Illinois at Purdue: Depth Charts and Brohm Comments

We have a new depth chart this week, and coach Brohm has even addressed the starting quarterback situation for the first time. First, let;’s look at the offense:

Offense

QB: 1. David Blough 2. Elijah Sindelar

RB: 1. Richie Worship 2. D. J. Knox 3. Markell Jones 4. Brian Lankford-Johnson

WR1: 1. Anthony Mahoungou 2. Jared Sparks 3. Corey Holmes

WR2: 1. Jackson Anthrop 2. Terry Wright 3. KeyRon Catlett

WR3: 1. Gregory Phillips 2. Isaac Zico

TE: 1. Cole Herdman 2. Brycen Hopkins 3. Darius Pittman

LT: 1. Eric Swingler 2. Michael Mendez

LG: 1. Shane Evans 2. Michael Mendez 3. Peyton Truitt

C: 1. Kirk Barron 2. Shane Evans 3. Bryce Brown

RG: 1. Matt McCann 2. Bearooz Yacoobi

RT: 1. Dave Steinmetz 2. Ethan Smart

For the first time his year Jared Sparks is not on the QB depth chart. He took some snaps there earlier this year, but never threw a pass and has emerged more as a receiver of late. He has 7 receptions for 82 yards and 14 rushes for 71 yards. With Nick Sipe, Griffin Alstott, and Jack Plummer coming next season it could be that the move is permanent. He is even ahead of Holmes at that receiver spot for the first time.

Purdue has basically become a three-man attack at running back with Knox and Worship getting most of the carries of late. Tario Fuller is off this week and even though he was healthy against Nebraska, he did not play.

Finally, coach Brohm said that Blough is the starting QB:

“I think David is going to be our quarterback for this upcoming game,” Brohm said. “But Elijah Sindelar is going to be in the bullpen always ready to go.

“I think what we have to do is do whatever it takes to help our team win, that's what we're going to do. I don’t want to be stubborn with it. I want to make sure we go with our instincts. Those guys are very close in their ability and how far they've come. Like we said before, one gives us a little bit different element. Both will be ready to go.”

“David, I think, is gaining confidence. He needs to play efficient. He needs to do all the small things to help us win. Our quarterback, whoever is in there, has to play well in order for us to win the football game.”

It should be noted that this is the first game in which Sindelar did not play at all.

Now, here is the defense:

Defense

DE: 1. Austin Larkin 2. Antoine Miles

DT: 1. Lorenzo Neal or Eddy Wilson

DT: 1. Gelen Robinson 2. Anthony Watts

DE: 1. Danny Ezechukwu 2. Kai Higgins

WLB: 1. T.J. McCollum 2. Derrick Barnes

MLB: 1. Ja’Whaun Bentley 2. Garrett Hudson

SLB: 1. Markus Bailey 2. Rob Simmons

CB1: 1. Josh Okonye 2. Tim Cason

CB2: 1. Da’Wan Hunte 2. Kamal Hardy

FS: 1. Navon Mosley 2. T.J. Jallow

SS: 1. Jacob Thieneman 2. Antonio Blackmon

For the first time this season Anthony Watts, a redshirt freshman, is on the depth chart. He has seen action in six games and with Keiwan Jones out getting him some play will be critical for the future. So far he has one tackle.

That is the only real change, but we’re still awaiting word on T.J. McCollum and Da’Wan Hunte:

“It flared up again. I think he slipped out there on a play, then that's when he pulled it. We had a few guys slipping. But he slipped on one play, that's when he pulled it.” - regarding Hunte

Grant Hermanns is also expected to be out and Cole Herdman is up in the air.

Specialists

Punter: 1. Joe Schopper 2. Jake Herr

Placekicker: 1. J.D. Dellinger and Spencer Evans

Kickoffs: 1. Spencer Evans 2. Myles Homan

Long Snapper: 1. Ben Makowski 2. Ryan Sadkowski

Holder: 1. David Blough 2. Elijah Sindelar

KR: 1. Brian Lankford-Johnson 2. D.J. Knox

PR: 1. Jackson Anthrop 2. Isaac Zico

For the first time this year Richie Worship was returning kicks, and he did a decent job on two of them. Most of the time it has been Knox, but no one has broken one yet.

Other quotes:

“When you’re not winning, you can’t just sit back and say the players didn’t get it done. ‘s head coach you look in mirror and see what you can do better. That will happen.” - this is basically the complete opposite of anything the previous regime said after the mounting losses.

Running the ball is what we’re going to have to do, mostly. We’ve got to hit some playaciton off of it.” - This is great, but it is almost like the collective yips have hit our receivers right now. EVERYONE is dropping passes now, and someone has to break this trend.

“This week in practice, those guys caught more balls than they have in their life. Work was put in.” - We’re trying to fix the drops, at least.

One of the other notes was that a play blown dead on Nebraska’s second field goal drive should have been a a fumble and Purdue ball, according to the league office. he also acknowledged a missed read on the play before Purdue’s made field goal led to a loss, and Purdue could have walked in with the right read.