As I've watched a lot of the Purdue film this past several days, it's very obvious they have serious issues with teams that possess speed. This honestly should be a game that displays UT's speed and Purdue's lack of over team speed. I know a lot of national folks seem to think this will be a close game, but personally if UT plays clean and aggressive I just don't see it that way. I'm going to give my break down of how I see this game unfolding and what to watch for from both teams.
Let's look at Purdue on offense first,
Look for the Boilermakers to use the screen game early to slow UT's rush and blitz packages, their QB is very accurate, but that's mostly because of the screen game and a lot of intermediate routes. They will try and match #33 up in the slot against our backers and hit #40 out of the backfield on flat routes and screens. I believe they will honestly try to establish their run game a little more than normal with #22 on outside zones, to again help ease the pressure off their QB. The TE is marginally used as their blitz hot read and don't look for their QB to run unless all else is failed, he has rushed 22 times for -111 yds. Their passing game does spread the ball around, but with Bell out, look for #0 Milton to become their big play threat and attack our new corner on double moves or our safeties on post routes. They have a decent Oline, but their tackles don't have the greatest lateral quickness and they will set back a little deeper in their stances to combat UT's speed off the edge. Lastly, I look for Brohm to use lots of motion and different sets to identify coverages / pressures to be able to slide protections to help his less than mobile QB and set up the screen game on the pressure side to catch UT out numbered.
Purdue on defense,
Look for them to basically play a lot of zone coverage to keep from giving up the big play, #7 is one of their better CB and he has giving up several big plays to teams with speedy WRs. I expect that they will slant and stunt quite a bit with their undersized front and play their best pass rusher # 44 over our RT if Cade is out. They will run blitz #43 and #36 their leading tackler quite a bit on first downs and short yardage and will be the 2 inside guys in the 4-2-5. Their safeties will play 12 to 15 yards deep to keep from having anything thrown over their heads and rely on ILB to get depth to help underneath routes. #6 their nickle will play very close to the line of scrimmage and also use him to come off the edge to affect Hooker, however I expect him to match up with Jones in coverage.
Tennessee on offense,
I honestly don't see UT changing a lot of what they have done all year , but I do look for them to attack #7 on the go routes with Payton and Tillman. Velus Jones I believe will have a career game, I believe he is a terrible mismatch for Purdue's nickle and ILBs on inside crossing routes and curls. Look for Fant or Warren to really exploit the middle of the field and especially look for Fant on the corner routes when he is lined up off RT as a H-Back. I expect UT to establish the run quickly against an under sized Dline and look for Small to gash them on some cut back runs. Wright should have a good game also as I expect UT to get him on the edge against Purdue's slower ILBs, Hooker should have a day pulling the ball and running against their DEs, as they have a tendency to crash down. Don't be surprised to see Holiday on a reverse pass to a streaking backside receiver at about the mid field area. Finally, I truly expect the UT offense to click on all cylinders, but there will always be a few issues after being off so long, however I don't think it will be many.
Tennessee on defense,
I really believe this will be the most aggressive game Tim Banks will call all year as far as bringing pressure from many different places. I do however expect the CBs to play a little more off coverage, especially opposite Burrell. I believe you will see Young. Harrison and Baron bringing constant heat off the edge and even driving the tackles hard up field , then swimming under them to pressure the QB often. i look for Page to get a little more play since Purdue likes the crossing intermediate routes so much and I believe Beasley gets his first INT on a tipped pass by a DT on a crossing route. #33 will be all over the field, he and Theo should have great games in this one. Look for our safeties to have their best game of the year.
Special teams.
I expect UT to completely own this part of the game and for Jones to make a huge impact in the return game.
Let's look at Purdue on offense first,
Look for the Boilermakers to use the screen game early to slow UT's rush and blitz packages, their QB is very accurate, but that's mostly because of the screen game and a lot of intermediate routes. They will try and match #33 up in the slot against our backers and hit #40 out of the backfield on flat routes and screens. I believe they will honestly try to establish their run game a little more than normal with #22 on outside zones, to again help ease the pressure off their QB. The TE is marginally used as their blitz hot read and don't look for their QB to run unless all else is failed, he has rushed 22 times for -111 yds. Their passing game does spread the ball around, but with Bell out, look for #0 Milton to become their big play threat and attack our new corner on double moves or our safeties on post routes. They have a decent Oline, but their tackles don't have the greatest lateral quickness and they will set back a little deeper in their stances to combat UT's speed off the edge. Lastly, I look for Brohm to use lots of motion and different sets to identify coverages / pressures to be able to slide protections to help his less than mobile QB and set up the screen game on the pressure side to catch UT out numbered.
Purdue on defense,
Look for them to basically play a lot of zone coverage to keep from giving up the big play, #7 is one of their better CB and he has giving up several big plays to teams with speedy WRs. I expect that they will slant and stunt quite a bit with their undersized front and play their best pass rusher # 44 over our RT if Cade is out. They will run blitz #43 and #36 their leading tackler quite a bit on first downs and short yardage and will be the 2 inside guys in the 4-2-5. Their safeties will play 12 to 15 yards deep to keep from having anything thrown over their heads and rely on ILB to get depth to help underneath routes. #6 their nickle will play very close to the line of scrimmage and also use him to come off the edge to affect Hooker, however I expect him to match up with Jones in coverage.
Tennessee on offense,
I honestly don't see UT changing a lot of what they have done all year , but I do look for them to attack #7 on the go routes with Payton and Tillman. Velus Jones I believe will have a career game, I believe he is a terrible mismatch for Purdue's nickle and ILBs on inside crossing routes and curls. Look for Fant or Warren to really exploit the middle of the field and especially look for Fant on the corner routes when he is lined up off RT as a H-Back. I expect UT to establish the run quickly against an under sized Dline and look for Small to gash them on some cut back runs. Wright should have a good game also as I expect UT to get him on the edge against Purdue's slower ILBs, Hooker should have a day pulling the ball and running against their DEs, as they have a tendency to crash down. Don't be surprised to see Holiday on a reverse pass to a streaking backside receiver at about the mid field area. Finally, I truly expect the UT offense to click on all cylinders, but there will always be a few issues after being off so long, however I don't think it will be many.
Tennessee on defense,
I really believe this will be the most aggressive game Tim Banks will call all year as far as bringing pressure from many different places. I do however expect the CBs to play a little more off coverage, especially opposite Burrell. I believe you will see Young. Harrison and Baron bringing constant heat off the edge and even driving the tackles hard up field , then swimming under them to pressure the QB often. i look for Page to get a little more play since Purdue likes the crossing intermediate routes so much and I believe Beasley gets his first INT on a tipped pass by a DT on a crossing route. #33 will be all over the field, he and Theo should have great games in this one. Look for our safeties to have their best game of the year.
Special teams.
I expect UT to completely own this part of the game and for Jones to make a huge impact in the return game.
