Wisconsin out to get Purdue quarterback
MADISON – For as well as they have played for most of this season, the members of Wisconsin’s defense continue to stress one area that must improve is sacks.
The Badgers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) have recorded 12 sacks in six games as they prepare to face Purdue (4-2, 2-1) Saturday in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Only Penn State (11) and Indiana (nine) have fewer sacks among Big Ten teams.
Purdue has allowed 15 sacks through six games.
Only Iowa (18) and Nebraska (21) have allowed more sacks among Big Ten teams.
However, quarterback Aidan O’Connell was sacked just once last week in a 24-7 victory over then-No. 2 Iowa and completed 30 of 40 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns.
Iowa is tied for fifth in the Big Ten in sacks (15).
“Their line is doing a good job,” UW linebacker Jack Sanborn said of the Boilermakers, “but their quarterbacks get it out quick. It doesn’t take long to throw a 5-yard pass.
“But at the same time, they’re going to give you opportunities. So, when they want to go deep, those plays take longer to develop and they have to protect longer. Those are the chances we need to capitalize on.”
One key for UW when the Boilermakers use their quick passing game will be whether the linemen and linebackers can get their hands up and get a tip at the line of scrimmage.
“Anything you are able to do can help tremendously,” Sanborn said. “If we notice that ball is coming out low, for sure hands are going to be up.”
Three options at QB for Purdue
Although O’Connell was fabulous in the victory over Iowa, Purdue coach Jeff Brohm went into the game anticipating he would use his top three quarterbacks in an attempt spark the team’s foundering red-zone offense.
“The red-zone woes have been disappointing to me and it affected me,” he said. “Once again, you can either do something about it or you can cry over sour milk.”
Purdue entered the Iowa game with seven field goals and only 10 touchdowns on 21 trips into the red zone.
Brohm’s use of three quarterbacks against appeared to spark the offense, which generated two touchdowns and a field goal on three red-zone trips.
“I didn’t know if it was going to work or not,” Brohm said, “but we wanted to have some creativity and let our guys go out there and play and throw some punches and take some shots.”
Brohm took his first shot on Purdue’s second series, which started at the Boilermakers’ 33.
Jack Plummer opened the series instead of O’Connell and rushed for 13 yards on first down. O’Connell came in for the next three plays and hit 2 of 3 passes for 10 yards, moving the ball to the Iowa 44.
Austin Burton came in and rushed 5 yards to the 39. O’Connell got the next two plays and hit passes of 15 and 16 yards to the move the ball to the Iowa 8. Burton then ran for 5 yards to the 3; Plummer lost 3 yards to the 6; and O’Connell capped the drive with a 6yard run.
“I think the ability to play three guys and see the team rally around that and the quarterbacks rally around that when the others make plays,” Brohm said, “I think builds confidence in your offense and builds belief that any of these three guys can get it done.”
Has UW prepared to face all three quarterbacks?
“You may have a lean one way or the other,” UW coach Paul Chryst said, referring to which quarterbacks will play. “But you’ve got to prepare for their offense.
“I think any coach would say there are some things one (quarterback) does better. But I think it would be pretty risky … if you only prepared for what you saw. You know there is going to be more.”