Executive Reporter
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Purdue's offense didn't take advantage of a stellar defensive performance and caused the Boilers to lose 16-3 Saturday.
Purdue didn't score a touchdown and failed to get inside No. 12 Ohio State's 30-yard line until the last minute of the game. But not once did coach Joe Tiller consider replacing senior quarterback Curtis Painter, which he did last week against Penn State when the offense failed to produce.
"He was into the game," Tiller said of Painter. "He had good feedback on the sideline. I didn't think he was flustered at all. Overall, I thought he played much better this week than last week."
Tiller said Painter's sideline interaction with offensive coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher was much more spirited this week. Rather than saying "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" when discussing on-field plays, Painter was well aware of why he chose to do certain things.
"He had the right answers on the sideline," Tiller said. "He was really into the game. So, I thought that he took last week and what happened to him as a challenge from studying the game point of view."
Painter finished the game 23-of-53 passing, totaling 228 yards with one interception and a fumble. He said he couldn't really point out any specific problems with the offense and didn't think he changed anything from last week to this week.
"I don't think anything was different," Painter said of his sideline manner. "I don't think I took any special initiative to be in it anymore."
Senior running back Kory Sheets said it is time for a change on offense. He didn't specify what kind of change but that one was needed.
"I honestly don't know (where we're at). But Obama said it best " it's time for change," Sheets said. "I think we've got to do something in the offense or change something to where we're moving the ball effectively and putting points on the board."
Sheets said he always has Painter's back and even saw a Painter of old.
"During the game today, I saw him come into his own and start playing like the old Curtis Painter," Sheets said. "He started checking the ball, and no matter what the play was he was somewhat doing his own thing. I told him, just keep playing like yourself. Now I'm starting to see the Curtis Painter I fell in love with."
The last time Purdue's offense failed to score an offensive touchdown was last year against Penn State. Last week against the Nittany Lions, the Boilers (2-4, 0-2) scored only six points and that came late in the fourth quarterback with backup QB Joey Elliott. Despite the lack of offensive production, defensive coordinator Brock Spack said there are no worries that his defense will start blaming the offense for its lack of production.
"You point a finger, you have three pointing back at you," Spack said. "We win as a team, we lose as a team. There are going to be times when we screw it up. These guys are good kids. They'll pick each other up."
Tiller's message after the game was very similar to Spack's comments.
"You've got to keep your heads up and stay positive," Tiller said. "Don't go around and stick your lower lip out and pout about it. There's still a lot of football left to be played. Our football team's getting better."
Purdue has now lost 17-straight games against ranked teams.
Published in the Purdue Exponent on Oct. 15, 2008
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