Scouting the Boilermakers: 5 Questions, Prediction with a Purdue Reporter

No. 2 Oregon travels to Purdue tonight (5 p.m., Fox) at Ross-Ade Stadium.

The Oregonian/OregonLive contacted Purdue beat reporter Nathan Baird (@nwbaird on X) of the Indy Star to ask five questions and gain insight on the Boilermakers.

How to watch the live streaming: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on Fox Sports Live using your cable or satellite provider login details.

1) What does Ryan Browne do best in the albeit small sample?

Baird: “He checked a lot of points against an Illinois defense that was admittedly unprepared for Purdue to throw a curveball. He used the zone read very effectively to get the ground game going and took it out for himself several times. When they set up some big passing plays, he converted. He then led the two-minute drill and finished the game without a turnover or significant error. The moment never seemed too big. Clearly there’s a bigger moment waiting.”

2) Why is Purdue's defense struggling so much?

Baird: “Actually a whirlpool of problems. Because of Purdue's chronic inability to assert itself, teams outside did whatever they wanted. (Moving Kydran Jenkins back to rush end helped that a bit.) Because teams are so consistently able to run the ball, they are not exposed to blitzing, the attacking defense prefers to run. Injuries haven't helped, but transfers haven't yet replicated the pass rush lost when Nic Scourton transferred to Texas A&M. What really hurt in closer losses is the poor tackling, which led to some explosive touchdowns and numerous longer drives.”

No. 2 Oregon (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) at Purdue (1-5, 0-3)

• When: Friday, October 18th
• Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
• Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
• TV channels: fox
• Electricity: You can Watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on Fox Sports Live using your cable or satellite provider login details.
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3) Is Ryan Walters taking on the offensive lineman role a smart move or a desperate move?

Baird: “Can it be both? I thought Walters should have given up on defensive play earlier, before the season, so that he could more easily divert attention if a problem arose in other phases. But no one could have imagined an offense as lifeless as the one that lost to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Walters then found himself in a situation where a substitution had to be made, but there was no other option for the veteran to take over the game management. It wasn't really fair to put all that burden on Jason Simmons – an analyst who was a high school coach two years ago. I give him credit for a bold move that would have blown up in his face. The initial returns have been positive.”

4) What will be successful for the remainder of Purdue's season?

Baird: “I never thought this season would be characterized by wins and losses. I assumed they could go 4-8 again, and considering the schedule, that could be a better season. That was lost when Purdue was the worst power conference team in the country based on statistical performance for a month. Purdue has to beat the teams in its weight class just to save face. At least it can’t add a third embarrassment to a loss.”

5) How do you see the outcome and what is your outcome forecast?

Baird: “We just haven’t seen the consistency needed for Purdue to compete with the upper echelon of the sport. I take the Ducks 41-10.”

— James Crepea covers that Oregon Ducks and Big Ten. Listen to this Ducks Confidential Podcast or subscribe Ducks Roundup Newsletter.