Jeff Brohm
Purdue Coach
On opening thoughts
“I thought this was a really big win for our team against a very good opponent that played some really good football this year. I knew how explosive they were and played some really good defense as well. So for our guys to respond the way they did after a tough loss last week against a really good team, I have had some proud moments this might be the most proud I have been of our team. I thought they showed some great grit. They played to the end. We were able to improve on some things on offense we wanted to work at and do a couple new things, wrinkles that helped us. Defense gave up some plays in the first half. It was not our best game we have had, we adjusted some things and focused more on the running back and less on the quarterback running the ball, and because of that we limited their plays and then of course once we got the lead there, I do not know if it was early fourth quarter or third quarter, we knew they were going to throw the ball more than they wanted, and that is not their game, so like I said, very proud of our team. It was a huge win to come in this environment against this crowd and pull out a victory and it really feels good right now.”
On the team's defensive performance
“Well, fortunately I think this game on offense, because we were able to run the ball and I finally did a better job of committing to the run and making sure that we were going to do that regardless, and helped us get some yards that takes the pressure off the passing yards, that takes the pressure off the passing game, control the clock, control the ball. They hit some big plays in the first half, some long ones, and we had to adjust. So yes, we did make some adjustments at halftime. We talked about it right before the half. We knew that some things that we were doing going in that was not working. Fortunately we got some great staff, and we are going to adjust and we did so I think a combination of making those adjustments our offense playing well there at the beginning of the second half, getting a lead now, allowed us to do what we do well and that is kind of rush the passer, get interceptions and they did a good job of making big plays with that."
On Zander Horvath
“I think with Zander, very similar to David Bell, Zander came back as fast as he could after surgery on his leg. It was not one of those things where he made sure he was 100 percent. He practiced just a little bit this week and then he went out there and played, so success is character. His toughness, his grit and his ability to be a great teammate, want to go out there and just help his team win and give whatever we ask him to do. We did not want to wear him out and give him too much, but gave him enough to get back in the flow, and I have not checked on things but I think he probably came out of it OK. It was great to see him back on the field it helps us.”
On wide receiver Jackson Anthrop
“Those things helped. When you have more options back there that will help us. With Jackson, we wanted to kind of spread the field a little bit and allow him to run with a little more room because he has got some shiftiness to him, and I think that helps him do a really good job. He did a good job as receiver for us. Caught a ball in the backfield for a touchdown, so we were able to hand it to him and throw it to him. He ran hard and Zander (Horvath) is a big tough physical runner that even when there is not yards there he tends to get a few extra, which is crucial. It really is crucial to our offense, so combination of getting more guys going there helped us no question and we have to continue to build on that.”
On going for fourth and short at midfield
“Well we have been running the ball with some success, and I know our strength is not running the ball when they know we are. At the same time, it was half yard, we had a lead blocker repped this a hundred times. We felt we could get a half yard, but we did not. I knew there was not much time left on the clock either, so they would have had to execute at a high level to get points, so I think that we just wanted to try to get a field goal. We probably should have run a play action like we did earlier. I guess that would have helped us.”
On being one win away from bowl eligibility
“Well here is where our team is at, and I think they have done a good job of it. It is a one game season. We have a great schedule, play great opponents. This is a great conference. In order for us to win, we have got to practice as hard as we can. Identify our weaknesses, deficiencies, work hard to improve upon them and then go out there and swing again on Saturday. Some days it works, some days it does not, but I do think our guys give us everything they have. They have a mentality of, 'let's give everything we got and do not let up, do not worry about anything else,' and I think our guys did that and that is how you have to win football games. You have to give everything you got, everybody on the field, every coach, every player. You have to be man enough to look in the mirror when we make mistakes and we lose, and man up, and you have to come out the next week and even though you may not be super confident, you have to get back on, and you have to get your mojo going and otherwise you are not going to win. So I think our guys did that. So that is why I am very proud of them. It is a huge win for us to come here and get this victory, and now we are on to another great opponent.”
On involving other players besides David Bell
“I think they were keen on David early. We could tell that there are certain sets where we can get in where they are easier to do that. There is others when we spread the field they can, but it is more visible for our quarterback, so he knows when that happens that we are going to the other guys and that is what he did. So, I think we used a combination of some two-back runs to kind of give you yards but then get that play action where we know we can throw it to David, and then of course when we spread the field, we want to kind of spread them out and allow guys to get open and we have good receivers, so I think they did a good job of spreading the wealth around and not forcing it to David. So a lot of poise just a really good effort.”
On concern about kicking
“I am always concerned about everything. and yes I am concerned about our kicking. I just think Mitchell (Fineran) has lost some confidence. He is really just not swinging through the ball and popping that thing in the meat of his foot. It is hurting us. We need those points. He could do it, and he does it in practice and as we all know, you can lose your confidence. That is as big of a part of it as anything else. He has the ability. He has shown it, just needs to get his mojo back and that is not super easy to do. You think it is, but it is not. You have to believe in yourself. You have to get to others to encourage you. You have to take the field (with the) persona that I am the best kicker in the country, and I am going to go show it. So I just think he needs to get that back on. We were a little better at protection. I think execution was good and just missed two kicks. He can do better than that and he knows it.”
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