Two-Minute Drill: Urban Meyer Indiana Week Updates Aug. 28

Urban Meyer spoke with the media for his weekly Monday press conference. He provided some updates on the depth chart and Ohio State’s upcoming opponent, Indiana. Here are the highlights.

+ Meyer started by sending out thoughts to those in the Houston area. He reached out to Kendall Sheffield’s family and they’re holed up and okay. He left a message for Mike Vrabel, who is an assistant coach for the Houston Texans.

+ “This is as much depth as we’ve had” at receivers. Six receivers will play. The deep ball was good throughout fall camp just like it was in the spring.

+ Tate Martell will travel. Trevon Grimes and Jaylen Harris, is on the verge. Several others have made the travel roster, which will be released later. Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade both made it.

+ As to whether the Buckeyes have made the changes necessary from their last outing, they’ll find out this week, but Meyer is comfortable they have done what they needed to do and they are ready for the season.

+ It is much different getting ready for a conference opener to start the season, especially at night and with so many new players. “This is a whole different set of circumstances because it’s on the road in a Big Ten game.”

+ Meyer has called parents to let them know their sons are starting for years now. It’s a good call to make to parents because the bad calls suck.

+ In-game adjustments on offense can be easier depending on your quarterback and the maturity of your offensive line. It also depends on what the adjustment is. They have learned lessons from games like Virginia Tech in 2014.

+ In 2001, his goal was to be balanced on offense — 250 yards passing, 250 yards rushing per game — because great teams are balanced. If you’re not balanced, you get exposed. The threat of being balanced is the real key, not actually being balanced, however.

+ There are still some concerns with this team because of the underclassmen that left early. The secondary is a bit unknown, but “that’s why we practice so hard.”

+ Branden Bowen is one of the most-improved guys on the team. Clicked in the summer. The competition at right guard came down to Bowen and Matt Burrell, but Bowen distanced himself.

+ Nine captains is a lot. Meyer thought back to finding out that Mike Vrabel was never a captain, which blew his mind. Being a captain is a great honor, so he doesn’t want players like Vrabel not to be a captain. The nine guys voted captains are the guys he would have picked as well. Their maturity, leadership, and toughness are everything they expect from their players.

+ Meyer doesn’t mind his high school quarterback commits playing defense and dipping their shoulder into players. He actually likes it because he wants toughness.

+ At some point Meyer will let the media know about Mike Hill’s situation in more depth.

+ J.T. Barrett has continued to develop his accuracy and his timing and relationship with his receivers. It has improved from the beginning of camp until now. The trust in his receivers has improved, which has helped the timing.

+ Mike Weber is close to being 100%, but they’ll know more today.

+ The expansion of the football facility is two-fold. One, they are expected to have the very best for the welfare of their student athletes. Two, they need it for recruiting. “When we go recruit someone, we don’t need obstacles, we need advantages.” It’s about the college experience when they are here. They should have the best because it’s in the best interest of the players.

+ Justin Hilliard isn’t on the depth chart, but is in the mix. You’ll see him on special teams. Had a strong last two weeks.

+ Josh Myers “has a ways to go”, but he’ll get there.

+ Health is pretty good team-wide now.

+ Obviously, it’s disappointing to have guards Demetrius Knox and Matt Burrell not win open jobs the last two years, but nobody is being counted out. There’s a long line of players who don’t make a mark until their fifth season.

+ Freshman Thayer Munford has done a nice job, which allowed them to move Branden Bowen to guard without much trepidation. They like their depth at tackle.