Purdue vs. Wisconsin: 5 Things to Know Before Kickoff
By Mathew Muncy
Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports
5. No clue which Boilermaker running back will start or see the most touches
Hazell said he wants to get the running game going against the Badgers, which is something they’ve not done very well this season. Most of that blame falls on Hazell and offensive coordinator John Shoop as they’ve failed to give their offense any consistency. Markell Jones ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns against a pretty solid Michigan State defense, and then was rewarded with six total carries against Minnesota. D.J. Knox is a good running back, but the coaches can’t make up their mind on who to play and they are not basing it off who’s “hot” except for the Michigan State game. If you ask fans they will tell you Jones should be the main guy and it’s hard to deny it. But if Purdue wants Blough to have any success, then they will need the running game to get going and early on.
Not only are the Boilermakers playing for a sliver of pride right now, but Hazell has to be coaching for his job at this point. Danny Hope lost 27 games in four seasons and fans couldn’t wait for the door to close behind him, while Hazell has already lost 25 games in just two and a half seasons. It would be nice to see Purdue play well against the Badgers, but a moral victory isn’t going to cut it this time.