The 2019 VIDEO BS Season Predicto
Welcome back, friends and neighbors, to Boiled Sports. If you haven’t browsed for Purdue content since things ended the way they did in Louisville (who can even remember back that far?) or Nashville (was there even a bowl game last year?), well, don’t worry – you haven’t missed much. We tend to take a hiatus after obsessively consuming Purdue football and basketball content for 6-8 months. But we back, baby.
Today, we’ll take a look at the upcoming Purdue football season that begins tomorrow night in Reno, the biggest little crappy-ass city in the world that is at least near Lake Tahoe. (I think that’s their slogan.
In our ongoing effort to mix things up, we’re providing this year’s season predicto in video format. Behold:
Given how this went, though, it’s likely to go into the bin of things we tried and never did again (you should see Boilerdowd’s list of those things from college – whooboy).
For those of you who don’t want to see or hear us (and who could blame you?), we’ll also provide a truncated, written version here.
1) Will Purdue contend for the Big Ten West into November?
Michael: No, I don't think the Big 10 West has any superstar teams, but it's just tough enough that I don't think they'll be in serious contention.
Boilerdowd: I don’t think Purdue will contend for the B1G West title in November...it’s wide open, but I’m not sure the defense is stout enough to carry the team and the offense’s search for consistency will cost a game or two.
Aneesh: As much as I want to say an instant "yes", and as ready as I was to dive all-in after Brohm turned down his Statue Job at Louisville, the roster concerns leave me more than a little worried. I'll talk through my offensive line worries in a few questions, but the realities of Purdue's trenches give me too many worries to even dream of a Big Ten West title. That being said, I think one of Purdue's biggest selling-points as a good college football job is the combination of Big Ten money and the lack of Ohio State, Penn State, or Michigan to contend with in the West. This year is particularly wide-open, with Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and even Purdue and Minnesota considering long-shot runs at the title, but our Boilers will be on the outside looking in to that group. I don't know how many more years we'll get with Brohm leading Purdue's football program (I'm putting the over/under at 3.5 more seasons), but I'm confident he'll lead Purdue to the Big Ten championship before it's over.
Dave (with special guest “Rabbit”): Rabbit and I agree: Yes, Purdue will contend for the West into November. (And then some.
J: Yes, the games will mean something in November for how the Big Ten west plays out. Purdue can legitimately contend for it and should.
2) Will Rondale Moore generate enough Heisman hype to be invited to New York in December?
Michael: No, Heisman candidates tend to come from winning teams and I don't think Purdue is going to be in the 10+ win range.
Boilerdowd: I think Rondale Moore will dazzle us and the nation yet again, but without aOSU on the schedule, the potential landmark game is under the lights in Unhappy Valley...that’s too early to hold the attention of the media. So I think he’ll go to NYC another year (read as 2020).
Aneesh: I think he'll generate real Heisman buzz before he leaves after the 2020 season to become a 1st round NFL draft pick, but I'm a little skeptical it happens this year. And the reason is moreso due to my literal interpretation of that question - I really do think Rondale, in Brohm's system, has the potential to get an invite to the Heisman ceremony. Not "he had a great year and appeared in every pundit's Heisman Watchlist column", but generate actual votes to become the first Boilermaker to win the Heisman trophy.
While I'm hopeful it'll happen this season, I'm thinking that Rondale plays mostly the decoy role this year, and helps David Bell, Milton Wright, Mershawn Rice, TJ Sheffield, and the other young receivers blossom. But in 2020, with either a confident sixth-year QB in Sindelar or with an emerging young QB (Jack Plummer? Paul Piferi?) to fuel a historic year? Yes please.
Dave (with special guest “Rabbit”): Rabbit was unsure whether to answer the specific question or the meaning behind it - Yes, we think Moore will generate the hype necessary to be invited, but no, I don't think he'll be invited - a sophomore not-QB can be a tough sell to voters. In the video, I said it might also be the case that someone else would be in a better position record-wise, but ... see 5)
J: Not quite enough. It’ll depend upon how good the team is almost entirely. If Pudue races out to a 7-2 start or something, then yes, I think he might make it. If they do what many think they’ll do and are closer to a .500 team, then he will not.
3) What is your biggest concern with this team?
Michael: The RBs or the OLine, but probably the RBs the most. There's just no proven producer there and that worries me.
Boilerdowd: The OLine is concerning for me. I love this coaching staff’s ability to develop and put guys in a position to succeed...but there’s a lot to be said for reps. This unit needs them. It also needs depth, which it doesn’t have a ton of.
Aneesh: Offensive line is the most important position group on the field, and it's where football programs build stability. And while Brohm has worked wonders manufacturing confidence in two Darrell Hazell quarterbacks, instantly made the Boilermakers' wide receiver group into one of the country's best, and electrified the defense with his and Nick Holt's fiery personality, he still hasn't been able to establish continuity with the offensive line. The left side should actually be fine, anchored by Hermanns & McCann. Even Victor Beach's debut under center doesn't have me too worried. But the names on the right side (former DT Alex Criddle? RS Frosh Will Bramel? DJ Washington?) keep my expectations for the entire offense a little lower than I'd like. I hope they prove me wrong.
Dave (with special guest “Rabbit”): Rabbit has no concerns. My concern is the offensive line; a fully-operational Brohmball offense needs the O-line to give QBs and RBs enough time to do their things. Purdue got some of that last year and should get a bit more this year, but they may not be at the required level for planetary devastation yet.
J: Offensive line and depth, nothing new there.
4) Will Jeff Brohm get Purdue its first ranking since 2007?
Michael: No.
Boilerdowd: I don’t think this is the year to break back into the rankings...I think they’ll receive votes if they start 2-0, but the TCU game doesn’t feel like a win to me. IF they win that one, I think they’ll be ranked, but in spite of a great atmosphere, I don’t think they’ll beat Coach Patterson’s defense this season.
Aneesh: Woof. The second half of the schedule is a little too tough to expect a November breakthrough in the polls. Purdue opens at Nevada - Vandy - TCU - Minnesota, and would have to make a clean-sweep and be traveling to Penn State in October to be ranked in the Top 25 this year...and I'm not sure I see it. But I was on campus in 2007 for that Curtis Painter 5-0 stretch, so miracles can happen.
Dave (with special guest “Rabbit”): Rabbit and I agree: Yes. (Although personally I care little about polls, I realize that a lot of people pay attention to them. I'd rather see them break into the S&P Top 25.)
J: I believe they will, yes. Jeff Brohm has gotten himself and this program noticed, as has Rondale Moore, and I think it’s something voters now want to recognize.
5) What will Purdue’s record be?
Michael: 7-6, hopefully with one of those wins coming in a bowl game.
Boilerdowd: 7-5 heading into the bowl...that would be a step forward for the program and a bridge to what’s coming in 2020, which will be a ton of fun.
Aneesh: I'll give a confident 7, with the over/under at 7.5.
2-1 through the nonconference schedule, plus wins against Maryland, Illinois, and Indiana. Pencil in a loss at Penn State, and a 2-3 record against the B10 West contenders (Minny, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin).
Dave (with special guest “Rabbit”): Um. Rabbit says 12-2: 3-0 in non-conference play, 7-2 in conference play, a win in the Big Tenteen title game, and a win in a New Year's Six bowl. That's ... improbable. But UM, MSU and OSU aren't on the schedule. The Iowa road game isn't at night. The non-conference schedule is favorable. Even the tough conference road games are potentially winnable. So ... why not? THE TRAIN IT WON'T STOP GOING NO WAY TO SLOW DOWN
J: I’ll go right between my now-renown ten-win thoughts and everybody’s soft-ass 6-6 expectations and I will say 8-4. (Wins over Nevada, Vandy, TCU, Minn, Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska and Indiana.)
(Added to the podcast feed for those of you who prefer to hear but not see us.)
