Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer takes part in his weekly call-in show on Thursday. He will provide updates on his football team and look ahead to Saturday’s game against Michigan State. We will provide live updates when the show begins shortly after noon. Refresh for updates.
+ Meyer’s son Nate signed his letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Cincinnati.
+ Every player who comes to Ohio State has the dream of playing professional football. “We’re very NFL open here.” They treat the scouts well, but it does create a “bind” when players leave early. But you’d rather have players who are good enough to leave early than not.
+ Meyer and Larry Johnson are very close, and that goes well beyond football. He is very knowledgeable and he doesn’t just coach players, he invests in them.
+ The freshman on kick coverage are starting to come on, including Pete Werner, Baron Browning, and Jeff Okudah.
+ Kendall Sheffield is much improved and is getting better every week. He’s very fast. He had to learn some new techniques, but he’s coming on strong. The corners aren’t quite where they’ve been in the past, but there is an incredible future at the position.
+ There is constant conversation about getting J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber on the field together and you might see that this week.
+ Michigan State does a great job of identifying high school players and developing them.
+ Michigan State leads the league in rush defense. Very consistent and a good scheme. They always have great games with them.
+ Damon Webb has had a couple of good weeks of being around the football.
+ This is going to be a big game for the Ohio State defensive line, and Dre’Mont Jones is a huge part of that. They need to control the line of scrimmage.
+ Tyquan Lewis is a grown man, and that’s a compliment around OSU. He’s a guy you love to be around.
+ Terry McLaurin might be turning into a future NFL player.
+ Brendon White is back on defense this week. He was at WR for the Iowa game because they needed another body without Campbell being available.
+ K.J. Hill isn’t as fast as Campbell, but he understands spacing and defense so well.
+ Parris Campbell has missed a good portion of two games, and they have picked up the slack pretty well. Michigan State is going to force OSU to throw over the top, so they need the entire group to play well.
+ Michigan State’s passing game and entire offense is much different over the last two weeks. They have thrown for over 400 yards in each of the last two games and have almost abandoned the run. Meyer isn’t sure that’s going to stick this week. Quarterback Brian Lewerke can make plays when things break down. He has a strong, accurate arm. He’s a 4.5, 4.6 guy.
+ Saturday is a battle for sole possession of first place in the Big Ten East.
+ When you get hit right in the jaw, you have to get going as quickly as you can. They bounced back well, but they still have to show it on the field. Just like they had to move on from the Penn State win, you have to move on from the Iowa loss.
+ Billy Price is set to break the OSU record for career starts, previously held by Luke Fickell. It’s always fun to get a phone call and give a recommendation to a guy like Billy Price. He’s going to leave OSU with a Master’s Degree.
+ Jamarco Jones and Demetrius Knox are okay. “It’s just that time of year. Linemen get beat up.” They have been smart this week in practice and not overworking them, but they should both play. There has been a depth issue the last two years. “We have to recruit better.” And they have to develop better. When OSU has played its best football, they’ve done it with the best OL in the Big Ten.
+ Johnnie Dixon is a fast dude. He didn’t do a lot through most of his career, but he worked his tail off and “bang” he’s doing it this year.