Purdue one of 5 Bounce Back Teams

The Boiling Point: ESPN’s KC Joyner has Purdue as a bounce back team.

ESPN’s KC Joyner lists Purdue as one of his 5 teams that will bounce back this upcoming season. Below are the factors taken into account for how he chose these teams.

"The teams that follow here fit perfectly into this category. All five finished with losing records in 2010 — and all five have a very good chance to go bowling this season. We evaluated their bounce-back potential by looking at five critical categories: (1) a high percentage of returning starters; (2) a favorable schedule (at least four games in which the team is even or favored); (3) an underrated strength; (4) an overrated weakness; and (5) an X factor."

Joining Purdue in the group is UCLA, Virginia, Cincinnati, and Ole Miss. Below is his synopsis on the Boilers:

"4-8 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten Returning starters: offense 8, defense 9Favorable matchups: vs. Middle Tennessee (6-7 Sun Belt team), at Rice (4-8), vs. SE Missouri State (FCS team), vs. Minnesota (3-9), at Indiana (5-7)Underrated strength: Rushing attack. The Boilermakers ranked 51st in FBS in rush yards per carry in 2010 (4.37) despite losing Ralph Bolden to a spring practice injury and having to lean heavily on a “three yards and a cloud of dust”-style fullback (Dan Dierking, who was the only running back to tally more than 60 carries last year).Add a healthy Bolden to spring practice star Akeem Shavers and an offensive line that will have four returning starters, and it could equal one of the best running attacks in the Big Ten.Overrated weakness: Quarterback. Rob Henry was forced into the starting lineup last year after Rober Marve was injured. His play was as inconsistent as one might expect from a first time starting redshirt freshman, but check out his combined stat line in the contests against Minnesota, 14th-ranked Michigan State and Indiana: 45-for-76 for 604 yards, 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. That equates to a superb 141.5 passer rating against conference-level competition.X factor: Special teams could be a plus in close contests with punter Cody Webster (43.3 average, ranked 29th in FBS) and kicker Carson Wiggs (15-of-19 on field goals last season)."