The 3-2-1: Straw that stirs drink? It’s Devin Mockobee
Three things learned, two questions and one prediction. It’s time for the 3-2-1, an inside look at Purdue football as it preps to take on Syracuse in Ross-Ade Stadium this Saturday.
Three things learned
1 – Devin Mockobee stirs the drink
With apologies to QB Hudson Card, TE Garrett Miller and WR Deion Burks, RB Devin Mockobee is the engine that will drive this offense. Ryan Walters basically said as much in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech win.
“I’ve been saying, we’re gonna throw the ball to score points, but you gotta be able to run it to win games,” said Walters.
And Purdue ran it … and won in Blacksburg, grinding out 179 yards on 46 carries. Mockobee led the way with 95 yards on 21 totes.
Keep feeding No. 45.
“They got me the ball a little bit more this week than they did last week,” said Mockobee, who had 60 yards on 16 carries vs. Fresno State. “But regardless, I just tried to take the touches that I could and capitalize with them and try to do what I can for my guys.”
2 – Hit ’em with your best shot
Purdue had many excuses it could have used had it lost at Virginia Tech. Take your pick from …
A) Bummed out about the tough season-opening loss at home to Fresno State
B) Discombobulated by a 5-plus hour weather delay in Blacksburg
C) Dispirited by blowing a 17-0 lead vs. the Hokies
D) All of the above
But the Boilermakers buckled down and responded to all of the adversity to win a gritty game last Saturday. Yes, Va Tech wasn’t as good as Fresno State. Still, notching a victory in these circumstances–regardless of the quality of foe–is impressive.
“Anytime you’ve got a new staff and a lot of new faces in the locker room and you drop that opener, the thing that you worry about is the finger-pointing and the doubt,” said Walters. “There was never an ounce of that.”
3 – OLBs Nic Scourton and Kydran Jenkins are menaces
Nic Scourton had his way with the Hokies on Saturday, notching a sack and 3.5 TFLs. Kydran Jenkins did his part to rain on Va Tech, too, making a sack and TFL. They led a strong defensive effort that saw the Hokies gain only 286 yards.
“You know, we’re still not there yet,” said Walters of his defense. “We’ve still got some work to do. But you saw more of it. I thought we were a lot more consistent, made a lot more competitive plays, and played within the framework of the defense.”
The 11 yards rushing yielded were the fewest Purdue ever has allowed in a road game.
“I had a meeting with Coach Walters this week and I was telling him, we trust you,” said Scourton.
Two questions
1 – Can Purdue go 4-1 in September?
Why not? I had my doubts when the season started, thinking a 3-2 September record would suffice in the Boilermakers’ pursuit of bowl-eligibility. Then, after the opening 39-35 loss to Fresno State, I wondered if winning more than two games in the opening month was plausible.
Now?
This week’s foe, Syracuse is a peer that is eminently beatable. And how good is Wisconsin, which got pantsed at Washington State? Illinois? It needed a last-second field goal to hold off Toledo and then looked overmatched at Kansas.
So, go ahead … dream big. Three games at home in a row. What does that mean?
“It means we’re winning three in a row,” said Mockobee.
“I think the sky is the limit when we just do our job every single play,” said Card.
2 – Was the home loss to Fresno State a good thing?
No, it’s never good to lose. But, if it happens, teams want to benefit and learn from the experience. And, it appears the Boilermakers did just that after the exasperating 39-35 season-opening defeat to the Bulldogs.
“I felt like last week, we let one get away,” said Mockobee. “And we needed to get this one under our belt.”
Mission accomplished.
“It feels good,” said Card. “That was a really big win for us. Just the confidence for our guys. Just to get that first one under our belt. I’m proud of the way we competed. It wasn’t easy. But we found a way.”
One prediction: WR Deion Burks will catch more than one pass this week
The explosive Burks was targeted only four times at Virginia Tech, making one catch for 18 yards. This, a week after snagging four passes (on 10 targets) for 152 yards and two TDs. Purdue has to make Burks a bigger part of the offense, as he’s clearly the wideout with the most playmaking ability.
“(Virginia Tech) did some things to make sure somebody was over the top of him, and just the way the game was called offensively, Hud reads the defense and puts the ball where it’s supposed to go,” said Walters. “So, that was just a microcosm of those two different aspects: Virginia Tech trying to do things to make sure that we couldn’t blow over the top of the defense with him, specifically, and just the nature of the play call and finding the right receiver to get the ball to.”
MORE: Three Thoughts From The Weekend: Purdue’s substance, reliability and more | Ryan Walters can expect more texts, calls if he notches first Ross-Ade win Saturday night | First and 10 | Gold and Black Radio: Syracuse | First Look | Big Ten power poll
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