Ten observations: Purdue-Minnesota

This is what has us talking after Purdue’s 49-30 win vs. Minnesota on Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadium. The victory made the Boilermakers 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Big Ten.

1 – Offense is alive … finally

This was a long time coming. How effective was the offense? The Boilers scored TDs on each their first four drives en route to tallying a season-high 49 points. The last time Purdue scored more than 14 points? You have to go back to the 44-19 win vs. Illinois on Sept. 30. Purdue finished with a season-high 604 yards. It last had 600 yards vs. Nebraska in 2022 (608). Lots of credit goes to Hudson Card.

“Look at spring ball, he was making those throws, even earlier in the season, I thought he was playing really well,” said Ryan Walters. “I think he’s also feels healthy for the first time in a while. He’s just been battling injury since that second series against Illinois.

“So, the combination of him being more comfortable with the offense and trusting the guys around him to be where they are supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there and him feeling physically healthy is just the culmination of all those things.”

2 – In the groove

Card had been waiting for a day like this. The previous three games, he failed to throw for 200 yards. And he hasn’t had a 300-yard game since he threw for 323 vs Syracuse on Sept. 16. Tonight, Card hit 17-of-25 passes for 251 yards and three TDs. And his 44 yards rushing with a TD was big.

“I thought Hudson just continues to mature and grow as a quarterback,” said Walters. “I thought he made some really good decisions, getting the ball to the right guy on time, throwing the ball with confidence and then escaping when he needed to escape and understand where the sticks were in order to move the chains.”

3 – There goes Mockobee!

Sure, he has had issues with fumbles, but Devin Mockobee was on his game today. His second quarter 66-yard run to the 1-yard line was the longest jaunt of the season for the Boilermakers. He finished with 153 yards on 17 carries (9.0 ypc) with a TD. Mockobee ran for 112 yards on 11 carries (10.2 ypc) last year at Minnesota, when he had a 68-yard run.

Mockobee’s only other 100-yard effort in 2023 was vs. Ohio State (110).

“I thought (OC) Coach (Graham) Harrell did a really nice job of getting us in favorable running plays to the looks that were presented. …

“Just trusting the path and trusting the guys in front of them to create lanes. And then when that lane is there, they hit it and they’re able to make guys miss and they are hard to bring down. And I thought their ball security was awesome all night.”

No turnovers for Purdue.

4 – There goes Tracy!

Tyrone Tracy enjoyed a day, too, going over 100 yards rushing (122 on 15 carries, 8.1 ypc with two TDs) for the second time in 2023 after burning Illinois for 112.

The last time Purdue had two backs over 100 yards rushing in the same game was 2018, when D.J. Knox and Markell Jones turned the trick vs. Eastern Michigan.

“I think that combination with the offensive line and Hudson making decisions, it’s hard to stop because we got some really good running backs that are hard to bring down,” said Walters.

5 – Finally … victory!

It was four losses in a row and counting for the Boilermakers, who had lost six of their last seven before tonight. Purdue hadn’t won a game since taking down Illinois, 44-19, on Sept. 30. Now, all of that losing is behind Purdue … for at least one Saturday.

“It feels good when you go compete and you come out on the victory side,” said Walters. “The thing that I’ve been most impressed with and proud of with this team is regardless of what has happened yesterday, the focus has always been on the present in order to improve for the future. And, they haven’t blinked.”

6 – Finish strong

The season didn’t begin like staffers wanted, with Purdue opening 2-7. Last week’s loss at Michigan ended the Boilermakers’ bowl hopes. But Purdue wants to finish strong. Next up: A trip to Northwestern, followed by a visit from Indiana. Can the Boilers finish 5-7?

7 – Quick start

Purdue entered the game being out scored 68-23 in the first quarter. Today, the Boilers came out hot, scoring TDs on their first four possessions. It was the first time that had happened since 2004 vs. Ball State.

8 – Kudos to the o-line

The unit has been beat up and taken its share of criticism this season. But the front played well today starting backup tackles Ben Farrell and Josh Kaltenberger, who was out last week (back). Kudos to them along with C Gus Hartwig and guards Jalen Grant and Preston Nichols.

Purdue finished with 343 yards rushing. It is the most yards rushing for Purdue since it had 341 vs. Eastern Michigan in 2018, a game the Boilers lost.

“You talk about hitting adversity and really having to play musical chairs up front all season,” said Walters. “Those guys haven’t wavered. They haven’t complained, they haven’t made any excuses. And they just continue to go to work. Kudos to (offensive line) Coach (Marcus) Johnson in getting those guys prepared at multiple positions. And then those guys, they played with detail, discipline and toughness all night.”

9 – Clean game

No turnovers.

10 – Finishing

Purdue traded blows early with Minnesota before building a 28-20 lead at the half. And the Boilermakers never looked back–or let the Gophers back in the game. Give the defense credit.

“I think just understanding what kind of concepts we’re getting in the pass game,” said Walters, in turning back Minnesota multiple times and making them settle for field goals three times. “And then our guys up front, they can cause havoc for quarterbacks and that clock (in the head of QBs) has to run pretty quick. I thought they did a good job of forcing field goals. And, really, that stretch in the third quarter and the start on the fourth, I thought they played pretty good and we got off the field quickly.”