Time is now for Purdue DE Joe Strickland following redshirt
For all intents and purposes, Joe Strickland’s career begins now.
He arrived in January 2022 as a touted four-star prospect, freshly minted after a Class 3A runner-up finish with Brebeuf Jesuit in Indianapolis. But Strickland never got on track after battling mono early on last season and he redshirted.
Now, the 6-4, 265-pound Indianapolis native is revving up again under a new staff and in a new scheme. How difficult has it been to pick up a scheme that features a five-man front?
“I mean, it’s pretty quick, honestly,” said Strickland. “I learned it in like a day. So, it’s simple. But, at the same time, the offense, they don’t know what we’re doing. But, I mean, I know basically the whole d-line because I was with (OLB) Coach (Joe) Dineen at first. Now, I’m with Coach Brick (Haley). So, yeah, I mean, it’s going good right now.”
That’s correct: Strickland initially was working with the outside linebackers, who in this scheme flank the line. But he has since shifted back to end, a comfort zone for Strickland.
“I know the whole entire d-line from Fox to Buck (the OLB spots), interior.” said Strickland.
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What has Strickland learned since he got to West Lafayette over a year ago?
“I say it’s a lot of things,” he said. “I mean, I’ve been working at everything after practice every day. Got Coach ‘Ro (strength coach Kiero Small) now, getting stronger. I mean, those are really the key things.”
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This scheme being installed by coordinator Kevin Kane is designed to get each player across the front in a one-on-one block … then, beat their man.
“I mean, you see Nic (Caraway) out there and getting sacks left and right,” said Strickland. “Same thing with Khordae (Sydnor). Even Will (Heldt), he’s an early enrollee. That’s just the edges. I mean, even on the interior. If you watched a whole practice … you see everybody’s getting back there. There’s a pressure every play, the quarterbacks always scrambling. It’s exciting, for sure.”
Kane has been happy through the first few weeks of spring drills.
“I think guys are doing great,” he said. “I think once they’ve understood what their role is in this package, and kind of accepted, ‘alright this is what we’re doing, this is how we’re doing it.’ And as long as you tell them why, I think guys are grasping it.
“By and large, guys are playing fast and having fun with the new scheme.”
