Purdue’s offense is like the tide, it simply keeps coming.
Stopping it is the daunting task for the Notre Dame defense as the Irish (3-1) prepare to play No. 15 Purdue (3-0) Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
Although senior quarterback Kyle Orton is one of the best passers in the country, the Boilermakers’ multifaceted offense also has rushed for more than 600 yards.
In each of the first three games, nine Boilermakers have caught passes. The ground game has received significant contributions from running backs Jerod Void and Brandon Jones.
The most visible player on the offense–Orton–has been the best protected. Purdue’s offensive line has ceded only one sack.
Orton has thrown for 327 yards per game, has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes and has thrown 13 touchdown passes without an interception.
Orton’s ability to spread the ball around, Irish defensive end Justin Tuck said, “definitely makes it hard on our secondary because he doesn’t key in on any one of the receivers. That makes us play him a lot more honest.”
Of course, Orton’s first option is usually senior wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield, who is averaging 108 receiving yards per game and has caught eight of Orton’s 13 touchdown passes.
“[Still,] it’s not just a two-man show,” Irish coach Tyrone Willingham said. “They are averaging about 600 yards a game in total offense and that’s unbelievable. And you don’t do that with just two guys. That takes a full complement of guys working very well together, and they are playing very well together.”
The same, however, is true of the Irish defense, according to Purdue coach Joe Tiller.
“Their three senior linebackers are extremely talented guys–no weaknesses, great vision, a real feel for the game,” Tiller said. “I really like their front seven. . . . It’ll be a real test for our football team to rush the ball against them. [Our] backs are probably going to be utilized more as blockers than runners because of the type of pressure their defense can bring on your passer.”
The Irish defense, Tuck said, is determined to stop Purdue in its tracks.
“This defense is real hungry. . . . Obviously, we owe them one because they beat us last year (23-10 at Purdue) and that has been our focal point,” Tuck said. “We have them in our house this year and we are just trying to come out with a win.”
