Doug Griffiths
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Knucklehead Central
DETROIT — Purdue's rematch with Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl Dec. 26 doesn't excite some in Boilermaker Country, but fans of the Old Gold and Black can take solace in the fact that the game should be entertaining.
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Quarterback Curtis Painter shredded Central Michigan's secondary three months ago. Will he do it again in the Motor City Bowl?
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Painter OSU GETTY 200 Image-->Two high-powered offenses will square off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Detroit's Ford Field, which could translate into plenty of offensive fireworks.
When Purdue and Central Michigan last tangled Sept. 15, the two teams combined for 67 points and 1,048 yards of total offense.
The game will feature two teams going in opposite directions.
The Boilermakers have lost three straight and five of their last seven to limp in at 7-5 overall. They haven't won a game in nearly two months.
The Chippewas, on the other hand, have won two straight and have been victorious in four of their last five outings and seven of their last nine. CMU is 8-5, scoring at least 34 points in each of those eight wins.
It should be stated that the two teams have faced a much different competition level since the two met in September.
Following
GoldandBlack.com looks at the Purdue-Central Michigan matchups for a second time this season.
CMU RUNNING GAME VS. PU AGAINST THE RUN
When is the last time Purdue faced a 1,000-yard rusher who was a quarterback? Ever? Well, the Boilermakers will get a second chance at halting Dan LeFevour, who is as dangerous with his feet as he is with his arm.
LeFevour, who has four 100-yard rushing days this season, is coming off a 170-yard rushing performance against Miami (Ohio) in the MAC Championship game. That rushing total was a single game school record for a quarterback.
Purdue did a good job of keeping LeFevour in the backfield in the first meeting as he had just 26 yards.
Central Michigan also relies on running backs Justin Hoskins and Ontario Sneed to get it done on the ground. Those two split time and both average around 50 yards a game.
Purdue better get its act together in terms of run defense. If the last three games are any indication LeFevour and Co. will have big days on the ground. The Boilermakers' last three opponents have averaged 207 yards rushing per game, including 4.6 yards per game, and scored a total of seven rushing touchdowns.
Key Player To Watch:
Anthony Heygood — is our man here yet again. The fact is No. 42 is tied for the team lead with 14.5 tackles for loss and is second on the squad with 71 tackles. He is Purdue's best linebacker, period. Not bad for a player playing the position for his first time in his college career.
Advantage: Purdue
CMU PASSING GAME VS. PU AGAINST THE PASS
There's no doubt Purdue's defense will be tested keeping an eye on LeFevour.
The Boilermaker stop troops did a good job curtailing No. 13 in the first go around. With that said, the sophomore still managed to pass for 364 yards (more than any other Purdue opposing quarterback this season).
There's no doubt as LeFevour goes, so go the Chippewas. If Purdue can keep him somewhat under wraps, the Boilermakers will win going away.
If Purdue is to ground CMU's aerial assault, it will need to do a better job on 6-foot-5 receiver Bryan Anderson. He torched the Boilermakers for 101 yards on 10 receptions. Anderson is just the third player in school history to collect more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
Purdue has excelled in pass efficiency defense as it's third in the Big Ten (23rd in the NCAA) with a rating of 112.1.
They could also use a better pass rush in this one, but have just three sacks in their last three games. Plus, CMU has only allowed 16 sacks in 522 pass attempts this season (16th in the nation).
Key Player To Watch:
Terrell Vinson — will be sorely missed by the Boilermakers next season. What a two-year career he's had in West Lafayette. You can bet the junior college transfer will try to make a statement in his final game wearing the Old Gold and Black. Vinson leads the team in tackles (78), interceptions (five) and passes broken up (11).
Advantage: Central Michigan
PU RUNNING GAME VS. CMU AGAINST THE RUN
Believe it or not, in 14 bowl appearances, Purdue has never had a back rush for 100 yards or more.
Perhaps the day after Christmas 2007 is when that streak comes to an end. It will if
Kory Sheets has the kind of day he had against the Chippewas in the third week of the season. The junior had an unforgettable day as he rushed for a career-high 144 yards and two scores.
Jaycen Taylor, on the other hand, would like to forget about the Central Michigan game. After all, he broke his arm against the Chippewas.
CMU has surrendered 28 rushing touchdowns this season (the second-most in the MAC) so it's pretty much a given that Taylor and/or Sheets will find the end zone a time or two.
Key Player To Watch: Sheets — wishes every time he took the field his rushing numbers would resemble what he had against Central Michigan three months ago. Look for a repeat performance from Purdue's leading rusher (832 yards; a 5.3-yard per carry average; nine TDs).
Advantage: Purdue
PU PASSING GAME VS. CMU AGAINST THE PASS
Quarterback
Curtis Painterpicked apart Central Michigan's defense earlier this season (completing 29-of-39 passes for 360 yards with three TDs and no interceptions) and should once again as the Chippewas finished last in the MAC in pass defense, allowing 284.8 yards per game and giving up a league-low 31 TD strikes.
In Purdue's three-game losing streak some of Painter's numbers look pretty good (completing 61 percent of his passes for 293.3 yards per game), but he has thrown just two touchdown passes and been picked off three times.
Overall, Painter has had a good junior season, completing 62.3 percent of his passes (321-of-515) for 3,300 yards with 26 TDs and nine interceptions.
The problem No. 12 has had has been with playing at too fast a pace because he gets overly anxious. Painter can't be so careless with the ball and has to play under control against the Chippewas or else Purdue may be in for a real dogfight. You'll know early on if he's playing at too fast a pace because his passes will be way off target.
It will be interesting to see how Purdue's receiving corps looks without Selwyn Lymon. It may be upgraded with Jake Standeford getting more snaps.
Painter will have a very productive game if he's given time to throw. That may be a pick if since he's been sacked 11 times in the last three games.
Key Player To Watch:
Dorien Bryant — ends his Boilermaker career against CMU and will he go out with a bang or a thud? This is the type of defense Bryant should have no problems with. A really big game could get No. 9 over the 1,000-yard mark as he has 871 receiving yards on 82 catches in 2007.
Advantage: Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS
Central Michigan's specialists leave a lot to be desired.
Chippewa kicker Andrew Aguila (7-of-12) has struggled this season and so too has punter Tony Mikulec (37.5-yard average).
CMU's coverage teams were suspect going into the first Purdue game and are just as shaky now.
The lone special teams' bright spot for the Chippewas has been Antonio Brown. He's dangerous returning kicks and punts. He averages nearly 28 yards a kickoff return, which ranks 22nd in the nation and has returned one for a score. On punt returns, Brown averages 11 yards a return.
Bryant is even more dangerous in the return game, averaging 28.5 yards on kickoff returns (15th in the NCAA). He was quite effective against Central Michigan earlier this season, returning three kicks for 88 yards, one of which went for 58.
Key Player To Watch:
Chris Summers — may have a big role to play in this one if the game transpires like some believe it will. Summers hasn't suffered a sophomore jinx at all, connecting on 15-of-19 field goals this season.
Advantage: Purdue
GUT FEELING
This has all the makings of a no-win situation for Purdue. This game is a very big deal for Central Michigan, while Purdue may have to muster up similar emotions.
It will likely be a home game atmosphere for Central Michigan.
You know the Chippewas can hardly wait for the rematch, while you've got to question just how motivated the Boilermakers are to play. Heck, Purdue failed to come close to matching Indiana's emotional level for nearly three quarters in its last game so much improvement is needed.
We do think the Boilermakers will be motivated enough to finish the season 8-5.
Remember the Boilermakers gained 586 yards, including 402 yards in the first 30 minutes and 300 yards in the opening quarter against Central Michigan's sieve defense.
Advantage: Purdue
