Deep Dive: Purdue camp practice No. 2
Purdue’s second training camp practice of 2023 is in the books. In all, the Boilermakers will have 19 practices in camp under first-year coach Ryan Walters. Today, the first seven periods of practice were open.
Let’s take a Deep Dive!
1 – The inside linebacker spot is interesting. This scheme will really have only one true linebacker who plays in the box. The other “inside linebacker” will be more of a roaming position, allowing the defense to match up with whatever offenses are doing. O.C. Brothers and Clyde Washington are the top players at the spot.
2 – Is this a no-huddle, go-go offense? “We’ll see,” said OC Graham Harrell, smiling and shrugging. “We like to play fast at times. But there definitely will be some no-huddle. But there may be times that we kind of huddle, slow it down, as well. But we like to play with a tempo. There definitely will be no-huddle at times. And there will be huddles at times, probably. It’s about keeping teams off balance.”
3 – QB Hudson Card’s elevator pitch on this offense: “It’s an offense that’s fast-paced. We’re gonna go quick. We’re gonna spin the ball around, we’re gonna be really, really detailed in what we’re doing on each play. And the goal is to cause the defense issues.”
4 – Saw C Gus Hartwig, TE Garrett Miller, OT Daniel Johnson, and DE Prince Boyd working off to the side. Also did not see DB Ethon Cole, CB Salim Turner-Muhammad and OL Andre Oben for the second day in succession. OLB Khordae Sydnor was back in action.
5 – Is there an ideal pass-run ratio in this Air Raid-based offense? Not really, according to Harrell.
“We never really talk about what’s the ideal ratio. The most important thing is to make sure all your playmakers are touching the football whether they be in the backfield, whether it is receivers. Hudson’s an elite athlete himself, so I think getting the most explosive ballcarriers the football is going to be our most important job.”
6 – CB Jamari Brown was riding a stationary bike. In red for a second day in a row: OLB Scotty Humpich and walk-on OL Drew Woodruff. DE Sulaiman Kpaka and LB Clyde Washington shed their red jerseys today.
7 – It seems nicknames are popular, at least among the QBs. Card is “Huddy.” Bennett Meredith is “Benny.” Graham Harrell? Oh, he’s still just Coach Harrell, according to Meredith.
8 – Meredith attended iconic Hoover (Ala.) High, the subject of an MTV reality show called “Two-A-Days” from 2006-08. “It’s an awesome place. It was an incredible place. It’s an iconic program. I think it’s really prepared me for this level, as much as a high school can prepare someone for college. It’s pretty cool saying that I did get to play for Hoover. I was wearing an Hoover shirt here the other day and everyone knew about Hoover. That’s just pretty cool knowing I played there.”
9 – Purdue has gotten a lot bigger on the d-line with additions of three SEC transfers: 6-6, 315-pound Jeffrey M’Ba (Auburn), 6-4, 310-pound Malik Langham (Vanderbilt) and 6-3, 300-pound Isaiah Nichols (Arkansas) Walking by M’Ba, he casts a formidable shadow.
10 – Purdue has worn helmets, shorts and jerseys with spider pads underneath for protection the first two days. The next phase: helmets and shoulder pads for two practices. Then, Purdue can go to full gear for Practice No. 5.
11 – The fact Meredith spoke to the media day would seem to indicate the Arizona State transfer is Card’s caddy. But Meredith says the No. 2 job is up for grabs, with Ryan Browne the other scholarship quarterback. Harrell concurs.
12 – As the interior d-linemen went through drills, Damarjhe Lewis watched. As you recall, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in camp last year.
13 – Best hairdo? Colorado transfer OL Austin Johnson is sporting a mo-hawk.
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