2009 Purdue Boilermakers College Football Predictions

2009 Purdue Boilermakers Predictions
2008 Record: (4-8, 2-6)
Coach: Danny Hope, (1st year at Purdue, 35-22 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Gary Nord (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: Donn Landholm (1st year)
Returning Starters: 13 (4 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No

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Offense: Danny Hope takes over for long-time coach Joe Tiller and inherits an offense that lost seven starters. With Curtis Painter gone, the Boilermakers have to start over. Senior Joey Ellioot (6-2, 216) has no career starts, though he was solid in the spring game. He would have had competition from sophomore Justin Siller, who started two games last year when Painter was injured, but he was suspended for the 2009-10 academic year for violating the school’s academic policy. At running back, senior Jaycen Taylor back from knee surgery, after sharing time with Kory Sheets in 2006 and ’07. The receivers are either inexperienced or raw. Junior Keith Smith (6-2, 226), who had 486 yards in receiving, is the team’s top returning receiving threat. The offensive line will be the strength of the unit, returning four starters.

Defense: The defense returns seven starters from a marginal unit that allowed 25.1ppg and 358.1 yards per game (61th in the nation) last season. Junior DE Ryan Kerrigan (6-4, 263) is the top returning lineman with seven sacks. He also had 56 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. The linebackers are athletic and young and will need sophomore Joe Holland (6-1, 220) to make a seamless switch from safety. Senior Jason Werner (6-4, 221) is a welcome addition after missing last season with back problems. The secondary is the strength of the team, led by four seniors including S Torri Williams (6-2, 208), who recorded 83 tackles.

Outlook: The Boilermakers open with Toledo, but then take on Oregon on the road in their first two games. They also host Notre Dame and face Ohio State at home, but they do skip Penn State. The offense will be an issue all season, as it tough to miss that kind of firepower and not decline.

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