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Posts: 37005Timestamp: Sat Oct 04, 08 11:15 AM
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| Post URL: Penn State Respects Purdue's Pass Game
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indystar: WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Sixth-ranked Penn State will turn to a native Hoosier today in its attempt to disrupt Purdue senior quarterback Curtis Painter and the Boilermakers' passing game.
Josh Gaines, a 6-1, 275-pound senior defensive end from Fort Wayne Northrop High School, figures to help at the gate, too. He is one of 11 children. When Penn State played at Indiana in 2007, Gaines needed 81 tickets for family and friends.
Today, there will be almost 100 Gaines supporters in Ross-Ade Stadium.
Gaines is familiar with Purdue's football tradition and looks forward to today's "blackout," in which fans are encouraged to wear black in support of the Boilermakers.
"I've never played in a blackout," Gaines said. "Purdue's fans are right on you. They are real rowdy. It will be fun. I like going into other places and seeing how their fans act. It will be a fun game."
Gaines is an anchor on one of the nation's best defenses. He has three sacks, tied for second on the team, and figures to have plenty of opportunities to add to that today.
Gaines said he expects the Boilermakers to do what they do best -- the short passing game.
"Curtis Painter is a great quarterback," Gaines said. "He is a quarterback you can't give a lot of time. He has a lot of threats. They run that spread offense, and he is able to look guys off and find his receivers.
"We will focus on pass rushing . . . getting upfield and getting around people. We've got to get to him fast."
Painter has thrown for 1,113 yards and five touchdowns. He has been intercepted four times.
Like Gaines, Penn State coach Joe Paterno respects Purdue's offensive scheme.
"Everybody has a little bit of a quick passing game," Paterno said. "It's a question of how well they do it. You have to line up properly, and you have to react to the ball. You go from there. Certainly, you have to tackle. If a kid catches a 5-yard pass, you get hurt if you don't tackle him.
"We have to play our game. Purdue does a lot of things. They don't just have a short passing game all day. They will throw deep, and they do a good job with the inside dive play. We have to be alert and play our game. We have to be there when the ball is caught."
As Penn State braces for a possible national championship run, the Nittany Lions will play four of their next five on the road, including trips to Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa.
Paterno and Gaines said Purdue is where they are focusing.
"If you don't pay attention to what's right in front of you, all that stuff down the road isn't going to happen," Paterno said. "We just have to continue to work hard, practice hard or play hard."
Source: indystar
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Penn State Respects Purdue's Pass Game
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