First and 10: Wisconsin at Purdue

As we start the week, 10 items of interest to track as Purdue hosts Wisconsin on Friday night at Ross-Ade Stadium:

The Badgers were installed a 4-point favorite, but the line has settled at 6.5 or 7 as of Monday morning.

• Who’s the favorite to win the Big Ten West? The Boilermakers embark on their conference schedule this week with a clean slate. Remember, Purdue was 1-2 a year ago and put itself in position down the stretch to win the division title. After three weeks and tiny sample size of conference games, identifying a leader isn’t possible. Iowa is the lone unbeaten and the remaining six teams are a combined 8-10. Maybe a seven-way tie for the top spot is the perfect ending to Big Ten divisional play before the invaders from the West Coast move into the neighborhood.

• Are the fumbles just a one-game snapshot or a sign of things to come? Purdue hasn’t lost a fumble in the first two games, and we need to see if the lack of ball security becomes a trend. The seven isn’t a program record – it’s 11 set in 1953 against Notre Dame – but they’re drive stoppers. The fumbles must be cleansed from the system quickly.

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• It’s worth repeating but the status of linebacker Kydran Jenkins is an important development. He didn’t play in the second half due to an injury and the defense missed the senior, who has emerged as a legitimate NFL-caliber talent over the last two seasons.

•How will Ryan Walters and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell address the short-yardage situations? The lack of success is holding the offense back from staying on the field or pushing the ball into the end zone. Need to find answers in this area.

• Is veteran center Gus Hartwig close to returning? He was listed atop the depth chart for last week’s game but wasn’t in uniform. It’s been less than a year since he suffered a leg injury against Northwestern.

• As Garrett Miller works his way back from last year’s knee injury, Max Klare has become a reliable option at tight end. The redshirt freshman has 13 catches in the last two games, averaging nearly 10 yards a reception. He’s been targeted 16 times the last two games, an indication quarterback Hudson Card isn’t shy about making sure Klare stays involved in the offense.

• Whether it’s Klare or receiver Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, diverting defenders away from Deion Burks will only help in the big picture. Yaseen’s 10-catch performance was a big development but finding ways to utilize Burks beyond the passing game should elevate the offense to another level. Purdue could use more big plays.   

• The Boilermakers have always struggled to stop the Badgers’ rushing attack the last two decades and another challenge awaits. Although Wisconsin has a new offensive coordinator, Phil Longo, who’s an Air Raid disciple, the rushing attack remains a strength. Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi have taken turns the last two years punishing Purdue on the ground, totaling 402 rushing yards. After giving up 271 yards to Syracuse, highlighted by quarterback Garrett Shrader, seeing improvement in the run defense is critical this week.

• Freshman safety Dillon Thieneman is on pace to finish with nearly 120 tackles. He’s tied with Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler in the Big Ten with 26 solos.

• Friday night isn’t Luke Fickell’s first trip to Ross-Ade Stadium as a head coach, and the previous encounter will bring back nightmares. Fickell was Ohio State’s interim coach in 2011 when the Boilermakers knocked off the Buckeyes 26-23 in overtime. Bruce Gaston blocked a PAT to force overtime and quarterback Robert Marve scored on a 1-yard plunge to give Purdue the victory. Fickell was the caretaker of the program after Jim Tressel resigned following the tattoo recruiting scandal. Ohio State slogged its way to a 6-6 record that season and Fickell was passed over for Urban Meyer, who became the Buckeyes’ head coach. Fickell does have history on his side with the Badgers, who have won 16 straight in the series with the Boilermakers and nine in a row in West Lafayette.