Hammer and Rails: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Ole Miss-Alabama: "Let's Go Eat.Wait. What Happened?"

More great SB Nation Blogs

Baseball

Football

Basketball

College

Hockey

Soccer

Combat Sports

Golf

General

Hammer and Rails Official shirts

Hammer & Rails Official T-shirts are now available through Spreadshirt!

Defense_lives_here_shirt_medium

Dead Hooker scale

Here is the infamous Dead Hooker in the Trunk Scale, as explained on my old site here.

1. No dead hookers
2. One d
ead hooker
3. Two dead hookers at one time

4. Two separate instances of 1 dead hooker

5. Dead male hooker

6. Three or more at one time

7. Multiple instances of varying numbers of dead hookers

8. Multiple dead male hookers

Ballhype Ranking

About Hammer and Rails

Hammer and Rails is a continuation my former blog, Off the Tracks. Started in August of 2006, Off the Tracks was orginally a Purdue football-only blog. It has since evolved into an all-encompassing Purdue venture with a major focus on football and men's basketball. I am basically just a dedicated fan that decided to write about his experiences in following the Boilers.

This community is a new step forward for Purdue fans, and I am honored to be the guide along the way. If you have ideas, thoughts, or general rantings feel free to e-mail me at tmill99@gmail.com

Sitemeter

Site Meter


Defend That, Digger! The Overrated/underrated edition

ED NOTE: A special thank you to the passionate Syracuse fans that have stopped by today to make this the best Defend That, Digger ever. You guys are great and I would love to see you guys in March to settle this once and for all, hopefully on April 5th in Indianapolis. You have made some great arguments today and I will admit that I was wrong about some things here. What follows is the original, unedited article. The comments are also untouched.

Well, we all know that the Big East is overrated. This makes me come off as an overzealous homer and uneducated blogger, but I have my swagger back. A five game winning streak will do that, especially when the previously out of reach Big Ten title is very close at hand. It has been awhile since I have had a chance to rip on the Big East and the rest of Digger's beloved, but with seeding becoming more and more of a priority, here are some reasons that those teams may not be the elite teams they would profess.

I do think there are some elite teams. From what I have seen of Kansas and Kentucky, they can only beat themselves on a neutral court. They are clearly the best teams, they haven't lost at home, and it has taken a shockingly strong effort for each of them to lose so far. Everyone else is relatively mortal. Let's begin at the top of the "elite" pile:

Digger_medium

Are you paying attention, Digger?

Continue reading this post »

216 comments  |  0 recs |

Drew Brees: Super Bowl Champion and MVP.

Pass on what you have learned, young man. Baylen Brees: Purdue quarterback 2027.  (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

More photos » Paul Sancya - AP

Pass on what you have learned, young man. Baylen Brees: Purdue quarterback 2027. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A Hurricane helped him on defense. A Hurricane got the game winning TD pass from him, and a Hoosier sealed it. Our favorite Boiler now has his ring and a Super Bowl MVP. Go ahead and celebrate tonight, Drew. You have earned it. Hammer & Rails Nation is with you.

BTW: Great shot of Len Dawson, one of the first in the cradle of quarterbacks, passing the trophy to the Saints.

Also for the record: Purdue is now tied with Alabama for having 3 quarterbacks that have won Super Bowls. Len Dawson, Bob Griese and Drew Brees.

13 comments  |  0 recs |

Super Bowl Boilermakings 2/6

Good Luck Drew. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

More photos » Lynne Sladky - AP

Good Luck Drew. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

I hope everyone is having a great Super weekend. I am sitting here tonight watching the Michigan State game, wrestling with myself. Do I wear the Brees jersey to the Super Bowl parties tomorrow or one of my Colts jerseys? This is a great weekend to be a Purdue fan from Indiana. No matter what happens tomorrow, my favorite player or my favorite team will win the championship. In addition to that, how lucky are we as football fans for this Super Bowl? The 2 best teams of the year squaring off in the title game. This is game that everyone wanted (with the notable exception of Brett Favre's immediate family). So, here is a bit of pre-game analysis before we get to the Boilermakings.

I think tomorrow's game will be a classic Super Bowl. These are 2 great teams, with 2 great quarterbacks, and underrated defenses. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Saints jump out to a lead of more than 10 points. The one thing you can say about the Saints is that they are unpredictable. Every single week, there is some new kind of offensive scheme or formation, some new wrinkle that you have never seen from them before. Meanwhile, the Colts have a tendency to let even mediocre offenses stay in the game for quite some time. They allowed the Jets to score 2 explosive touchdowns, so much that it even seemed like the Colts were in deep trouble in the AFC Championship Game. New Orleans just has too many weapons for the Colts to contain. They have 3 great running backs who can all punish the Colts should they try to clamp down on Brees. Every single wide receiver they have is a constant home run threat, and Shockey is a big tight end to try and contain with a small defense like the Colts have (he had a pretty good game against them as a Giant, against Bob Sanders).

A lot of talk this week has focused on both of the offenses, but these defenses are playing really well too. The Saints are very opportunistic, known for getting and converting turnovers. On other side, the Colts are quietly the number 8 scoring defense in the league, despite giving two games to the bench players. The Colts have done this despite numerous injuries to key members of their secondary, defensive line, and linebackers. This is nothing new for the Colts, who have also been dealing with the loss of Anthony Gonzalez. The depth problems are going to hurt them early. Offenses less prolific than this have given the Colts young secondary hell. Brady and Moss put on a 45 minute clinic for the Colts' rookie corners in Indianapolis this year. Even Mark Sanchez managed to turn them around last week, and more than once.

This is the Colts though, and they made a whole season doing this. They have come back late seven times. Ask New England what kind of lead is safe against this team. New Orleans can't let up at any point in this game, because Manning will shred them. Manning will make them pay for every mistake, every person out of position, every mismatch, and every blitz. I have described the Saints defense as opportunistic, and that is the problem. How many opportunities does Peyton Manning ever give the opposing team? The Vikings were kind enough to cough up the ball 4 times last week, and still the Saints took the game to overtime. This was after Manning torched the #1 defense in NFL for nearly 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. If Darrelle Revis and the Jets' better secondary couldn't get Manning to throw a pick, my hopes aren't high for the Saints.

I see this game playing out like the tortoise and the hare. New Orleans is going to shoot out to an early lead, as Brees tests the young defense. On the other side, Manning will take his time, daring the Saints to sell out on a blitz or get too aggressive and leave holes in a zone, and then he will strike. The Colts will take advantage of every single error made by the Saints defense and climb back into the game, and eventually pull away. The Saints game plan is to get in Manning's head, to get at him, make him hear footsteps and force him to make mistakes. I just don't see it happening. The Ravens and Jets couldn't stop Manning and they had the two best defenses in the playoffs this year. After watching that happen, I have trouble imagining the Saints being the team that finally forces Peyton to lose a football game. Drew is good enough to keep it interesting for the whole game, but I don't see that defense containing the Colts. Sorry Drew.

Colts 34, Saints 27

Tell us what you think in the poll, and after the jump we hit the Boilermakings.

Poll
Super bowl, who ya got?
Indianapolis Colts
40 votes
New Orleans Saints
48 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

17 comments  |  0 recs |

Let's show some Big Ten solidarity and vote for Chris Kramer and Raymar Morgan, as they are up for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award. Even you want a third player to vote for (since you can vote for three) pick Adam Koch from our NCAA first round opponent last season.

2 days ago P1070915_tiny BoilerTMill 0 comments 0 recs

Non-conference opponents update for 2/6

"Yes, Mr. Big East Commissioner. This is what Purdue did to our butts..." (AP Photo/David Smith)

More photos » David Smith - AP

"Yes, Mr. Big East Commissioner. This is what Purdue did to our butts..." (AP Photo/David Smith)

INSTANT UPDATE: Vote here for Chris Kramer, as he is up for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.

It is a great Saturday. We have our favorite quarterback going for his first Super Bowl ring tomorrow, there is a lot of college basketball on, and our basketball Boilers have the day off while our main rival for the conference title has a tough road game. That game comes with the possibility that the Spartans won't have their best player. We continue to do our part for a high seed in March, but today is a big day for everyone else. Here is what our non-conference opponents have been up too, as well as who they face next.

Purdue's profile:

RPI: 10

Strength of Schedule: 33

Top 50 RPI wins: #5 West Virginia, #9 Wisconsin, #20 Wake Forest, #22 Tennessee

Top 50 RPI games remaining: at #14 Michigan State, #14 Michigan State, at #34 Ohio State

Top 100 RPI wins: #61 Minnesota, at #77 Illinois

Worst loss: at #63 Northwestern

Continue reading this post »

24 comments  |  0 recs |

Another demon exorcised

Purdue center JaJuan Johnson, left, reacts with guard Lewis Jackson after Johnson hit a shot and was fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. Purdue defeated Indiana 78-75. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

More photos » Darron Cummings - AP

3 days ago: Purdue center JaJuan Johnson, left, reacts with guard Lewis Jackson after Johnson hit a shot and was fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. Purdue defeated Indiana 78-75. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

First it was the ranked team losing streak in football. Then, we broke the long losing streak at the Big House (also in football). Now the 11 year losing streak at Assembly Hall is over. As reader doublegoldandblack mentioned during the open thread, This has been a year where we have exorcised some demons both in football and in basketball. This one was well earned too.

I have to give credit to the Hoosiers in this one. They played a fantastic game and their first half was probably the best anyone has played against us all year. If they had not missed the front end of three consecutive one and one's this probably would have been an Indiana win. That is a sign of improvement for their program. They weren't outplayed tonight as has often happened in the last two years. Instead, but they beat themselves.They played well enough to be right there against a top 10 team.

That said, Robbie and E'Twaun were men at the end of the game. I could have done without Robbie's missed free throw though. In the end, it was still a win. We survived the best effort of another team and came out clean. Let's have Tupac carry us into the Jump with some words that are true for both the basketball team and me this morning:

Is y'all ready for me? .. We up out this bitch
Any time y'all wanna see me again
Rewind this track right here, close your eyes
and picture me rollin - Tupac, Picture Me Rollin''

Continue reading this post »

14 comments  |  0 recs |

How great is this: A glowingly positive article about the other team's quarterback in the main city newspaper of one of the Super Bowl teams. I think we may need a new level on the dead hooker scale if he wins Sunday night.

3 days ago P1070915_tiny BoilerTMill 1 comment 1 recs

Purdue at Indiana: The "T-Mill is ticked off" GameThread

I've been friendly all week, but it is time to channel some anger into this game. I got fired today from a temp-to-hire job for doing my job. They had a very strict personal use policy for their computer which they said I violated within the past week since it was spelled out to me, but I did not. It was a poor fit anyway, as they were way too uptight about stupid stuff.

So, like the Ohio State football game which was a great boost after CoachesAid.com closed down the site I was managing for them, I am looking to the Boilers for solace and good cheer. The target: The hated Indiana Hoosiers.

Let's kick ass and take names, men! COME GET A TASTE!


363 comments  |  0 recs |

More Posts from Hammer and Rails

Explore Full Archive Next Page


User Tools

We've gone Off the Tracks with Hammer & Rails. Follow on Twitter via KatsTMill.
Start posting about the Boilermakers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Barlow Apologizes
Avatar_small
Signing Day Update 2
P1070915_small
Hammer & Rails Nation: Now 400 strong
P1070915_small
Offer up quick prayer to your deity of choice, please
Dontpanic_small
Purdue Player Will Win Super Bowl
Purdue_pete_small
A Boilermaker's perspective on expansion
Small
St Joe's Preview from a Hawk perspecitve

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Delaney on NCAA Tourney Expansion
Why Drew Brees is a Purdue Legend
Uche says Tebow is a bad QB
Gary Emanuel returning to Boilers as co-defensive coordinator
Football Recuiting Roundup for the JPC
As if we need more evidence of Drew Brees being The Man
Hope it's not a jinx....but that's a great cover...
Burke mostly satisfied with Nike plant work conditions after tour...
JJ named BT player of the week.
Tailgaters: Please help out some Boilermakers!

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

College Football Highlights from AthletixNation.com

BTB logo

Btb-logo-4_medium

BTB feed

People preaching the Good News...

I'm not sure which is scarier for a college kid. Herpes or Kramer guarding you for 40 minutes. - doublegoldandblack

"Kramer is over 21 now right? Sweet. Its not inappropriate anymore." - dbaltman's wife

And Robbie has done nothing to jeopardize his dead hooker in trunk status. If any other player had been bricking them like he had up until last night I would have been screaming for an immediate red light on all further shots outside the arc. As it stands I gave our hero all kinds of latitude to find his way out of his funk.

Now could he survive a Tiger-esque meltdown..... not unless he brings us an NCAA title
. -- John Purdue on the GBI boards

I love you in the most non homosexual way - djnykwil22 on the GBI forums

Hell of a preview, too. You did more homework in that one article than I did all of college! -- Jeff from the Buckeye Battle Cry

And thanks T-Mill. Michigan St. used to be my favorite Big 10 team. But your words, so gentlemanly and scholarly, over the last week have converted me to Purdue. -- gxpanos, The UConn blog

I didn't get much of it but comparing Illinois to Britney Spears actually made me lol and I got looks from my co-workers. -- Tom, Gopher Nation

1-7 or 0-8? Ay yes, and I'll believe that when me sh*t turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet ... Had you said 4-4, you might be making some sense. 0-8/1-7 makes you look like a biased fool. Do better. -- Gerry of College Football Nation on my July 12, 2007 prediction Notre Dame could start 1-7 or 0-8 in 2007

Toddler Boilers is not catchy enough! But, I get your drift. -- Boilerdowd, Boiled Sports

A basketball analysis from someone who obviously eats, sleeps and breaths basketball. Makes you wonder what he does the rest of the year. -- Baylorfans.com


you are too objective. your conclusions based too much on fact, logic, and actual numbers that matter :)

you really should have thrown in a "paterno is too old" or "wannstadt is cleaning up in western pa" line. you know, something that had nothing to do with the story.absolutely great job of breaking down a game and a team. refreshing. -- quincy1 from Blue/White Illustrated

Great stuff. I think you do a really good job writting and keeping it fair and objective. It's nice to see someone write about their team without school colored glasses on it. -- Duke5021 from Devils Illustrated


Managers

P1070915_small BoilerTMill

Authors

Avatar_small TelePunk5

Official Partner of CBS Sports