The Offensive Line should take a major step forward with key additions this off-season.
There is not much debate, the Offensive Line of the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2023 season was underwhelming to say it nicely, more matter of fact, it was below average.
The unit faced injuries, players battled through them, or were out for an extended amount of time, that is why depth in the trenches is so important at every level of football, from High School to the NFL.
Luckily for Ryan Walters, we live in the age of the Transfer Portal. While being able to afford, yes afford, the top flight offensive linemen that hit the portal is expensive, you can still find quality players from all levels.
Purdue hit the Group of 5 offensive line ranks and Junior College to try and improve the group, but with play and with size.
After the season concluded, Coach Walters made it clear that the offensive line was undersized and outmanned, and that it was not going to happen again.
While Purdue hit the portal hard for offensive line help, the Boilermakers will return three starters that will make a major impact again.
Gus Hartwig, Mahamane Moussa and Marcus Mbow all return as experienced veterans for the group.
Mbow and Moussa are expected to move back inside after spending a season at tackles. Mbow projects as an interior offensive lineman for the NFL, so, this should be a great move getting him back where he excels at.
Moussa faced severe ankle injuries last season, so judging him on performance is hard, he may have struggled, but, he was the best Purdue had and he put it on the line (pun intended) as best that he could.
Hartwig feels like he has been here since the United States won World War Two. All jokes aside, he has been the focal point of the offensive line his entire career, starting at center.
Hartwig in nine games last season graded above an 81% per Pro Football Focus in terms of pass blocking, the highest on the offensive line, by far. Mbow was at 76%.
Mbow was the best run blocking offensive lineman on the roster last year, at just 69% (Nice, kind of?). Of the returners, Hartwig was second at 65%.
With knowing how the interior offensive line shakes out should bring a sigh of relief to Hudson Card. A lot of the pressures he faced was not off of the edge, but linebackers blitzing the A and B gaps, that is in between the Center to Guard and the Guard to Tackle.
But, who will fill the two open tackle positions?
Corey Stewart will get first crack at a starting tackle spot, the All-MAC selection from Ball State graded above an 80% last year in pass protection, per Pro Football Focus. My personal guess is he will be the Left Tackle this upcoming season, at 6-6, 310 pounds, he has the build for the position.
The other tackle spot though will be up for grabs. Look for Joe Tanona (ND Transfer), Joshua Sales Jr (IU Transfer), DJ Wingfield (New Mexico), Rod Green (JUCO), and Jaekwon Bouldin (JUCO) to make their case to be the starting tackle opposite of Stewart.
However it shakes out, there will be more depth on the offensive line this season than we have had since the Tiller Days, Brohm’s offensive line were always patchwork, last year’s was no different.
Here is to hoping to see Hudson Card stay upright more often in 2024.