Inside the numbers: Purdue offense

This is the first of a three-part series examining Purdue’s strengths and weaknesses. We are taking a look at the Boilermakers’ 2022 statistics on offense, defense and special teams in an effort to examine what the team should do well and what it needs to improve for 2023. Of course, the dynamic of a new staff and schemes no doubt will impact projections.

First up: The offense. What did the Boilermakers do well on offense in 2022? What do they need to improve on this fall as they look to get back to a bowl?

Passing

CategoryValueNational rankPassing yardage per game278.822Passing touchdowns26T36Completion percentage63.3T43rdYards per attempt6.7T96thLong passing plays (20+ yards)45T54thSacks allowed28.0T71st

Purdue had one of the nation’s better pass attacks last season under Aidan O’Connell, ranking No. 22 in America a season after ranking No. 5 (355.1 ypg). And, the program should continue to pass often in OC Graham Harrell‘s Air Raid-based offense.

Harrell has said the Boilermakers won’t pass, pass, pass. Still, new QB Hudson Card should sling it early and often.

A big question: How many big plays will the aerial game generate? Purdue wasn’t overly explosive in the pass game last year–and that was with Charlie Jones stretching defense. And its yards per attempt in 2022 were meager. This figures to be a controlled passing game, so similar numbers could be posted again, as Card looks to get the ball out quickly in a rhythm offense.

Who will be the Boilermakers’ deep threat? T.J. Sheffield? Deion Burks? Jahmal Edrine? Jayden Dixon-Veal? Hudson will have one of the better tight ends in the Big Ten in Garrett Miller, who should be motivated after missing 2022 with a knee injury.

The running backs also figure to be incorporated into the aerial game. The good news: RBs Devin Mockobee has good hands. And converted wideout Tyrone Tracy is well-versed in the pass game.

Accuracy has been one of Card’s trademarks, hitting 66 percent of his attempts in three seasons at Texas. A big question: Can the line that imported six transfers protect Card? The tackle spot has something to prove.

Rushing

CategoryValueNational rankRushing yardage per game121.0103rdRushing touchdowns17T83rdYards per attempt3.6498thLong rushing plays (20+ yards)9T112thTackles for loss allowed59.0T29th

Purdue made major strides in this area. After averaging only 84.0 yards on the ground in 2021, the offense pumped that number up to 121.0 in 2022. That’s an increase of 37 yards per game. The last time Purdue averaged over 100 yards rushing was 2018 (136.4 ypg).

Harrell has said he wants balance in his version of the Air Raid. It will be interesting to see what that balance looks like. The former Texas Tech quarterback has some nice options to hand the ball to.

Much credit for Purdue’s improved ground game goes to Mockobee, who was a walk-on sensation in 2022 as redshirt freshman. He ran for 968 yards, just missing becoming the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2008.

Tracy is expected to play a key role after spending his first five years in college as a wideout. He looked good in the spring. Purdue also has steady Dylan Downing, who can move the chains.

An X-Factor: Card. He will be asked to execute some called runs, a dynamic not often seen during the Jeff Brohm era. And, no doubt, Card often will improvise if things break down. He could be a real weapon with his feet, especially in short-yard situations when it comes to picking up first downs and in the red zone.

Miscellaneous

CategoryValueNational rankYards per play5.34T89thTime of possession31:58T20thTotal turnovers23T113thFumbles lost6T32ndInterceptions1514thFirst downs per game23.127thThird down conversions38.377thFourth down conversions54.6T49thRed zone scoring percentage92.66thRed zone touchdown percentage64.8T50thLong scrimmage plays (20+ yards)54T76th

The 5.34 yards per play speaks to the aforementioned lack of explosive ability. But while Purdue struggled to generated plays over 20 yards–ranking sixth in the Big Ten–it was among the best in the Big Ten in notching plays of 10 or more yards (209). The only other Big Ten team with over 200 plays of 10 yards or more was Ohio State (223). But, remember: Purdue played 14 games in 2022.

The offense showed an ability to move the chains and pick up first downs. Even better: Purdue converted red zone trips into points. The offense scored on 50 of 54 trips (93 percent) into the red zone.

One issue the staff must address is limiting turnovers, a bugaboo last year. O’Connell wasn’t afraid to take chance with his passes, which often resulted in INTs. His 13 interceptions led the Big Ten. (He had 11 in 2021.) How risky will Card be? He tossed two interceptions in 194 career attempts at Texas.

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