Madison - When Bret Bielema was a rookie defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin in 2004, preparing to face Purdue meant one thing:

Stop the pass. Under coach Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers generally passed first, passed second and passed third.

The Boilermakers of 2009, led by first-year coach Danny Hope and offensive coordinator Gary Nord, aren't as predictable.

"Every game has been a little bit different," said Bielema, who hasn't faced the Boilermakers since 2006, his first season as UW coach. "I think Purdue does a good job of taking what they can get."

To end any confusion, let it be clear that the Boilermakers (3-5, 2-2 Big Ten Conference) still can move the ball through the air.

As they prepare to face host UW (5-2, 2-2) this weekend, they are No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 32 nationally in passing at 254.6 yards per game. Quarterback Joey Elliott, a fifth-year senior in his first season as starter, is 15th nationally in completions per game (21.8) and 22nd in passing yards per game (252.8).

Yet the Boilermakers ran the ball more than they passed in their first two games, when tailback Ralph Bolden had a combined 40 carries for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Then, one week after passing 52 times in a 26-18 victory over then-No. 7 Ohio State, the Boilermakers featured their ground game in a 24-14 victory over Illinois.

Knowing that the Illini entered the day 98th nationally against the run (179.5 ypg), the Boilermakers stressed their ground game from the start.

They rushed 24 times for 171 yards in the first half in building a 21-7 halftime lead and finished with 220 rushing yards in 39 attempts.

Bolden rushed 21 times for 78 yards and a touchdown; reserve tailback Jaycen Taylor rushed six times for 71 yards and a touchdown; and Elliott rushed nine times for 62 yards and a touchdown. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards, all season lows.

"They threw the ball 50 times against Ohio State and we were like: 'Dang, same old Purdue, still throwing the ball around,' " UW secondary coach Kerry Cooks said. "And then you watch the (Illinois) game and they were running the ball.

"They give you headaches with what they do personnel-wise and formation-wise. You can't just line up and say they're going to throw the ball 50 times."

UW defensive coordinator Dave Doeren knows Nord's work from his days on the Kansas staff (2002-'05) when Nord was Florida Atlantic's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Doeren knows Nord will adapt his game plan to the strength of his players and the weakness of the opposing defense. The chess match between Doeren, who likes to use a 3-3-5 look in obvious passing situations and against teams with multiple receiver sets, and Nord should be intriguing.

"I really think he is a guy who likes to run the football," Doeren said, "but he is also going to use his players. . . .

"Obviously you've got to prepare for both attacks."

So how will Purdue choose to attack UW? Logic suggests Elliott should make sure his right arm is limber because he will be passing.

UW's front seven has been stout. Meanwhile, the secondary has been up and down and Cooks is re-evaluating the cornerback rotation this week in practice.

Elliott, who has 14 touchdown passes and a completion rate of 60.6%, has 10 interceptions, but none in the last two games.

"What he's really done a good job of is taking advantage of pass-rush lanes," Bielema said. "People get overly concerned about getting upfield and getting after the passer and they open up gaps. He has done a good job scrambling.

"In addition to running through those holes, he does a good job finding windows to get rid of the football."

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