Purdue’s first month has been defined by a defense that can’t get off the field, and Barry Odom didn’t try to soften that reality in his Week 5 press conference.
The Boilermakers have now lost three straight after Saturday’s 49-point showing by Notre Dame, and the biggest problem remains the same: the pass rush has not shown up. Purdue’s edge players were shut out in the sack column against the Irish, and transfers Keyshawn Burgos from Virginia Tech and Elo Modozie from Georgia are still looking for their first sacks of the season.
“You know, you made a question about one disappointment, maybe one of the strongest disappointments I have. That’s one of them,” he said.
“We’ve got the right players to be able to go win some more one-on-one battles. We have to continue to give them the tools to go do it.”
That lack of pressure has put the rest of the defense in a tough spot. With opposing quarterbacks getting more time, the secondary has had to absorb more of the damage, and Purdue’s defensive issues have only become louder as the losses pile up.
The criticism around defensive coordinator Kevin Kane has also grown sharper. Purdue has given up 46 points per game to FBS opponents through its first three games, and fans have made their feelings clear about the need for a change. Odom, asked about midseason staff adjustments, said those moves come with complications.
“You better have some really good pieces around it,” he said. “There’s sometimes decisions that go beyond your control. Sometimes someone either steps away or you feel like a change needs to be made.”
He also pointed to Illinois coach Bret Bielema as an example of someone who knows how to handle those moments.
“Bret’s been around the block. He’s a veteran, and he’s got a lot of answers,” Odom said. “I know, and I haven’t talked to him, but my guess is, they probably hadn’t missed a beat, because he has a plan in place, like he does for everything.”
Odom stopped short of addressing whether Purdue could make a similar move, but his remarks made clear how messy those decisions can be in the middle of a season.
There is at least some context around Purdue’s 1-3 start. The Boilermakers’ three losses have come against teams that have all started fast themselves.
Wake Forest, UCLA and Notre Dame are a combined 11-1, with the only defeat coming against No. 5 Miami.
“Our last three opponents, they’re currently 11-1. And the one loss is the number 5 Miami,” Odom said.
“It’s a pretty good group. But if you sit there and you compare into the what-if game, going backwards is not worth anybody’s time.”
That’s the line Odom is drawing now: no use living in the could-have-beens. Purdue turns to Illinois next, with the Fighting Illini entering at 2-2 and the Boilermakers looking for a way to stop the slide and finally get back in the win column.
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Purdue Still Has One Chance To Turn A Frustrating Start Around
Purdues start has been frustrating, but it has not been devoid of signs that the program is moving in a better direction. The Boilermakers are 1-3 in the renewed Notre Dame series and have had their share of rough stretches lately, yet they also have shown enough competitive bite against quality opponents such as UCLA to suggest this is not the same team fans have watched in some of the recent leaner years.
Still, being better than before is not the same as cashing in on it, and Purdues next stretch will tell the story. The Boilermakers need wins, not just close calls, and the way other Big Ten teams are faring only sharpens the pressure to seize opportunities while they are there. A frustrating beginning does not have to define the season, but the margin for turning it around is getting tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Purdues Notre Dame Showing Put Barry Odoms Rebuild Under A Harsh Light
Notre Dames 40-10 win at Ross-Ade Stadium did more than keep the Irish unbeaten at 4-0. It put a sharp spotlight on where Purdue stands in Barry Odoms rebuild, because the Boilermakers were outplayed on both sides of the ball and never really found a way to slow the game down or establish any rhythm offensively. CJ Carrs 237 yards and three touchdown passes were part of a 444-yard afternoon for Notre Dame, a reminder of how much ground Purdue still has to make up.
Purdues offense was just as hard to watch, with Ryan Browne limited to 111 passing yards and the ground game producing only 40 rushing yards. Odom did not try to hide the size of the task afterward, acknowledging the challenges and stressing the need to keep improving. For a program trying to reset its identity, the loss was less about one bad Saturday than the uncomfortable clarity it provided about how far there is to go. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Faces Another Night Test In A Brutal Big Ten Stretch
Purdue is back under the lights again Saturday night, and this one arrives in the middle of a demanding Big Ten grind. Minnesota comes to Ross-Ade Stadium for a Week 6 matchup with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network, giving the Boilermakers another late-stage test in what has already become a season filled with night kicks and conference pressure.
It will be Purdues third night game of the year and its second at home, a scheduling quirk that adds another layer to an already tricky stretch. The Gophers bring a familiar Big Ten opponent into West Lafayette, with the series carrying plenty of history and the recent meetings offering their own reminders that this matchup can tilt quickly if Purdue is not sharp from the opening drive. [Read more 🡒]