The Toll after The Game
Urban Meyer is now 6-0 against Michigan, but only 2-2 in the game following The Game.
The Buckeyes got wins in 2014 against Wisconsin and 2015 against Notre Dame, but fell to Michigan State and Clemson in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
There are times — such as 2006 — when the emotion expended in the Michigan game is impossible to recapture. The wins in 2013 and 2016 were both down to the wire, with the Buckeyes coming out on top each time, but they lost their next game both times. These kind of games can take a toll and Meyer is watching his team to make sure that doesn’t happen this year, especially with such a quick turnaround.
“Yeah, that’s a concern,” he admitted. “Every team’s different. You can’t just say this is the way we’ve done it in the past because every team is different. This happens to be somewhat a mature team.”
What has worked of late is what will continue to be utilized by the coaches and the players.
“The term around here is laser focus. And they’ve been good,” he said. “And I put a lot of reliance on my older guys, because they’ve earned that right.”
Brace Yourself
Even when Mike Weber was at his healthiest, he’s never truly been perfectly healthy.
You can see the brace/cast he wears during practice in the photo here.
What’s the deal?
“I’ve just got a bad hand,” he said on Tuesday. “I hurt it pretty bad in the Nebraska game, but I mean it’s cool now.”
He can take the brace off whenever he wants.
Does the injury affect how he carries the ball?
“No. I just hold it in my left hand,” he said.
Taylor-Made Scout Team
The Buckeye defense is about to face the most prolific running back in the Big Ten this weekend.
Wisconsin freshman running back Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 1,806 yards this season, which is over 600 yards more than the next closest running back in the conference.
How is the Ohio State defense preparing for the talented rookie?
“Demario McCall has come down to help us on the scout team this year,” said defensive end Sam Hubbard. “He went up to Coach and said, ‘I want to do everything I can to give the guys a look.’ And I really respect him for that. He gave us a great look today. He’s shifty, he’s got great vision too, and he’s done great things for us today, and he’s going to continue to do that.”
Same As It Ever Was
Wisconsin is one of the most consistent football programs in the country, and that is on both offense and defense.
The Badgers will run the ball and be stout against the run, and as physical as any team in the country.
When it comes to their defense, it’s a unit that Urban Meyer has seen plenty of times before.
“They run a 3-4 defense primarily, so there’s always four of them on the field at all times. One of them is primarily the rusher, the boundary guy,” he said.
The respect that Meyer has for Wisconsin football covers just about every inch of the program.
“A lot of respect for their coach. Got a lot of respect for the athletic director. I’ve been in this conference now six years, and it is what it is,” he said.
“And I think they do an excellent job of development of players and recruiting of players because it’s the same. You can turn it on — back when we played them, I want to think in the second year here, ’13. Maybe the first year — first year? Yeah, there. We beat them in overtime, then second year here when Gary Andersen was there.”