Live Updates — Urban Meyer Radio Show 9.20.18

Ohio State football head football coach Urban Meyer sits down for his first weekly radio show of the year on the IMG Ohio State Radio Network. He will provide updates on his team — including the latest on All-American defensive end Nick Bosa’s injury — as well as any other walking wounded for the Buckeyes. There will also be personnel updates and plenty of other information passed along as well. Running backs coach Tony Alford will also make an appearance. You can keep up with all of the highlights here. Refresh for the latest once the show begins shortly after 12:00 pm.

Tony Alford

+ Alford thanks the fans for showing up so well in Dallas, but it’s going to be good to get back home and have everyone welcome Urban Meyer back on Saturday.

+ Practicing against this defense every day allows the offense to play against the best defenders in the country every single day. Think back about Taylor Decker and Joey Bosa going against each other every single day. Ezekiel Elliott and Darron Lee had to battle each other every day as well.

+ The pass catching has been pretty good. No drops so far. The next drop is on Paul Keels for bringing it up. Running backs all like the wheel route. It’s not a high-percentage throw, but they all love it. They have a good understanding of why they run the routes they run, which makes them better players.

+ Freshmen Master Teague and Brian Snead have bright futures, “they just have to learn the game and how this game goes.” That’s lifting, taking care of yourself, sleeping, hydrating, taking care of your legs, etc. They are very dynamic and have great skill sets. The good thing is they aren’t forced to play this year. They don’t have to be at the top of the depth chart and they’re being led by two intelligent veterans.

+ Dobbins and Weber are blocking pretty well. They missed two blitz pickups last week that sent him through the roof. They can improve on that, but he is pleased with where they are. That’s the most difficult thing for a young running back to do. That’s not part of their high school “contract.” It’s something you have to be able to do at each level beyond high school. The missed blocks were totally mental. They didn’t get the call, which Alford isn’t sure how that happens.

+ Dobbins and Mike Weber get along great. They are roommates on the road. They are the first to congratulate each other during a game. They have created the proper culture in the running backs room. “I’m really blessed to sit back and watch it all.”

+ J.K. Dobbins told Alford early last week he was going to have a great game against TCU. Alford said that’s fine, but let’s have a great Tuesday practice first.

+ J.K. Dobbins disagreed with him until he made Dobbins agree with him that this was probably the best game he’s played as a Buckeye. Dobbins initially said the Wisconsin game, but Alford said he could have run through some of those holes. The TCU game was tougher running for the entire 60 minutes. He is really mature and very smart and keeps getting better and better. “He’s got an infectious attitude about him.” He’s not okay with what he’s done in the past. He wants to be great.

+ The tempo is faster than it has been in previous years. It helps more when you have phenomenal players.

+ Tulane’s defense will mix with 4-down and 3-down linemen with a bunch of different blitz packages. They have told the Buckeyes to go do their job and worry about their job and it’ll get taken care of.

+ It was unselfish of Michael Jordan to make the move to center. Malcolm Pridgeon coming along allowed them to put their five best players on the field.

+ This is without a doubt the biggest offensive line Alford has already been around. “They’re huge.” And athletic.

+ It is important to have the players and the coaches speaking the same language in terms of football-ese. A player comes off the field and doesn’t say “that guy,” he says the “mike” or the “five technique.” This allows for quicker adjustments and clearer communications.

+ TCU did some new things with their blitz patterns. It didn’t catch them off guard, but they had to adjust to it. They let Dwayne Haskins get hit a bit too much, but the guys kept going and kept punching.

Urban Meyer

+ This week’s walk from St. John to Ohio Stadium will be very special for Urban Meyer.

+ They keep having conversations about redshirting players, but they’ve had injuries so you just play them all. Chris Olave and Jeremy Ruckert are going to play. There are some guys they’ll have to decide on, but mostly they’re going to decide to play them.

+ Terry McLaurin is reaching Evan Spencer levels in terms of what he does for the Buckeyes.

+ TCU showed that trick kickoff in the bowl game. They had a freshman at the “six spot” who was supposed to recognize this. Meyer laughed and said Ryan Day was being told over the headset that there was a ‘man down’ in the end zone and Day thought he was being told somebody was shot in the end zone. Then Greg Schiano came running over, but it was so loud in the stadium that communication was difficult. “We’re going to practice that every week.”

+ The new kickoff rule hasn’t made that much of an impact in terms of field position. “I haven’t really felt the difference.”

+ The Buckeyes were able to flip the field each time they were backed up deep in their own territory against TCU. And when they were at midfield and chose to punt, players wanted to go for it, but OSU downed it inside the 10.

+ Dante Booker and Justin Hilliard have played well on special teams. Meyer is pushing to get Hilliard some time on defense as well. There is depth at linebacker. They have played okay but can play better.

+ Meyer and the Ryan Day don’t micromanage the running back rotation. Meyer watches the chemistry of it and they get along great. “You need them both and they’re both very good.”

+ Tate Martell should play this week. Last week was tough to get him in. He had practiced hard and is a competitive dude. They would like to get him in early.

+ Meyer wants Haskins to continue with his vocal leadership. J.T. Barrett was as good as there was, and Haskins is getting better. He commands by performance right now, but needs to become a louder presence.

+ It was difficult to handle TCU’s tempo. Now they get home late from a night game, it’s hot in Ohio, and you’re a day behind. So you have to prepare for Tulane this week in the heat and these are little things that they have to think about during the week in preparation.

+ The secondary still isn’t where it needs to be. Jordan Fuller is an exceptional player. The other safety spot needs to get better. Brendon White is coming on. Shaun Wade needs to continue getting better. “The three corners are playing good.” But they expect more.

+ Tuf Borland had worked hard to get back. “His value to the team is immense.” He is a leader and a tough guy.

+ Nick Bosa had a core muscle injury. He had surgery. They are not sure when he will be back.

+ They need more depth on the offensive line, but the starters are playing very well. This might be the biggest offensive line he’s ever had.

+ It’s great to be back.

+ There was “so much resiliency” in the coaching staff. “Ryan Day, I knew when we hired him he was elite.” Everybody was great on the coaching staff. That showed when you go on the road. They fell behind then came back swinging. The players and the fans should also be heavily commended.

+ The Buckeye crowds in Dallas are like home games.

+ The plan to win was executed almost flawlessly against TCU. In big games, the big wins have followed the plan to win. The plan to win involves playing on a tilted field due to field position. That involves turnovers and blocked kicks. It is also about limited kick and punt returns, and they did that last week. Guys like Dante Booker, Justin Hilliard, Jahsen Wint, and Marcus Williamson played great on the kickoff unit.

+ J.K. Dobbins ran hard and the offensive line played hard even with an extra defender in the box. Dwayne Haskins was very accurate and despite a few drops, the receivers responded well.

+ Meyer went and watched Haskins do a workout in high school and came away thinking that was one of the best QB workouts he had ever seen. He knew then that he was going to be pretty good.