COLUMBUS — Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer spoke with reporters following practice on Monday. He provided a number of updates on the Buckeyes, including the battle at quarterback and an update on Tuf Borland’s injury situation. Here are the highlights.
+ The situation at middle linebacker has been doing well. Malik Harrison has gotten a shot at Will and Keandre Jones has gotten a look at Sam. The entire group is getting better and talented.
+ Replacing the leadership is going “average right now” but Meyer sees promise. “Today was a better day.” Captains have not been named yet, but there are some leaders who know who they are like Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Dre’Mont Jones, and Jordan Fuller.
+ Baron Browning graded a champion in the scrimmage last week.
+ Tuf Borland should be back in September. Normal guys take longer to get back.
+ Justin Hilliard and Pete Werner have made a jump. Nose tackle Davon Hamilton has had a very good spring so far. Offensive lineman Malcolm Pridgeon is make a jump. Tight end Luke Farrell graded out a champion.
+ The quarterbacks were playing with young receivers, and that makes it tough on them in the scrimmage. They were better today. “You wish one would take it and it has not happened.”
+ Tate Martell had a much better day today than he has in the past recently. It is day to day for all of the QBs. Joe Burrow probably had the best scrimmage of the three, but Dwayne Haskins responded well today. He wishes one would take it, but he does like to see the continued competition.
+ Right tackle Thayer Munford has done well. Meyer gives credit to a lot of people for his success. They offered Munford very late in the process, but he is one of the most consistent offensive linemen this spring.
+ Great practice players like J.T. Barrett make the quality of practices better because he sets the example. If you don’t have that, you have to find other ways to create it. “We’re not there.” He sees the void at times, but sees improvement.
+ It can take a while to fill the void left by guys like J.T. Barrett, but the quarterbacks have been here for a while. Today was a pretty good practice. Early on in spring the void was obvious. It is less obvious now and he hopes by the end of spring it will be closed entirely.
+ The defense is way ahead of the offense right now. They are being cautious with Nick Bosa and Dre’Mont Jones, so guys behind them are getting reps and playing well. There are so many strengths on defense. On offense, they’re just trying to find the right five up front, but that’s tough with injuries. The receivers have an injury at K.J. Hill and Meyer is protecting Campbell and McLaurin.
+ Meyer isn’t sure he’s going to have a clear picture at quarterback at the end of spring.
+ Tate Martell has an incredible skill set.
+ Defenses should be ahead of offenses throughout camps.
+ What Meyer is looking for at quarterback over the final two weeks is for somebody to distance themselves and lead the team.
+ When recruiting from rough neighborhoods, Meyer said OSU digs deeper than he ever has. They do as much homework as they can. You have to be extremely careful. This is a very healthy program right now and the worst thing they can do is bring in unhealthy players. Thayer Munford was a player who grew up in one of those areas and Meyer said he has done everything right and worked very hard to become a success.
+ What this offense features this season will depend on who wins the jobs up for grabs.
+ Meyer’s conversations with the quarterbacks are leadership-based. The conversations between the QBs and Ryan Day are technique and leadership-based.
I hope they are vetting all the recruits as tough as they are doing with prospects from the “tough areas”. A bad seed can come from the suburbs as easily they can come from the inner cities.
I have a feeling Joe Burrow wins the QB derby with Martel a close second. Selfishly that would be the best case scenario that would keep the loser from transferring imo. Or at the very least I’d rather have Burrow start and Martel be the back up. I don’t think Haskins would transfer right away since he has to sit a year. If a QB transfers I’d rather it be Haskins and not Burrow.
The LB’s will determine whether or not we make the playoffs just because they cover more of the field than the other units do.
My biggest concern continues to be linebacker. That will probably be the case all the way up to opening day. Hopefully opening day gives a reason to put that concern in the closet.