Columbus -- Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan liked the game plan his coaches crafted for Ohio State last season, and once it started working, he really couldn't get enough of it. The Boilermakers' defensive line kept shifting before the snap and then kept getting after OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor. "I'm thinking, 'Man, this is working. Great, let's keep doing...
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor hopes to avenge last season's shocking loss to Purdue this Saturday at the 'Shoe.Columbus -- Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan liked the game plan his coaches crafted for Ohio State last season, and once it started working, he really couldn't get enough of it. The Boilermakers' defensive line kept shifting before the snap and then kept getting after OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
"I'm thinking, 'Man, this is working. Great, let's keep doing this,' " Kerrigan said when looking back at that game before this season started.
"You don't expect anything different after that. You know it's coming and you know it's going to work, and that makes you go that much harder when you know you're going to have success with it."
Sounds a lot like what Wisconsin's offense did last week against the Buckeyes, doesn't it?
Coming off its first loss of this season, 31-18, at Wisconsin, Ohio State is looking to avenge its most shocking loss of last season, 26-18, at Purdue. It was an upset in West Lafayette, Ind., on Oct. 17, 2009, that seemed to change everything, for both teams.
Proof of how much really did change may be found Saturday -- for Purdue and for Pryor.
For Pryor, the game was a shock to the system, and he addressed his teammates in the days after the loss and promised to be different. Pryor has harkened back to the Purdue loss, out of the blue, when talking about all sorts of other things this season. Quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano said Wednesday he thought the loss "raised the bar" for Pryor on how much he needed to study the game and how he couldn't afford to turn the ball over after fumbling twice and throwing two interceptions.
The Buckeyes ran the table last season after the loss and finished 11-2 with Pryor the offensive MVP of the Rose Bowl. The quarterback has thrown just four interceptions in seven games this year, only two that really bothered Siciliano as bad decisions, compared with 11 interceptions in 13 games last season.
If Pryor was a changed player, maybe he could have found a way to lead the Buckeyes to a win on the road at Wisconsin, instead of the comeback falling just short. At least he handled the loss better.
"He was smiling [Tuesday] which is good to see," Siciliano said. "Two years ago, it may not have been the case."
For Purdue, the game was a peak previously unknown under coach Danny Hope, who was in his first season. The Buckeyes before the game called the Boilermakers the best 1-5 team in the country, and Purdue proved it. It was part of a 4-2 second half of the season, and Purdue is 4-2 this season -- 8-4 in its last 12 games.
"That was definitely a stepping stone for our program," Kerrigan said. "We've had a lot of success against them the past couple seasons on defense. I don't know what it's been, but it's great to know we did that against a great team like Ohio State."
In two games, Kerrigan has five sacks and two forced fumbles against the Buckeyes. In two games, Pryor has thrown for one touchdown, two interceptions and 318 yards and rushed 35 times for 61 yards against the Boilermakers, while Ohio State has averaged 17 points per game.
"He's exceptionally gifted," Purdue linebacker Jason Werner said of Pryor on Wednesday, "but we've done a good job of preparing for everything he has."
But if Purdue was a changed team, maybe the Boilermakers wouldn't have lost to Toledo at home, 31-20, this season in a game in which they fell behind, 24-3.
"They took advantage of our mistakes," Werner said. "It gave us a little motivation and opened our eyes, saying guys needed to step up."
Pryor is obviously better than he was on Oct. 17, 2009, but on Saturday he will be trying to bounce back from his first loss since that day seemed to affect him so much. It's a test.
Purdue is obviously better than some people thought before Oct. 17, 2009, but on Saturday, the Boilermakers will face their first ranked team since that day seemed to affect them so much. It's a test.