Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer will spend some time on his weekly call-in show Thursday afternoon. We will provide live updates right here when Meyer arrives. He is expected to provide updates on his football team and will also look ahead to Saturday’s game at Iowa. Refresh for updates.
+ Gene Smith called Urban yesterday to talk about the Children’s Hospital Wave on Saturday. Ohio State will participate in that. “We’re honored to take part in that.”
+ They’ll talk about the Iowa crowd among their units today because they’re right on top of you.
+ “You talk about some of the calls in that fricking game that could have gone the other way.” Meyer complimented Greg Schiano for his reaction to calls, as Schiano says he doesn’t have time to worry about the last call because he has to worry about the next call.
+ How do you keep players from reveling in the win over Penn State? Easy, there were still plenty of problems that need to get fixed. Ball security and kick coverage are two of them. If this was an immature group, you’d worry about it, but this is a veteran team. The practices Tuesday and Wednesday were very good.
+ Defensive tackle Davon Hamilton has been dealing with a little bit of a back issue, but he does need to play better to get some more snaps. “You’ve got to show up every day and compete and go get a spot.”
+ Penn State weekend was a big recruiting day. “It turned out good.” He doesn’t want to sound arrogant, but if players aren’t in the boat after that, then see ya. How can you not want to be part of that?
+ On kickoffs, “We’re going to keep doing what we do.” They’ll keep kicking it, but changes have been made to the personnel. Austin Mack and Dante Booker will be added to the coverage team.
+ There were some grown-man conversations during the Penn State game. They are going to put some good, older players on the field for kickoffs. “It’s very easy to have grown-man conversations when you’re talking to grown men.” It’s not so easy when you’re talking to “little boys.” There are a lot of grown men on this team.
+ Iowa is in more multiple coverages than Meyer has seen from them in past years, but defenses have to do that now because of the different offenses out there.
+ The Hawkeyes “are very stereotypical Iowa” and that is meant with the utmost respect. They play a 4-3 defense. They are tough. They’re very well coached. They are fundamentally sound. “Our players know exactly what this is going to be.”
+ The communication in the press box by the offensive staff right now is exceptional.
+ On Mike Weber’s leap that saw him land on his head, Meyer said they tell their players to be smart and they don’t believe in leaving your feet. “But Mike goes very hard.”
+ Johnnie Dixon is a critical member of this team right now. “He’s always been a great guy.” To see him fight his way back from bad knees has been great. He stuck it out. Other players have walked away, but why would you walk away when you have everything you need at Ohio State? “Bite the mouthpiece a little harder and go to work.”
+ It’s rare to have a J.K. Dobbins or Raekwon McMillan walk right in and be great. It usually takes time, as it has for Marcus Baugh, who is “playing the best football of his life.”
+ The reason Demetrius Knox graded a champion the last two weeks is as much about the guys around him bringing him along. He’s playing well, but the leaders on the offensive line next to him are responsible as well.
+ Meyer wasn’t aware of J.T. Barrett completing 16 in a row. He was aware that the ball was moving well. Credit the players around him and “most importantly the five guys around him.” What a difference a year makes. Last year they couldn’t get that pass off.” Right now the culture is strong on the offensive line.
+ This is one of the most mature teams that he has ever been around. People thought the nine captains was a bit odd, but he didn’t. Those captains earned their stripes last week. “Great leadership, great effort.”
+ “You just get so pissed when you think about some of the mistakes we made in that game.” The two fumbles has to get fixed. The fumble by Ben Victor didn’t count, but could have been bad. “We overcame it with great leadership and 4-6, A-B mentality.”
+ “It wasn’t even close statistically.” The offense and defense dominated the game but they gave PSU 21 points. Meyer is getting angry about it again.
+ Stopping Saquon Barkley in the running game “was just incredible.” You felt the line of scrimmage going OSU’s way.
+ The crowd in the fourth quarter. “Yeah, Buckeye Nation has had some fun a couple of times the last two years.” It is much appreciated. Meyer wants a night game with a black out every year.