Sack-happy Purdue takes aim at Indiana

Sack happy Purdue takes aim at Indiana Image

The battle for the Oaken Bucket looms Saturday and a key question centers on whether Purdue's Big ten leading group of quarterback sackers can get the best of an Indiana offensive line that has allowed the second fewest sacks in the Big ten.Purdue's 32 sacks are 10 more than any other conference team. IU's 11 sacks allowed rank second behind Michigan's 10."It's going to be a great matchup," Purdue coach Danny Hope said. "if you could force them into third and long and force them to take a deeper drop, it increases your chances of getting to the quarterback."they do a great job of manufacturing some quick-passing game. they have a deep threat as well. Their quarterback (Ben Chappell) always has an outlet for someplace to go in an emergency situation. they do a great job of getting the ball out of his hands in a hurry. He's mastered their offense."Both teams come in with 4-7 records.♦♦♦Purdue is looking at its third straight season without a bowl appearance after making 10 in 11 years under former coach Joe Tiller. Still, Hope said the Boilers have made enough adjustments after all the injuries to become a postseason worthy team."right now with an experienced Rob Henry (at quarterback) and another game under his belt, we could be a pretty good team by the time (bowl season arrives)."We've had guys who have developed at the deep tackle spot, at the secondary spot. now we've got a quarterback who has got three or four games he's won if he continues on that course."I think we're good enough team to compete. We've played while handcuffed offensively and competed very well against Wisconsin and Michigan State. we can compete at that level."♦♦♦Purdue tight end Kyle Adams and linebacker Joe Holland made ESPN's academic All-America team. Adams has a 3.97 grade point average. Holland is at 3.99.Adams leads Purdue with 33 catches for 210 yards. He is president of the Purdue chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has taken three humanitarian missions to Haiti and one to South Africa."I might sleep a little less than the average student," he said. "I try to manage my time well and get done whatever I need to get done in the classroom and on the field."A human resource class cost Adams a perfect 4.0."I didn't study enough. I paid the price."Holland is third on the team with 69 tackles. His improved play, along with that of fellow linebacker Jason Werner, is a big part of Purdue's defensive surge."It's hard to become an academic All-American," Hope said. "You have to be a good player and you have to be an almost perfect student. It's harder to become an academic All-American than just a player who is an All-American."♦♦♦Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan needs two sacks to break Rosevelt Colvin's school record for career sacks, at 35. Kerrigan is tied with Shaun Phillips at 33.5.Kerrigan leads the Big ten in sacks, with 12.5."I can't really think about it," Kerrigan said about the record. "I know how many I need, and that's probably not a good thing."