It seems like Purdue is finally turning a corner under Coach Brian Odom. A lot of that has to do with improved quarterback play. Ryan Browne has gone from a turnover machine to one of the most efficient passers in the conference. Minnesota transfer running back Fame Ijeboi gives them a physical runner to build around. They are still building, however, this is not the team Washington beat 49-13 last November. They’re coming off two conference wins in a row scoring 24 and 41 points, feeling about as confident as they have at any point in the last three seasons.
The Numbers
Scoring Offense: 32.2 points per game (55th in FBS)
Total Offense: 415.5 yards per game
Passing Yards: 269.2 yards per game (23rd)
Rushing Yards: 125 yards per game (91st)
QB Ryan Browne: 1,550 yards, 8.4 YPA, 9 TD, 1 INT, just under 70% completion
RB Fame Ijeboi: 117 carries, 549 yards (4.7 YPC), 9 TD
Key Players
Everything starts with Ryan Browne (Jr.). Last year he threw 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and completed 58.9% of his passes. This year, he’s become a different player. He’s thrown just one interception all season, something only three Purdue quarterbacks have managed through five games in the last 30 years. His start to the season was outstanding, setting a new career high in passing yards three weeks in a row, ending with 378 yards and three touchdowns at UCLA. His timing in the short and intermediate areas improved significantly since lsat year, and he’s more willing to take check downs and let his guys make plays. Altogether he’s leading an offense that’s top 25 in passing yards per game. From a scouting perspective, he’s like a Drew Locke/Josh Allen type as a strong armed, big bodied playmaker. He can be dangerous as a runner and ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries last week against Minnesota.
RB Fame Ijeboi (Soph., 6-0, 215) has been a workhorse. He spent last year as Minnesota’s backup, and last week he torched his old team for a career high 195 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. He’s a downhill, physical runner who almost never goes down on first contact. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield, as he showed with six receptions against Wake Forest, and is fourth on the team in total catches.
The receiver room was rebuilt through the portal, and FAU transfer Asaad Waseem (5-11, 185) has become the first option. He had 66 catches for 699 yards at FAU last season and has 472 yards on 29 receptions so far this year. Xavier Townsend (5-11, 195) is the other threat and takes a lot of the shorter passes. He and Waseem both topped 100 yards at UCLA, with Townsend going for 162 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75 yard score on the first play from scrimmage. TE George Burhenn (6-5, 245) has had trouble staying healthy but is their best red zone weapon. Last week was his first normal workload of the season, and he caught Purdue’s first touchdown of the game.
The offensive line was rebuilt with experienced transfers, including Micah Banuelos from USC. They were dominant in the run game last week, paving the way for 299 rushing yards. Outside of the Notre Dame game where they gave up six sacks, pass protection has been generally solid. As much as Purdue has clearly improved, they just weren’t ready for the athletic mismatch that Notre Dame brings.
The Scheme
Second year coordinator Josh Henson came from Lincoln Riley’s staff at USC, where he coached quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Miller Moss and USC finished top 10 nationally in passing every year (though Lincoln Riley calls plays.) The offense is almost entirely shotgun with a lot of no-huddle, and the plan is pretty straightforward: run Ijeboi until the safeties come down close to the line of scrimmage, then beat them over the top with play action and RPOs. The deep shots usually go to Townsend and Waseem on crossers and deep post or flag routes.
Like most good coordinators these days, Henson changes the game plan week to week. Against Wake Forest, Browne threw it 42 times (in a 38-36 2OT loss.) Against Minnesota, they ran it 47 times (to 24 passes) and used the Wildcat at the goal line. The relative weakness has been finishing drives. Purdue’s red zone offense has stalled too often, and they settled for early field goals against Minnesota before ultimately pulling away. They average about five red zone scoring attempts per game and score touchdowns on about three of them.
Final Thoughts
Despite being a solid but not spectacular unit (43rd SP+ offense), Purdue’s offense has an identity now. Browne takes care of the football, the receivers can make plays, and the running game is physical. The only time it really fell apart was against Notre Dame, when the line couldn’t block a four man rush.
The problem is Washington doesn’t have a consistent pass rush. With just 10 sacks this year, it puts even more pressure on the run defense. If Ijeboi is picking up five yards on first down, Purdue’s OC can call whatever he wants, and Browne will have plenty of time to find his playmakers downfield. Washington has to win early downs, and it might mean taking some chances with blitzes. If the Huskies can get Purdue into third and long and make them settle for field goals in the red zone, they have a chance.
The winning QB claims Brown/Browne naming rights.