WEST LAFAYETTE − Twenty-five percent of the way through the regular season and all but one Big Ten team has a defensive takeaway.
Purdue football has yet to create a turnover through three games.
The Boilermakers are just one of six FBS programs in the country without a takeaway, joining Texas State, Kennesaw State, Eastern Michigan, an undefeated Oklahoma and San Diego State, which has only played two games.
“We had three opportunities (Sept. 13 against USC) to finish the play with the ball in our hand and we didn’t complete it,” Purdue coach Barry Odom said. “We’ve got to be better teachers. We’ve got to be better on the field at executing that.”
Maybe through three games, it shouldn’t be so concering quite yet.
But …
Purdue is coming off a season where it ranked dead last nationally in takeaways with five in 12 games.
As much as Purdue wants to disassociate itself from last year’s team, this is one area where it must.
The Boilermakers’ first loss came by two scores in a game where USC won the turnover margin 3-0. All three Purdue turnovers came after driving into the red zone.
Purdue defensive coordinator Mike Scherer noted the Boilermakers had four opportunities for interceptions against USC. The Boilers were credited for three pass breakups.
“One way or another we’ve got to confuse the quarterback, get him to throw us the football and catch it when he does,” Scherer said.
Dating back to last year, Purdue has now gone seven straight games without its defense creating a turnover.
Last Saturday against USC showed Purdue is finding itself in the right position to do so.
If the Boilermakers want to win over their final nine games, piling up takeaways, something Scherer said is contagious, will be necessary.
“The opportunities are there. … At the same we’ve got to finish,” linebacker Alex Sanford said.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Takeaways aren’t coming for Purdue football’s defense. How do Boilers create opportunity?
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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