Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson spoke with the media following practice on Wednesday. They provided updates on the Buckeyes and also looked ahead to Saturday’s opponent.
Urban Meyer Updates
+ It’s early, so eventually a No. 1 receiver will develop this season. These are new starters still finding their way. He felt good about the receivers played well in week one and are playing their tails off, they just need to make more plays.
+ Meyer talks to the team about the 2014 team as a template for bouncing back, but it’s not rammed home. They brought it up that the template worked well, but the players and coaches had to make it happen.
+ This has been one of the most unique there-game stretches in Meyer’s career. To go from conference game, to top 5 opponent, to an option attack.
+ Meyer said the media sure remembers a lot of losses. And then laughed a bit.
+ When things aren’t going well you have to go back to fundamentals, but they also have to remain balanced. They’ll do what they have to do to win the game, but they can’t be one dimensional.
+ Joe Burrow is coming along pretty good. He could probably play if needed. Dwayne Haskins is close to game ready. They want to get him in a game because he hasn’t been there yet.
+ It is hard to evaluate quarterback recruits because you don’t always get to see much of them before you have to offer or they are looking to commit. “It’s risky as hell” to wait and evaluate quarterbacks as a senior.
+ Demario McCall is not yet 100%, but he’s close. Michael Hill is still suspended.
+ Austin Mack passed all of his concussion tests.
+ The offense as a whole has not met the standard. The offensive line has played well. Mike Weber will be more available this week than last week. He has seen it in practice.
+ The playcalling process went well in game one. Last week it did not go well, so “obviously it is a work in progress.” Wilson is the primary playcaller and it has to be better.
Kevin Wilson Updates
+ It’s not a challenge to call plays in Urban Meyer’s system. You always evolve to what your players can and can’t do. “To me it’s the ability to adapt and adjust.” The process of fitting in has gone okay, but he needs to get better at anticipating and building momentum and getting some efficiency. What are you trying to be, where are you hanging your hat? These are things he is being asked and asking himself..
+ J.T. Barrett has always been a great practice player. “It’s my responsibility to put it together…” and to give Barrett a chance to have success. Barrett will look good when the offensive coordinator gets it going. Barrett’s not a one-man guy. It takes the team.
+ Army has a 3-man front on defense, much like Oklahoma did last week. Their defense only played 40 snaps last week because the offense shortens the game. If you don’t have success on offense, you can only have one possession per quarter.
+ Billy Price and J.T. Barrett are consistently the best practice players. Barrett does all of the little things that coaches want their players to do. His attention to detail is great.
+ Wilson has seen Dwayne Haskins continue to practice at a high level. He doesn’t think the fans tweeting at him that they want him to start has affected him at all. He’s still working hard and being led by the leaders on the team. “He’s had a great week of practice.”
+ Criticism comes with the territory. When you sign with Ohio State, it’s big-boy football and you have to expect it.
+ “We’ve just got to get out offensive rhythm back and that starts with me.”
+ It’s not about doing what he did at Indiana, it’s about doing what you can with what you have to score as many points as you can.
+ The tight ends are continuing to come along, but they weren’t able to play as many guys last week because they went with a lot of no tight end sets. That will change this week.
+ Wilson would like to see 1-2 more receivers in the rotation. Every skill position needs to be 2.5 deep at least. He wants to see more receivers playing. You need guys that you can count on that can execute. Wilson needs to do a better job of putting the team in a situation to succeed.
+ Wilson needs to do a better job of anticipating what a defense is going to do in the red zone as well. “I was awful Saturday.”
+ Receivers weren’t open on Saturday, and not because they can’t run routes, but for a number of reasons, including Wilson getting the offense in a rhythm. “I haven’t given those guys a chance.”
+ It’s been a good week of practice and things are moving in the right direction.
+ When the offense gets clicking, the receivers will be open.
+ Playing both tailbacks at the same time can be dangerous if they both get tired at the same time and you’re down to your third running back. You’d like to ride the hot guy.
+ They are pushing the freshman receivers hard. Trevon Grimes needs to get stronger and more consistent and more confident. The freshmen “are kinda inconsistent right now.”
+ They need to throw deep more. They have to pound the run, get horizontal with the passing game, and then throw deep more. “We’ve got to use our players and attack our 53 and a third.”