Hey! A team with some inexperience at safety. Sounds like we ought to try to exploit that with the ol' halfback option.....
(I kid, I kid)
Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon
Previewing Purdue's Secondary
Filed under:
Previously, I had discussed the Purdue front seven, Dispelling a Myth: Purdue's Front Seven, I thought I would take a look into the secondary and see if there was anything interesting.
CORNERBACKS
Ricardo Allen is one of the two starting cornerbacks for Purdue. Ricardo is a 5’9” 186 lb junior from Daytona Beach, Florida.
Some of his career highlights include being tied for the all-time record at Purdue for interceptions returned for touchdowns with 3. He started 12 games for Purdue in 2010 as a true freshman and was second team Freshman All-American by Rivals and Scout.com. In 2011 he was a coaches second team and media honorable mention for All-Big Ten.
Here is how he has fared in his 2 years versus Michigan. In 2010 he returned an interception for 94 yards and recorded 8 tackles. In 2011 he didn’t get many chances to intercept the ball as Michigan only threw the ball 17 times. Not throwing a pick to Allen was good, but sadly Michigan did throw 2 interceptions in 2011 to his teammates. Denard and Devin took turns gifting Purdue with 1 interception each.
So far in 2012 Allen has 16 tackles, 1 of those for a loss, 1 interception returned for 39 yards, and 1 broken up pass.
At the other corner position is Josh Johnson. Josh is a 5’11” 195 lb senior from Dade City, Florida.
Some of his career highlights include causing 2 forced fumbles in 2010, he also led the team in passes broken up with 9 and intercepted the ball 2 times in 2011. He was on special teams in 2009 as a freshman and started at cornerback 23 times in 2010 and 2011.
He has done well versus Michigan in the 2 years he has played us at the cornerback spot. In 2010 he intercepted the ball and forced a fumble. In 2011 He had 5 tackles and 1 interception. Let’s try not to make it 3 years in a row this guy gets a pick fergodsakes…
So far in 2012 Johnson has recorded 16 tackles, 1 of those for a loss, has 2 interceptions, 6 passes broken up, and 1 fumble recovery.
Another cornerback to watch for is up and coming redshirt freshman Frankie Williams. Frankie is a 5’9” 186 lb 3 star athlete from Tampa, Florida. He has been impressive this year for the Boilermakers recording the second highest amount of tackles on the team. His 19 tackles, 1 interception, and 2 passes broken up this year should earn him a lot of playing time versus Michigan.
Both of Purdue’s starting cornerbacks have faced Denard Robinson before, and both of them have recorded picks. They know his tendencies and hopefully will not be tested much early on (if at all). All of Purdue’s corners run around a 4.5 second 40 yard, so we won’t have a speed advantage. However, Purdue will give up a lot of size to Gardner and Jackson, so that should make some interesting matchups outside.
SAFETIES
While Purdue’s cornerbacks are well experienced with Michigan, their safeties are not. Both are fairly inexperienced overall, and have seen the field very little in starting roles. They are both sophomores and will probably be tested early and often.
Taylor Richards is a 5’10” 192 lb sophomore free safety from Lake Mary, Florida. Richards appeared in 10 games last year as a true freshman, none of which he started, recorded 7 tackles on the season, and saw limited action. Saturday will be the first time Richards has started versus Michigan, so I don’t have any stats for him from last year’s game.
So far in 2012 Richards has recorded 8 tackles, ½ of those for a loss. He also has ½ a sack and 2 passes broken up. Not exactly a game changer so he will surely get picked on. Richards will need to make some big plays early in order to force Michigan to go through the middle of their defense. Without contain on the edges and over the top, Michigan can run around Purdue all day, just as they did last year.
At strong safety the Boilermakers have Landon Feichter. Landon is a 6’0” 189 lb sophomore from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Landon was a walk on in 2010 that did not see any action and appeared in 13 games in 2011. He did record 25 tackles in 2011, 22 of them solo. This will be the first time Fiechter faces Michigan, so there aren’t any stats to show.
So far in 2012 Feichter has shown some flashes of brilliance, recording 16 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes broken up. Even with the 2 interceptions, I can see this young player being tested by Borges, anyways. Let’s hope he doesn’t pass.
I am anticipating one of these guys( or maybe both) getting burned for big yardage at least once or twice, due to their inexperience. Feichter’s 2 interceptions are concerning, so there is that. Purdue will need their safeties to step up in their secondary, just as much as their linebackers will have to do the same in their front 7. If the two of those groups underperform (linebackers and safeties) expect an easy game. If those two groups step it up a notch, and create a couple plays, it could get pretty hairy.
October 5th, 2012 at 12:08 PM
#2
Hey! A team with some
October 5th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
#3
Great Preview
This is a great preview and is arguably diary material given the extent of the analysis.
It should also be noted that Williams, Feichter, Johnson and Allen are second, third, fourth and fifth respectively in overall defensive totals for the Boilermakers, so evidently they get quite the workout back there. I would wonder if this is a product of a middling to subpar front seven, if four of the seven people that have more than ten tackles are your entire starting secondary (two LBs and a DE are the others). Then again, they've faced some pass-heavy competition such as Marschall (3rd in the nation, oddly enough), so this is also a consideration.
In any event, I would agree that we might have to use size against them. I think we can definitely create some matchups that will favor us in that regard, particularly with Gardner and maybe even some Funchess out there.
October 5th, 2012 at 1:14 PM
#4
It looks like Brian agrees
In any event, I would agree that we might have to use size against them. I think we can definitely create some matchups that will favor us in that regard, particularly with Gardner and maybe even some Funchess out there.
It looks like Brian agrees with you.
Purdue has a couple of feisty, undersized cornerbacks that are alternately MAKING PLAYS and watching enormous dudes catch balls that are over their smurfing heads. Notre Dame went at the Purdue secondary by turning Tyler Eifert into an enormous wide receiver and lobbing up punts to him, which worked to the tune of 100 yards on four long catches. Michigan could try the same with Funchess or Gardner, and probably will since those are relatively safe ways to acquire big chunk yardage
October 5th, 2012 at 12:39 PM
#5
Nice work
Death by Trident. That is a good preview of what to expect.
I think the key matchup of this game, in Brian's words, is going to be "Michigan's abilty to run the ball v. Borges' tendency to prove that we can pass the ball, damnit," so knowing the ins and outs of Purdue's secondary is helpful.
Ricardo Allen is good, but very susceptible to over the top stuff in one on one. Now, if we only had a 6'3, 200 pound, outstanding athlete to try to isolate him against. Oh wait!!! Devin Gardner, here is your chance. Bring it home baby!
October 5th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
#6
Been saying for two weeks
we win this thing going away. And Danny Hope bites off half of his buckstache in dismay. (Say THAT 3x fast.)
October 5th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
#7
Can you link your earlier
Can you link your earlier post on the front 7? I must have missed that one
October 5th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
#8
Sure can. Also, added to the
Sure can. Also, added to the article.
October 5th, 2012 at 1:22 PM
#9
I'm starting to see a trend
I'm starting to see a trend in Purdue's seconday recruiting. Since 2010 5 of 8 DB (according to Rivals) have been from Florida.
October 5th, 2012 at 8:56 PM
#10
Bunches and Bunches of Funchess
Probably the biggest mismatch on the field if he's covered by one of the smaller and inexperienced safeties or a bigger, slower LB.
Perhaps some bubble screens with Devin and our bigger recievers outside making it difficult for the smaller CBs to get off blocks and make a tackle.
October 5th, 2012 at 9:30 PM
#11
Ricardo Allen Scouting Report
3. Ricardo Allen Junior Purdue
5090 (Estimated) 186 (Estimated) 4.45 (Estimated)
Projected second round pick
A star player since he showed up in West Lafayette, Allen has the package of skills to carry over his success to the NFL level. Outstanding foot quickness combines with Allen’s agility and flexibility to give him a very tight, quick and compact backpedal. Equally adept at transitioning out of pedal to close on passes as he is turning and running to stay on receiver’s hip in “trail” coverage makes him more valuable because of that versatility. Allen has the playing speed to stay on even the fastest receiver’s hip deep down the field. His aggressive mentality combined with his ball skills have enabled Allen to break-up and intercept passes that many defensive backs would not even try to. If Allen chooses to come out early he would likely be a second round pick and could work his way into the first round with a strong showing in the spring.
Another tidbit on Purdue CBs.
MARSHALL vs. PURDUE
Marshall WR’s Aaron Dobson (6031 V, 200 V and 4.50 E) & vs.
Purdue CB’s Ricardo Allen (5090 E, 186 E and 4.40 E) & Joshua Johnson (5093 V, 194 V & 4.50 E)
Dobson has not received a lot of national attention, but NFL scouts are excited about him because of his combination of excellent size, natural hands and strong run after catch ability. This game will be his biggest challenge of the year as he goes up against two cornerbacks with real NFL potential. Ricardo Allen is a dynamic athlete whose foot quickness, agility and balance enable him to change directions in a flash. Combined with his explosive closing burst and ball skills, Allen makes it look easy breaking up and intercepting passes. On the other side of the defense is Johnson who lacks the elite physical skills of Allen, but is technically sound and enjoys playing physical and aggressive with receivers. I have a feeling that Purdue will likely match-up Allen on Dobson much of the time, but Johnson will also get chances to cover him. With Dobson’s size, Allen and Johnson will get the opportunity to prove to NFL scouts that they can handle covering receivers who are significantly bigger as they each will give up six inches to Dobson. If Allen is able to shutdown Dobson, as I expect him to, he will start flying up draft boards and could end up as the first cornerback under 6’0 to be drafted and a first round pick if he choose to enter the draft early.
