Purdue football’s defense is the Big Ten’s worst. Can it be rectified?

WEST LAFAYETTE — Simplistically, Kydran Jenkins says there’s a solution to fixing Purdue football’s defense.

“Being aggressive, stopping the run, staying in our gap, doing your job aggressively,” the senior linebacker said.

It’s a bit more complex than that.

But, Jenkins is correct, that it starts with staying assignment sound and aggressive.

Through three games, the Boilermakers are allowing 392.3 yards per game.

Purdue is one of six teams nationally yet to force a turnover.

“It is easier to generate turnovers when teams are throwing the football,” Purdue coach Ryan Walters said. “You get sack fumbles. You get tipped balls. You get quarterback pressures and obviously you get the ball in the air. Once it’s in the air it’s up for grabs. We haven’t forced people to throw it.”

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31), Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Kydran Jenkins (4) and Purdue Boilermakers defensive end Will Heldt (15) Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 66-7.

The Boilermakers actually rank third in the Big Ten in pass defense, but that stat is more a hindrance on Purdue’s run defense.

USC ranks 17th in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed per game. Purdue is 106 yards per game worse than the Trojans (269). Despite owning a 49-0 victory over Indiana State, Purdue’s defense is allowing a league-worst 34.7 points per game.

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“We have a capable team. Everyone in this building knows it,” linebacker Yanni Karlaftis said. “Just being able to go out there and do something that we many times do day in and day out, that’s just frustrating not being able to do…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/purdue-footballs-defense-big-tens-081016329.html

Author : Journal & Courier

Publish date : 2024-09-26 08:10:16

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