Presser Bullets: 'We Did Not Play Great Saturday'

By Patrick Maks on October 20, 2014 at 12:41 pm
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In an obliteration of Rutgers Saturday, Ohio State amassed 585 yards and gut-punched the overmatched Scarlet Knights from start to finish in a 56-17 win that seemed to embody a team that’s stormed its way back into the national picture since being left for dead earlier this season.

Yet when Urban Meyer met with reporters Monday for his weekly press conference, the head coach was, uh, less than pleased with a nighttime bout against Penn State in State College looming.

“We did not play great Saturday,” he said. “We expect to play great."

Added Meyer: “The last two weeks, we haven't played as good offensively as we expect. That will really surface this week."

Still, Ohio State’s offense is operating at a ridiculous level of efficiency, having notched at least 50 points and 500 yards in four-straight games since a loss to Virginia Tech Sept. 6.

The Nittany Lions, which rank in the top five in total and scoring defense, should offer the Buckeyes with their biggest challenge since the Hokies.

Notes:

  • On Monday morning, redshirt quarterback J.T. Barrett was named the Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week after completing 19-of-31 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns and running for 107 yards on seven carries against Rutgers. Meyer’s thoughts on that? "He could've played a lot better." Oh. "I like when coaches say: 'Hey: You're the Big Ten Player of the Week, but you didn't play very well,’” Meyer said.
  • But Meyer likes his team’s overall disposition: “I like the culture of this program right now.”
  • Meyer on Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg: “We have a lot of respect for (him).” Meyer added, “He’s playing very well and they’ve got a boatload of tight ends and they’re going to use them all.”
  • Meyer on comfort level of throwing Barrett into a place like Beaver Stadium this weekend: "More comfortable now than several weeks ago."
  • Meyer said sophomore H-back Dontre Wilson is fine after leaving late in the game Saturday. "He's cleared."
  • Meyer on Ohio State's surging offense: "There's a lot good checkers. We can keep going and going. That's where you gotta be careful."
  • Meyer on the coaching staff and making necessary in-game adjustments: "You're getting paid a lot of money, you're at Ohio State ... you're supposed to do that."
  • Meyer said the rapid development of quarterback, offensive line, and wide receivers have allowed the offense to blossom: “They’ve really opened up the playbook ... they've grown up fast."
  • Meyer on depth: "The one area of concern is defensive line ... I had a team meeting to address a few people who weren't doing their deal."
  • Meyer on the differences between defensive line coach Larry Johnson and former assistant Mike Vrabel: "I'd say they're more similar than different." Johnson spent almost two decades at Penn State. This will be his first time back since leave the Nittany Lions.
  • Meyer on junior linebacker Devan Bogard, who suffered a knee injury Saturday: "Still don't know the final analysis on him."
  • Meyer on senior wide receiver Evan Spencer: “It’s hard for me to say he’s not one of our MVPs right now with the way he’s playing … I just trust him with everything, that was all me trying to reward him … just love who he is right now.”
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