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Purdue played almost exclusively in a base 4-3 defense against Penn State last week, and it sounds as if that will continue.
The challenge now is to determine what to do with standout linebacker Anthony Heygood.
Defensive coordinator Brock Spack used two groupings of linebackers last week. One had freshman Chris Carlino at middle linebacker, which freed Heygood to play outside. The other moved Heygood to the middle so redshirt freshman Nickcaro Golding could play the outside. Joe Holland was the other outside linebacker in both groupings.
Golding had five tackles. Carlino had four. Heygood, who leads the team in tackles, had a season-low four. He was coming off back-to-back double-digit tackle games.
Spack and coach Joe Tiller would prefer to play Heygood on the outside in the 4-3.
That could mean more playing time for Carlino.
“I think Carlino probably played a little better than Golding,” Tiller said. “That would be nice if Chris could play more for us. Moving Anthony around is probably hindering him some. He’s our best linebacker. He’s really playing the best of any defensive player we have right now. It’d be nice if we didn’t have to move him around, but we’re not in that situation right now.”
And then Tiller said what has become a mantra this season: “We need Jason Werner.”
There’s still no timetable on Werner’s return. He hasn’t played all season because of a back injury.
Purdue has mostly rotated its offensive line this season, but Tiller would like to stick with a group.
That’s been tough to do with projected starters getting injured.
Seven players got time on the line last week, largely due to minor injuries. Center Cory Benton is the only player who hasn’t been substituted.
Projected starting right tackle Sean Sester has had more trouble rebounding from offseason back surgery than the team hoped. Guards Eric Hedstrom and Justin Pierce were hurt last week but should play Saturday.
If everyone is healthy, Tiller would like to see Sester and Zach Jones at tackle and Pierce and Ken Plue at guard. Garret Miller and Zach Reckman also have been in the mix this season.
“It’s kind of a carousel out there as far as the offensive line is concerned,” Tiller said.
Tight end Kyle Adams’ surgically repaired knee is infected, Tiller said. That will keep him out of the lineup. Adams, the team’s top receiving tight end, injured the knee in the season opener. … Purdue hasn’t won at Ohio State since 1988. Why is it such a tough place to play? “It’s in Ohio,” joked Ohio native Tiller.
sclardie@jg.net
