Iowa at Purdue football: 1st and 10
WEST LAFAYETTE – As we start the week, 10 storylines to track as Purdue hosts Iowa on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Kickoff is set for noon on Fox Sports 1.
▶ What’s the status of the Boilermakers’ secondary after the off-week? Cornerbacks Jabari Brown and Cory Trice left the Wisconsin game with injuries, but Jeff Brohm was hopeful they will return for Sunday’s practice. As you know, the position lacks depth and Purdue needs everyone available for the November stretch run.
▶ Even if Brown and Trice make it to Saturday’s game ready to play, transfer Bryce Hampton and safety Sanoussi Kane are expected to work out at cornerback during practice. Reese Taylor has been part of the rotation most of the season and is expected to play.
▶ Another key injury to track – defensive end Kydran Jenkins, who also left the Wisconsin game and didn’t return. Jenkins leads the defense with 3.5 sacks and has been effective most of the season with disruptive plays. Scotty Humpich is the backup and freshman Nic Caraway’s playing time could increase.
▶ The Boilermakers need a win to keep pace with Illinois in the Big Ten West race. The Fighting Illini are 4-1 and host Michigan State on Saturday. Purdue needs to remain within one game of Illinois heading into the Nov. 12 matchup in Champaign.
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▶ Will Aidan O’Connell bounce back? One week after showcasing numerous NFL-caliber throws against Nebraska, the sixth-year quarterback wasn’t sharp in the loss to the Badgers. Although O’Connell threw for 320 yards, he was picked off twice – including one for a pick-six – and wasn't comfortable in the pocket. He’s had at least one interception in five straight games – the longest streak of his career.
▶ What are the thoughts of Charlie Jones and Tyrone Tracy facing their former teammates? You won’t find out unless the Iowa transfers post something on social media and that’s not likely to happen. Here’s betting the duo won’t be permitted to conduct interviews – at least with the local or Iowa media - this week.
▶ Is Jones the next Purdue receiver to torch Iowa’s secondary, following in the footsteps of David Bell, Terry Wright and Anthony Mahoungou under Brohm? In the last five meetings, Brohm’s quarterbacks are averaging 309.8 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. They’ve also completed 64.6% of their passes.
▶The Hawkeyes should feel good coming into Ross-Ade Stadium. They snapped a three-game losing streak, scored a season-high 33 points and gained nearly 400 yards in the 20-point win over Northwestern. Despite considering a quarterback change, Iowa stuck with Spencer Petras, who accounted for two touchdowns.
“We’ve set the standard now to how we’re capable of playing,” Petras said. “So, there’s no excuse for anything less than that going forward.”
▶ Can Purdue’s offense make a dent in Iowa’s defense? Despite the offensive woes, the Hawkeyes remain one of the strongest defensive units in the country. The Boilermakers can’t afford to fall behind, similar to what happened against Wisconsin. Other than giving up a combined 81 points to Michigan and Ohio State, the defense is allowing an average of 7.5 points in its other six games.
▶ Will walk-on running back Devin Mockobee continue to find success? He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in three of the last four games. He’s one of the better stories in the Big Ten this season but his production has balanced out Purdue’s offense. Running back Dylan Downing is expected to return after a foot injury. The Hawkeyes allowed 200 yards to Illinois and 172 to Michigan but kept Ohio State’s running game under 70 yards.
Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today Sports Network. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Iowa at Purdue football: Big Ten West standings Big Ten Conference 10 storylines
