Gold and Black Radio: Purdue-Washington Kickoff Show

The staff at GoldandBlack.com and host Derek Schultz break down Purdue’s Oct. 16 matchup against Washington at Ross-Ade Stadium. Audio Big Matchup: Washington running game versus Purdue against the run Out of 138 teams in the FBS, Washington ranks 135th in rushing offense at a paltry 90.33 yards per game. After losing last year’s star tailback, Jonah Coleman, to the NFL, the Huskies needed to rebuild their run game. Washington suffered key injuries to two top running backs in the season opener. Quaid Carr and Jayden Limar both have yet to return to action, leaving a depleted running back room to fight through the season. True freshman Brian Bonner Jr. quickly became the starter and leads the Huskies in rushing at the halfway point of the season. He doesn’t lead the team in rushing attempts, though; quarterback Demond Williams does. Williams left Washington’s most recent game with a rib injury, and he likely won’t be able to play Friday night. Elijah Brown is expected to start in his place, but he didn’t try to run by design or scramble against Iowa. A Stanford transfer, Brown finished his two seasons with the Cardinal with negative rushing yards. Purdue’s defense stifled Minnesota’s run game, limiting the Gophers to just 25 yards on 12 carries. Although Minnesota’s ground attack ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten, Purdue turned off the water and made the offense one-dimensional. Purdue’s defense continues to impress up the middle, with the interior defensive line and traditional downhill linebackers making plays. Jojo Hayden and Winston Berglund each shone against the Gophers, and Purdue’s depth at defensive tackle let it rotate freely and stay fresh. Purdue’s defense has benefited from the offense chewing up the clock early in the last two games. Against the Big Ten’s worst ground game, Purdue should feel good about its chances to force Washington to throw. Pregame: Number Crunching: Purdue-Washington Week | Ryan Browne taking his game — and Purdue’s offense — to another level