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Notre Dame Football: Improved Purdue team will be dominated up front

By Daniel Morrison

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 13: Purdue Boilermakers mascot Purdue Pete is seen during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 13: Purdue Boilermakers mascot Purdue Pete is seen during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 14: Zander Horvath #40 of the Purdue Boilermakers jumps over Cameron Ruiz #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 14, 2020 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 14: Zander Horvath #40 of the Purdue Boilermakers jumps over Cameron Ruiz #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 14, 2020 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football 2021 Opponent Preview: Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue Offense

The question on the Purdue offense starts at quarterback. Plummer and O’Connell both showed capability last season, even as the Boilermakers struggled to find wins. O’Connell is the 5th year quarterback, and showed that he’s capable of winning early last season. But, is he healthy coming off surgery?

Did Plummer do enough to steal his job? We probably won’t find out the starter until August, and even then, there may be a battle into the season.

Purdue is lucky to also bring back a 5th year senior at running back, in Zander Horvath. Horvath isn’t the best back in the world, but he’s capable, averaging a solid five yards per carry. That’s not the focus of the Purdue offense, though, so that number is slightly inflated by facing light boxes all season long.

The Purdue offensive line is a good, well-rounded offensive line. Gus Hartwig and Greg Long with both be in consideration to make an All-B1G 10 team. The Notre Dame defensive line is going to need to be quick to create havoc and push into the backfield to attack whoever Purdue puts in at quarterback, because they want to throw and they want to throw a lot.

It’s an effective aerial assault from Brohm. The question is whether or not that attack is a little too predictable and if they can hold up against a defense like Notre Dame.

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