Purdue Football: 3 takeaways from blowout loss vs. Illinois

WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - OCTOBER 26: Jack Plummer #13 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles the ball after the hit in the second half from Dele Harding #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - OCTOBER 26: Jack Plummer #13 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles the ball after the hit in the second half from Dele Harding #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – OCTOBER 26: George Karlaftis #5 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after his sack in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – OCTOBER 26: George Karlaftis #5 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after his sack in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

2. Too many injuries to overcome

Lemony Snickets’ “A Series of Unfortunate Events” was one of my favorite series of books. Snickets needs to write a book for this Purdue season.

The Boilermakers were limited coming into this season. The Boilermakers were thin on offense and defense; they really couldn’t afford injuries to their front line starters.

Not only did they have injuries, they had nine players out. Many of them are either starters or heavy contributors to the team. Those nine include both starting quarterback Elijah Sindelar and do-everything wide receiver Rondale Moore. They played tough last week against Iowa, but came up short.

The weather in this one did them no favors. It was monsoon like rain all day in West Lafayette. The receivers couldn’t squeeze the ball and had a multitude of drops. The rain took away what Purdue does best: throw the football.

Purdue couldn’t move the ball because they couldn’t throw the ball. Purdue showed it simply isn’t good enough along the offensive line to run and be physical.