Purdue’s loss to Nebraska last week was one that was disappointing. Purdue was the better team for the first three quarters of play. The Boilermakers’ defense was strong and the special teams was dominating the Cornhuskers. For over 47 minutes, the Purdue Boilermakers were the better football team on the field. That is, they were the better team if you ignore their offense.
The Purdue offense struggled so much, that Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters fired offensive coordinator of the football team, Graham Harrell. Now, Purdue offensive analyst Jason Simmons will be calling plays for the offense. Hopefully, that means good things for the Boilermakers as they travel to Madison this week.
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Wisconsin Badgers Football History
The Boilermakers and Badgers have faced off a total of 90 times with the Boilermakers trailing 29-53-8 in the series. In recent history, the Boilers are on a 17-game losing streak to Wisconsin. The last time Purdue beat Wisconsin was back in October of 2003. The last time Purdue won in West Lafayette was in October of 1997. All of this means that there are players on both teams who were not born the last time Purdue beat Wisconsin.
Key Players for Purdue
Interim OC Jason Simmons
Most people hear the name Jason Simmons and ask, “Who is that?”. Simmons is someone who has made a name for himself in the Indianapolis area as one of the better high school football coaches in the area.
Simmons led Ben Davis High School to the Final Four three straight years from 2019-2021. Last season, he was the running backs coach at the University of Miami, Ohio and led the Redhawks to a 2,000-yard rushing season. They also had their first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly two decades. Simmons has coached multiple NFL players and has gotten four players scholarships to D1 schools in his time at Ben Davis.
Now, Simmons is the interim OC for the Purdue Boilermakers, and is ready to make his name more widely known among the football community. He is going to be fighting for his job just as much as Ryan Walters and the players on the offense will be fighting.
If Simmons wants to have success, his offense should be focused on playing to the strengths of his players. Keeping a focus on the running game with the duo of Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III will help, but he needs to scheme plays where Hudson Card can throw the ball to his receivers.
Simmons needs to get Max Klare more involved and use more pre-snap motions for wide receivers like Jahmal Edrine, C.J. Smith, and Jaron Tibbs.
Hudson Card
Hudson Card needs to stop throwing interceptions. He has the same number of interceptions as games played this season. While Card is up to a 66 percent completion rate, he can play better. These past two games have shown that he can make big time throws. However, he has also made some poor passes straight to the defense.
In the fourth quarter of their Big Ten matchup against Nebraska, he threw a pick-six where it looked as though he was purposely targeting the linebacker. He can do better than that.
Everyone knows the phrase “KISS” (Keep It Stupid Simple). If Card can keep it simple he can help win games for Purdue.
The Defense
The defense has been the best part of the team for the past two weeks. Multiple times in the last two football games, the Purdue Boilermakers defense forced a turnover on downs.
While they have yet to recover a fumble or interception, they are playing well enough that it’s only a matter of time before they happen. After putting the team on their backs for two weeks and getting let down both games, the defense needs to keep the faith and help the offense and put them in the best field position possible.
Key Players for Wisconsin
Chez Mellusi
Chez Mellusi is the leader in the Wisconsin backfield. Over the past four games, Mellusi has recorded 56 rushing attempts for 232 yards and three touchdowns. His steadiness on the ground has been a major component to the Badgers’ pair of wins. If the Badgers want to win, they will likely need Mellusi to establish the run and continue to improve on his 4.1 yards per carry average.
Braedyn Locke
Braedyn Locke is the backup QB who has been thrusted into the starting position after Tyler Van Dyke got injured. However, Locke has shown he is a similar player to Van Dyke.
Locke is averaging 11.7 yards per completion. Add in his two touchdowns and you have a quality backup QB who can lead a team to a handful of wins. If Locke plays like he has against Alabama and USC, then Purdue’s defense will get the better of him. However, if he steps up to the pressure, he can pick apart the Boilermakers.
Purdue Boilermakers’ Route to Victory
Purdue needs a win badly; and their path to a victory rests on the back of the defense. Should the defense manage to hold Mellusi in check and keep the press on Locke and the receivers, then Purdue will be able to force multiple turnovers and punts.
Offensively, Purdue needs Jason Simmons and Hudson Card to step up and score. These short offensive drives are hurting the defense and the sanity of Purdue fans. It’s not clear who needs a win more, Ryan Walters or the fanbase.
Hunter Greene
Hunter started writing for The League Winners in the summer of 2021. Hunter has been playing fantasy football for about a decade, starting in middle school. Now he’s a professional landscaper and avid Colts and Purdue fan.