COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media Wednesday evening following practice. He provided some updates on his football team and also looked ahead a bit to Illinois on Saturday. Here are the highlights.
+ Jerome Baker has been cleared and he will play. Dante Booker is still questionable. Meyer isn’t going to get into who will be playing where.
+ Meyer believes they have found their identity offensively. This is a very balanced offense right now, but that still depends on what the defense gives you and how things are going. They did a great job of getting the ball to the tailbacks last week and that will continue to be a focal point.
+ Mike Weber wasn’t full speed the first half of the season. He had a great week of practice so far. He is full speed now.
+ There isn’t really a battle for the backup spot right now because it’s hard to do that during the season following Joe Burrow’s injury. He is full go and on call.
+ This is a wonderful group of seniors. This is a special group. “And I’m indebted to them. We ask them to jump and they say how high.”
+ Senior Day ceremonies don’t really impact the game. Once the foot hits the ball, you move to football. And then next week is Senior Tackle. It also depends on the group. Just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you’ve earned anything, but you don’t want this group to leave.
+ There are no other injuries out of the blue like Baker and Booker coming that Meyer is aware of right now.
+ It can be awful preparing a game plan when you have a young quarterback. There will be some anxiety next year. There is a comfort zone you have with a Tebow or Braxton or J.T. Barrett.
+ Illinois is a very young team. They are in a complete building mode. “They’re betting the ranch on them.”