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WEST LAFAYETTE — The Big Ten’s worst defense, after allowing 39.9 points per game in 2024, has nowhere to go but up this next season.
Purdue football is counting on new defensive coordinator Mike Scherer to elevate the Boilermakers on that side of the ball.
After a four-year college career as a standout linebacker for Barry Odom at Missouri, Scherer joined the coaching ranks beginning in 2019 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.
Odom brought Scherer with him to Arkansas, where he coached linebackers, and named Scherer defensive coordinator when he took over as UNLV’s head coach in 2023. UNLV went 20-8 over the past two seasons.
When Odom became the head coach of the Boilermakers, Scherer was the obvious choice and followed his mentor to West Lafayette.
More: What attracted OC Josh Henson to Purdue football? A 1997 loss to the Boilermakers
Three questions with Purdue football’s defensive coordinator
Q: Can you describe your base scheme and what you expect for Purdue’s defense in 2025?
A: That’s a really hard question to answer mainly because we’re trying to figure out who our players are. The players are the most important part of every scheme. You’ve got to figure out what they can do. It doesn’t matter what I know. It matters what they can do. … If you’re a traditional person, you think of schemes as a 4-2, a 3-4 or a 3-3. We’re going to do all of them.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 08: Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Scherer of the UNLV Rebels looks on during the team’s spring showcase scrimmage at Allegiant Stadium on April 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Q: Was an experienced secondary the most important thing you needed to add to the defense? Purdue had essentially none in that regard and you’ve added six experienced defensive backs from the portal.
A: We needed…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/purdue-footballs-defensive-scheme-3-090644473.html
Author : Journal & Courier
Publish date : 2025-02-17 09:06:00
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