big plays over and over again by true freshmen and sophomores. Fully weaponized Will Johnson wants to win natties, plural
December 4th, 2022 at 12:10 AM ^
I don’t know if the game plan was to bend don’t break and allow the field to shorten before stopping but they kinda let the Purdue passing game do what they want.
December 4th, 2022 at 1:48 AM ^
Give them some credit. They are an excellently coached passing team with some great play makers. As a team, Purdue's problem is very similar to Ohio State's: they are so dependent on their awesome passing attack that it can be their undoing.
On the drive where Minter gave up a bunch of running yards, that was just excellent coaching even though Purdue kept moving down the field. He spooked them out of passing—their greatest strength and what they needed to work given the situation—and got them to run the clock down on themselves. That's what had been most successful for them, especially early in the game, but Minter dissuaded them from using it in the 4th quarter when they were down three scores.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:10 AM ^
Played better than the yardage suggests. O'Connell was just dealing out there. He's the best QB we've faced. But we still only gave up one TD!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:10 AM ^
Kinda frustrating. Didn’t like giving up all those long drives at all.
But they stiffened when they needed to, as they have shown the ability to do, and Will Johnson really made those two picks happen.
13-0.
December 4th, 2022 at 1:06 AM ^
That's modern defensive football, though. Situational not systematic. Don't get beat over the top in the middle of the field. Bring more pressure in the red zone when you can't get beat over the top. Get those 4-pt plays. Don Brown never understood that that is the only way to play advanced offenses. You can't expect to pitch shutouts with risky mid-field blitzes like... lol, thank you Jim Knowles!
December 4th, 2022 at 2:18 PM ^
It's a bend-don't-break defense, though. That sort of play is baked-in. Limit touchdowns, FGs at worst. The whole 4-point strategy seems to being working.
December 4th, 2022 at 8:36 PM ^
Yes. The time of possession disparity in this game was the most disturbing stat. Yes, TOP is not always reliable of an indicator as the final score indicates. But, if we let Georgia in the red zone that many times, they're not going to be settling for field goals. I'd have liked to see some better adjustments to shut off some of those passes to Jones.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:11 AM ^
The fact that Will Johnson went to grosse point south, and I played terrible football there. (Played as didn’t ever really played) but a dude ended up being great from my school! Go blue! Go devils! Go Will!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:12 AM ^
13-0 is 13-0.
Lets make it 15-0 while we’re at it.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:13 AM ^
They were outstanding. Pretty much shut down the run game and controlled the passing attack.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:13 AM ^
How do you define bend but don't break? Tonight's defense. Keys stops on the red zone and held Purdue to 1TD & 5FG. Amazing!! This Purdue offense was potent. O'Connell to Charlie Jones connection was dangerous.
Game ball goes to Will Johnson with 2 INT and took 6 points off the the board for Purdue. What a stud!
Jesse Minter dials up another fantastic second half!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:15 AM ^
Bend don't break is a great way to get things done when your offense can score. Will Johnson is a star. We can stick him on the best WR in playoffs and know we will be fine. What a luxury to have this secondary.
This defense again played well without their best player. Hats off to them. A true dynasty.
This D will do well in playoff when they leave everything on the field. Purdue tried everything but this D just keeps making plays. Love this team and they are built to slow down those pass happy teams.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:16 AM ^
They stiffened and sprang to life when absolutely necessary.
It cannot be underestimated how running a pro style defense in college translates to such consistent success.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:17 AM ^
Will Johnson got his Eagle Scout rating in this one. Came of age. 2 picks. Both yuge.
The coverage could've been better (it was fantastic at times), but O'Connell and Chuck Sizzle were just really, really good tonight. Have to tip the cap to them. Even so, Purdue had 1.7 fewer YPA passing and only managed 2.4 YPC rushing.
December 4th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
I’ll be that guy-sack adjusted YPC 4.
December 4th, 2022 at 12:30 AM ^
Too many 3rd down conversions against us, need to take advantage of opportunities to boot the opponent offense off the field more.
They stepped up when it counted though with two huge INTs and holding to FGs in the red zone.
Glad to see everyone that got dinged get back out later on too.
December 4th, 2022 at 1:14 AM ^
Wrong! That's Don Brown think. That's where a modern offense will burn you. You stop them in the red zone when you can't get beat over the top. 4-pt plays. In Minter I trust!
December 4th, 2022 at 5:37 AM ^
I mean it’s not the only way. It works for us because we don’t have dominate dline play. But winning with 5 or 6 and getting off the field early is still optimal.
December 4th, 2022 at 8:11 AM ^
We don't have dominant d-line play? We had 4 sacks last night and 7 TFLs. Did you look at their rushing stats? 2.4 yards per carry. The problem is that that is an advanced passing offense. They get the ball out quick! If you commit extra defenders in the middle of the field as Don Brown always did with his safeties (His 4-2-5 was really a 4-3-4 or 4-4-3 with undersized safeties as linebackers), you will get burned. Of course, making every possession go three and out is optimal, but the cost of trying to make that happen will... oh yeah, haha, thank you Jim Knowles!
December 4th, 2022 at 12:31 AM ^
Will Johnson is an absolute stud. Future All American for sure.