WEST LAFAYETTE - Purdue Football looks to capitalize on its impressive defensive showing during the 2021 season, completing the second day of spring practice on Wednesday.
Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Ron English is excited for what is to come for the Boilermaker defense as he enters his second season.
"I think last year we were very effective at staying even-keeled, making corrections and coaching throughout a game, not getting too high or too low," English said. "And then, the players really followed our lead."
English believes in leading by example and being a true motivator for each member of the team.
He is ready to see how fifth-year senior, Chris Jefferson, leads the defense this season. Jefferson had 47 total tackles and one interception throughout the 2021 campaign.
"Chris is a stud," English said. "He is a senior, so we trust him. We expect him to lead, we expect him to perform. So, he's in that kind of role right now."
Jefferson spoke to the media after practice and relayed how he is going to continue being a coachable player and help lead his teammates. Notably from Jefferson's first season with the Boilermakers, he accounted for 15 tackles in Purdue's win over Tennessee in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
"Expectations are high," Jefferson said. "Expectations are always high for me, so that's pretty much nothing new. My confidence, the way I think about things, is at an all-time high right now."
The drive English has to bolster his side of the ball's improvement as students of the game will ideally show itself in renewed defensive production this upcoming season.
"It's really in how you build them in terms of how do they respond to failure, how do they respond to success, how do they respond to mistakes. That's where we come in as a staff," said English.
The Boilermakers will be back on the practice field Friday at 4 p.m., with fans and the general public encouraged to attend.
There are two remaining practices that are free and open to the public. Taking photos or recording video during the practices is strictly prohibited. The spring schedule is below.
2022 Purdue Spring Football Public Schedule
March 4 -- Bimel or Mollenkopf, 4 p.m.
March 7 -- Bimel or Mollenkopf, 4 p.m.
April 9 (Spring Game) – Ross-Ade, 12 p.m. (BTN)
Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Ron English is excited for what is to come for the Boilermaker defense as he enters his second season.
"I think last year we were very effective at staying even-keeled, making corrections and coaching throughout a game, not getting too high or too low," English said. "And then, the players really followed our lead."
English believes in leading by example and being a true motivator for each member of the team.
He is ready to see how fifth-year senior, Chris Jefferson, leads the defense this season. Jefferson had 47 total tackles and one interception throughout the 2021 campaign.
"Chris is a stud," English said. "He is a senior, so we trust him. We expect him to lead, we expect him to perform. So, he's in that kind of role right now."
Jefferson spoke to the media after practice and relayed how he is going to continue being a coachable player and help lead his teammates. Notably from Jefferson's first season with the Boilermakers, he accounted for 15 tackles in Purdue's win over Tennessee in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
"Expectations are high," Jefferson said. "Expectations are always high for me, so that's pretty much nothing new. My confidence, the way I think about things, is at an all-time high right now."
The drive English has to bolster his side of the ball's improvement as students of the game will ideally show itself in renewed defensive production this upcoming season.
"It's really in how you build them in terms of how do they respond to failure, how do they respond to success, how do they respond to mistakes. That's where we come in as a staff," said English.
The Boilermakers will be back on the practice field Friday at 4 p.m., with fans and the general public encouraged to attend.
There are two remaining practices that are free and open to the public. Taking photos or recording video during the practices is strictly prohibited. The spring schedule is below.
2022 Purdue Spring Football Public Schedule
March 4 -- Bimel or Mollenkopf, 4 p.m.
March 7 -- Bimel or Mollenkopf, 4 p.m.
April 9 (Spring Game) – Ross-Ade, 12 p.m. (BTN)