Linebacker Cornel Jones making sure Purdue maintains its edge

• Jones ranks second among Big Ten players with 8.0 tackles for loss
• Illinois has rushed for more than 200 yards in each of the first five games
• Freshmen Elijah Ball and Cory Trice are expected to see action at some point this season
• Purdue has won the last two meetings against the Illini

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — What we learned from the Boilermakers following Wednesday’s practice.

If you’re thinking Purdue might have lost its edge during the open week, think again.

Cornel Jones is making sure the Boilermakers still feature the same mindset prior to its off week and heading into Saturday’s crucial game at Illinois.

Prior to Tuesday’s practice, the sophomore linebacker walked into the program’s massive locker room, saw a Sharpie and a thought popped into his head. He grabbed a towel and wrote the words: ‘FIGHT ME!’

“It means I’m a battler. I’m on defense. You’ve got to be a battler. You’ve got to be an aggressive guy,” Jones explained with a smile.

At the end of the Tuesday’s practice, Jones had the towel hanging on the outside of his pants. Following Wednesday’s workout, the towel was tucked inside his pants.

He pulled out the towel and showed reporters.  

“I was like, ‘Hmm, I’m just going to write ‘FIGHT ME’ today and see if I can get the offense going for the rivalry game,” Jones said. “I’ll try to wear it Saturday.”

It’s important for the Boilermakers to stay aggressive on both sides of the ball. That’s been a key element in the turnaround from the 0-3 start. Purdue is riding a two-game winning streak and can reach .500 with a win over the Fighting Illini.

Jones has played well most of the season, along with fellow linebackers Markus Bailey and Derrick Barnes. Jones is tied for second in the Big Ten with eight tackles for loss.

“I need something to get the offense going and the team to understand who we’re playing against, what we’re playing for,” Jones said. “Since we had a week off, I didn’t want those guys to think we’re just chillin' and going to somebody else’s town and play them and they’re going to lay down for us. It’s the total opposite.

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“We still have an edge. We’ve had a whole two weeks to prepare for the team we’re playing Saturday, the Illini.”

The run defense will be tested once again by Illinois, similar to what Nebraska showed the Boilermakers two weeks ago.

A dynamic dual-threat quarterback in AJ Bush, Jr. A pair of talented running backs in Reggie Corbin and Mike Epstein. Purdue will need support in the run game from safeties Navon Mosely and Jacob Thieneman.

The Illini have rushed for at least 212 yards in each of the first five games.  

“They’re doing OK,” co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter said. “I would like for them to tackle a little bit better at times. Some of these guys are hard-tackle guys. We’ve got to keep working. I think they have the want-to, but the other guy is on scholarship too.

“They’re working. The one thing about this group I’ve got now – they want to come to practice. They want to work, they want to learn. It’s never a chore to come to practice and come to the games. It’s a pleasure coaching these kids.”

Two freshmen in Poindexter’s group – Elijah Ball and Cory Trice – have yet to see action but were on the travel squad when the Boilermakers played Nebraska.

Does that mean they’re close to getting on the field?

“We’re doing so much stuff. You’ve got to know it,” Poindexter said. “Look, coach is going to call it up and they’ve got to be able to recall it and line up to the formations. There’s a lot of moving parts and they have to get guys organized.

“They’re getting better but you can’t be a play late in the secondary. Points are going to be scored and that’s what they have to learn. If we don’t do our job, the ball is going to go up over their head and there’s going to be points scored. They’re getting better but they’re not all the way there yet.”

Purdue’s defense was young when the season started and remains that way to a certain degree. They have five games of experience and countless hours in practice to lean on.

A strength of the group is its upside, one co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Nick Holt is encouraged about.

“I see a lot of young guys getting better,” Holt said. “I see some of the young D-linemen getting better, or some of the D-linemen who haven’t played, they might not be young but they’re getting better.

“I see some of the young linebackers getting better every week – there’s no question about that and some of our young DB’s getting better every week. I’m excited about that. We have to show it on Saturday’s.”

SATURDAY'S GAME

Purdue (2-3, 1-1) at Illinois (3-2, 1-1)

Time: 3:30 p.m.

TV: FS1

Radio: WAZY (96.5)