Cutting down on turnovers is the obvious emphasis for Purdue's offense.
Next on the list is for the team's playmakers to make better decisions, coach Danny Hope said.
Hope said when he reviews game tape, he puts a check or a minus on good and bad plays. He wouldn't say if there are more checks than minuses, but he does want his playmakers to play better in the second half of the season.
Hope characterized playmakers as "guys that have the ball in their hands."
He's not just talking about the quarterback, running back and receivers.
That includes players who return kicks and punts.
"When I say decision-making, (it's) whether or not they field the football at times, the right spots," Hope said. "We have had some muffs and we have had some fumbles and a couple times we haven't ended up in the hole."
Hope said he will take a look at different players getting return opportunities this week. Aaron Valentin has returned kicks and punts, but he has lost fumbles doing both. Keith Carlos and Jaycen Taylor returned kicks last week, but Carlos fumbled a kick.
Waynelle Gravesande may get a chance as a return man.
- Hope doesn't expect injured offensive lineman Eric Hedstrom or tight ends Jeff Panfil and Colton McKey to play anytime soon and maybe not for the rest of the season. Hedstrom and McKey haven't played yet this season, and Panfil hasn't played since Oregon.
- Miami transfer quarterback Robert Marve has not been given a medical release for contact in practice yet, but Hope said Marve looks good. Marve has been doing some drills with trainers and the strength coach as well as throwing, Hope said.
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