Sporting News, The: The Boilers deserve your attention

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The Boilers deserve your attention

Matt Hayes

He stood there in the big hotel in the big city not so long ago, talking big about a team that just couldn't be as good as it sounded. But remember this about Purdue coach Joe Tiller: He doesn't--what's the best way to phrase this in a family magazine?--blow smoke. He is what he is, and he means what he says. This is a million-a-year everyman with a vacation home in Wyoming, not the Cayman Islands.

That's what made his revelation in July at the Big Ten media days in Chicago so intriguing. He said Purdue would be good enough to compete for the Big Ten championship. He said his quarterback, Kyle Orton, could have a "Drew Brees-type" (that means Heisman Trophy-type) season. He asked, almost incredulously, why wouldn't everyone expect those things?

He said all of that knowing the nine Purdue players selected in the NFL draft last spring were the most from the school since 1960 and knowing he had little experience to replace them. A month into the season, we know why.

Purdue appears to be the most complete team in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers are faster than any team in the league and are playing with intensity and attitude. Orton, after giving glimpses of All-American potential for three years, is out of the gate quickly in the Heisman race.

"You would think with all we've accomplished," Tiller says, "someone would give you the benefit of the doubt."

Yet the Boilers barely were on the radar in the preseason top 25. Heck, the SPORTING NEWS had them finishing fifth in the Big Ten, and they were No. 32 overall in the preseason rankings. In two weeks, Purdue outscored Syracuse and Ball State 110-7 and goes into its Big Ten opener Saturday at Illinois already hitting its stride. Scoff at the competition, but consider these two glaring examples of how Purdue is playing much better than anyone expected.

* Syracuse tailback Walter Reyes was one of the nation's top running backs at the end of last season, and he was among a handful of legitimate 2004 Heisman candidates. Purdue, which returned three starters from one of the Big Ten's best defenses, held him to 31 yards in 12 carries.

* Orton has completed about 70 percent of his passes; against Ball State, he was almost perfect. He completed 23 of 26, and one miss was a clear drop by a receiver, another was an intentional incompletion, and the other was a poor throw. I don't care whether you're throwing against wind, 23-of-26 is ridiculously good.

"You always knew he had the ability," one Big Ten defensive coordinator says of Orton. "Now he looks scary."

With Orton's arm and Tiller's offensive mind, scoring points wasn't going to be a problem this season. Stopping teams was the issue--at least that's what we thought. Tiller was so confident and excited about this defense because he knew where everything was headed after three consecutive strong recruiting classes. When he gathered his assistants before the first week of recruiting three years ago, he told them he wanted recruits with specific 40 times. He didn't want hearsay from assistant high school coaches, guidance counselors or grandmothers; he wanted facts, and he wanted speed.

That's why Purdue looks so impressive on defense. Why the Boilers lead the nation in scoring defense and rank among the leaders in nearly every other defensive category. Why, after three starting linebackers from 2003 were drafted by the NFL, this year's group is faster and more active.

Young end Ray Edwards might not have the reputation of former Boilermakers stars Akin Ayodele and Shaun Phillips, but he has NFL scouts saying he could be the next great rush end in college football.

The core players in this year's defense didn't play much last season, but not because they weren't talented or ready--because the guys in front of them were NFL-caliber. That is what happens when you build a program and a reputation, recruit to your philosophy and players but into everything they're told. That is what walking, talking television bobbleheads like to call "reloading, not rebuilding."

Forget about cliches; let's talk reality: Purdue gets Big Ten heavies Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State at home. If the Boilers can dodge a dangerous trip to Iowa, they'll play in the Rose Bowl for the second time in five years.

Maybe then we'll all be believers.

SPEED READS

* Time for our annual lesson in non-BCS 101: The biggest obstacles to unbeaten seasons for Utah, Boise State and Fresno State aren't BCS teams. There's considerably more danger for BCS-busters in road conference games--against teams that know their personnel, schemes and tendencies--than in a one-shot deal against an unprepared BCS team.

* Cal missed an opportunity to test its emerging defense when the Bears' game at Southern Miss was postponed because of weather. The Bears have three weeks off before consecutive road games against Oregon State and USC. If the Bears are stale, it could mean two losses and the end of league title hopes.

* One sluggish game on offense can be an anomaly; two in a row should concern Georgia coach Mark Richt. With or without a completely healthy running game, the Bulldogs have to be more efficient in the passing game. If they're not, those close victories will turn into losses in SEC play.

Hayes' six picks

Florida State 17, Clemson 9. Enough of trying to figure how Chris Rix is wired; FSU will depend on a nasty defense the rest of the season.

Michigan 19, Iowa 16. Wake up, Wolverines: Three guys named Breaston, Avant and Edwards are the keys to winning games.

Wisconsin 27, Penn State 16. I'm not saying it's time for Joe to go. but we're not going to see another Lions win until November 6.

Notre Dame 27, Washington 13. Which looks more ugly, the Irish offense or the fall of the Huskies under coach Keith Gilbertson?

LSU 31, Mississippi State 10. Sly Croom becomes the first first-year coach to win at LSU since ... let's not get ahead of ourselves.

USC 40, Stanford 17. One last tuneup for the Trojans' retooled offense before a week of redemption against Cal and its improving defense.

INSIDE DISH

By MATT HAYES

Arizona State has become a surprise factor in the Pac-10 race because coach Dirk Koetter and senior QB Andrew Waller are, as one Sun Devils assistant says, "seeing the same thing again." There was friction between the two last season because Koetter fell Walter should have done more to carry the Sun Devils' young offense. The reality is this: Arizona State is unbeaten--including a big win over Big Ten heavyweight Iowa--because Walter is playing as he did his sophomore season and because the Sun Devils have improved in pass protection. Waiter's regression last year was a direct result of less time in the pocket and hurried throws.... Tennessee won't tinker much with its rotation of freshman QBs Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge. Although Ainge might start this week against Louisiana Tech, both quarterbacks will get nearly equal time. The real test, offensive coordinator Randy Sanders insists, is how the quarterbacks respond on the road. The Vols' first road game of the season is October 9 at SEC East rival Georgia, a team Tennessee hasn't beaten since 1999 ... Washington State quarterbacks coach "Timm Rosenbach moved from the booth to the sideline to work face-to-face with shaky QB Josh Swogger last week, and Swogger responded with four touchdown passes. But Swogger injured his "knee late in the game and could miss considerable time. Rosenbach will stay on the field to tutor freshman backup Alex Brink, and the Cougars will use more shotgun formations to give Brink more time to read defenses.... Alabama coach Mike Shula should take some of the blame for QB Brodie Croyle's season-ending knee injury. Shula says Croyle was going to leave the game against I-AA Western Carolina on the next series. The question is: Why was Croyle, a key to Shula's turnaround season, even on the field during the second half? ... Cal and Southern Miss have rescheduled their game that was postponed because of Hurricane Ivan for December 4. The only way the game would be meaningful for the Bears would be if they have a chance to win the national title. Let's say Cal wins the Pac-10 but isn't part of the Orange Bowl race. Why would coach Jell Tedford risk playing any key starters in a meaningless game with the Rose Bowl looming? The loser in all of this is Southern Miss, which was expecting a huge gate last week from one of the nation's hottest teams.... A reminder to non-BCS programs carping for respect: Texas Tech 70, TCU 35. Play the games, and don't pop off, or something unexpected might happen. No wonder Boise State (UTEP) and Fresno State (Portland State) struggled in games they should have cruised through.... Kansas' loss to Northwestern likely will be the difference in the Jayhawks going to back-to-back bowls for the first time in school history. The Jayhawks need to split their eight conference games--an unlikely occurrence--to win six games and become bowl eligible. ... Navy quietly is putting together another impressive season. The Midshipmen are 3-0 after a convincing 29-0 victory against Tulsa, and Notre Dame now appears to be the toughest test remaining on the schedule. Navy, which lost to the Irish by a total of I0 points in coach Paul Johnson's first two seasons, has won 12 of its past 17 games. As far-fetched as it sounds, Navy could play in a BCS bowl as an independent if it finishes the season unbeaten. The game--likely the Fiesta Bowl--would be a sellout and a lock for high television ratings.