Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer spoke with the media following Monday’s Buckeye practice, which was the third of fall camp. OSU took the weekend off from practice, but were back at it today. They will then practice again on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. What did Meyer have to say about his team today? Here are the highlights.
+ The focus of Meyer’s offseason study was the common denominator of great teams and organizations. He looked at the New England Patriots. Why do some organizations have great, great teams? Because the players own their teams and their programs. “Curtis Grant walks around here like he owns the damn thing, and he should.”
+ The WRs are one of the best groups Meyer has ever had culturally. They all show up and work. They are unproven on the field, but those who do what these guys do end up playing pretty well.
+ When you have a lot of veterans on the team, you can get more reps for young players because the older guys don’t need as many reps.
+ It’s too early to say if anybody or position group has made a jump after three practices.
+ Michael Jordan played pretty good for a freshman last year. They are excited about Thayer Munford, Wyatt Davis, and Josh Myers. They have to problem playing a freshman on the offensive line if he is the best guy.
+ You can’t put a price on the experience that Michael Jordan had last year. He’s continued to improve and had a great summer.
+ Current players and their families play a role in keeping OSU’s committed recruits from flipping to other schools. “We’re not a very push program.” Meyer doesn’t want recruits to rush their decisions.
+ After three practices, all the coaches are looking for right now is culture and going hard.
+ Mike Weber has a tight hamstring. He practiced a little bit today. They are easing him back.
+ Two young defensive linemen (unnamed) are on the Black Stripe Watch List.
+ Quarterbacks can be hampered by knowing too much, so they try to show quarterbacks different looks on defense as much as they can in practice. “You try to give him as much nonsense in practice.”
+ Going up tempo changes how OSU QBs are taught to read their progressions and where to throw the ball. Up tempo relies more on progression. Regular tempo relies more on defensive keys. If a defender goes one way, the ball goes the other. Up tempo, the ball starts out at the first progression because defenders are still moving at the snap.
+ Jamarco Jones was one of the most-improved players over last year. He and Pat Elfein could be counted on last year when things went poorly.
+ In certain areas, this is as deep a team as he’s had. In other areas, however, it’s very thin. “We’re not deep at all in certain positions.”
+ “I think D-end will be as deep as we’ve ever been. I would put ours against any group I’ve ever had or any group in America.”
+ Freshman wide receiver Jaylen Harris is stepping up. He’s making plays, but he’s still immature. He has shown he has the skill set to play here, “no doubt.” Trevon Grimes is not competitive yet as they bring him back from injury.