No question this week: Hudson Card is QB1 for Purdue
The plan at quarterback this week is simple: Hudson Card is QB1. There will be no job share with Ryan Browne. But Purdue still could deploy both.
“As we dive into the game plan process, if there are opportunities where Ryan can help us more so than Hudson can in trying to move the ball, we’ll play the best 11 that give us an opportunity to,” said Ryan Walters.
After missing the previous two games in concussion protocol, Card shared the position with Browne for the first four drives in last week’s 26-20 OT loss to Northwestern. Card played the first two drives; Brown played the next two.
Card, who got the start, led the team to a field goal in his two drives, completing 4-of-7 passes for 60 yards and running once for a yard. In his two drives, Browne was 3-of-3 passing for 15 yards and ran 2 times for 8 yards vs. NU, producing no points.
After that, the staff determined Card would lead the offense the rest of the way.
It was the correct call. Card completed 21-of-37 passes (57 percent) for 267 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions vs. NU. It was his best effort since the opener vs. Indiana State, when he completed 96 percent (24-of-25) of his passes for 273 yards and four TDs.
Walters wasn’t sure how he would use his signal-callers in the post-game on Saturday.
“We’ll see how the week goes and what gives us a chance to move the ball from a game planning perspective,” said Walters.
Today, it’s clear Card–who started the first five games–is the No. 1 option moving forward.
“I think you go back to Saturday’s tape and you watch what Hudson was able to do within the full scope of the offense, and he did a nice job executing the offense,” said analyst Jason Simmons. “He did a nice job leading our football team. Made plays in the pass game, made plays in the run game, and we feel like right now he’s in a position to be that starter for us and to assume the role he had earlier this year. And we’ll continue to move forward that way.”
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But the intent for Purdue (1-7 overall; 0-5 Big Ten) going into the game vs. No. 3 Ohio State (7-1; 4-1) on Saturday at noon ET (BTN) in Columbus is to play Browne, too.
“I think moving forward, right now, based off of how Hudson played on Saturday, he certainly did a really nice job leading our offense on Saturday,” said Simmons.
Card and the offense will face a formidable challenge in the Buckeyes, who have the No. 1 scoring defense in the Big Ten (12.0 ppg) and the No. 1 total defense (256.4 ypg). The pass defense is No. 3 (161.5 ypg) and the run defense is No. 2 (94.9 ypg). Card’s overall skill-set gives the Boilermaker attack its best chance for success as a 38-point underdog in the Horseshoe.
“I thought he showed a lot of grit and toughness, made some really nice throws and found some easy completions,” said Walters. “I thought he operated the offense well, and he’s a talented individual. Just felt like he gave us the best chance to move the ball and generate some explosive plays.”
But, again, we could see a dose of Browne–who started at Illinois and vs. Oregon–on Saturday, too.
“We fully expect Ryan to be a part of the game plan again this week,” said Simmons. “That’s the way it’s playing out right now. And so we’ll have a package for him, as well.”
MORE: First and 10 | First Look: Ohio State | Data Driven: Purdue’s loss to Northwestern | Purdue recruits: Weekend Roundup
