UW’S OPPONENT AT A GLANCE: PURDUE (3-2, 1-1)
OFFENSE
First-year coach Jeff Brohm has shown he is willing to play the hot hand at quarterback, with junior David Blough and sophomore Elijah Sindelar splitting time. Blough has been a bit more careless with the ball and has four interceptions on 90 attempts. According to Brohm, Blough tends to lock in early on a receiver and sometimes forces the ball into coverage. He has completed 68.9% of his throws, however, and has seven touchdown passes. Sindelar has completed only 55.6% of his passes but has six touchdown passes and only two interceptions in 90 attempts. Brohm would love to stretch defenses with a vertical passing game, but the Boilermakers don’t have consistent deep threats. The Boilermakers will stretch UW’s defense from sideline to sideline, however. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jackson Anthrop leads the team in catches (21) and touchdown catches (four) but is averaging only 9.9 yards per catch. Purdue also uses its tight ends in the passing game. Sophomore Brycen Hopkins, 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, has three touchdown catches and is third on the team in catches (13). Junior Cole Herdman, 6-4 and 240, has 10 catches. He is averaging 24.3 yards per catch and has two touchdowns. In addition to the lack of a vertical passing game, the Boilermakers have struggled to run the ball consistently. Tailback Tario Fuller leads the team in rushing with 261 yards on 43 carries, an average of 6.1. But he has missed two games because of an ankle injury and isn’t expected to play this week. Juniors D.J. Knox and Markell Jones combined to handle most of the workload last week in the victory over Minnesota. Knox, a fire hydrant at 5-7 and 210, carried seven times for 56 yards. Jones added 52 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. They also combined for seven catches and 51 yards against the Gophers. Expect Brohm to look for ways to get the backs matched up one-on-one against UW's linebackers.
DEFENSE
The defensive staff has three coaches who have been coordinators at other schools, including co-defensive coordinators Nick Holt and Anthony Poindexter. Purdue generally plays a fourman front and although the linemen haven’t produced a high number of tackles they have kept blockers off the linebackers. Weak-side linebacker T.J. McCollum leads the team in tackles (40), followed by middle linebacker Ju’Whan Bentley (34) and strong-side linebacker Markus Bailey (31). Bentley returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown to seal the 31-17 victory over Minnesota and has forced two fumbles. Bailey has an interception and a fumble recovery and is tied for the team lead in sacks with two. Strong safety Jacob Thieneman is also strong in run support. He is fourth on the team in tackles (28). The Boilermakers likely will have to bring extra rushers to get to UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook. They have only five sacks in five games. Two key players could be out this week. McCollum suffered a leg injury against Minnesota and his status is unclear. Reserve defensive tackle Keiwan Jones suffered an apparent knee injury against the Gophers and is out.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter Joe Schopper and kicker Spencer Evans highlight the units that are, for the most part, average. Schopper is averaging 44.0 yards per punt and has induced a fair catch 13 times on 25 punts. Nine of his punts have carried 50 or more yards and he has yet to record a touchback. Evans has recorded 20 touchbacks on 28 kicks (71.4%). The Boilermakers do not have a dependable field-goal kicker. J.D. Dellinger (3 of 5) and Evans (2 of 4) have combined to make just 5 of 9 attempts.