Presser Bullets: Urban Meyer addresses the media after Ohio State Spring Practice No. 6

By Eric Seger on March 31, 2015 at 10:53 am
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Ohio State wrapped up its sixth spring practice Tuesday morning at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, one of the first sessions of the year where the temperature outside was above 50 degrees. Urban Meyer addressed the media following the workout to provide injury statuses, an update on Braxton Miller's AdvoCare situation and more.

  • Meyer opened his press conference as he did last week, citing how there isn't a lot of news: "We're not very good right now, which is fine. We don't have to be."
  • Meyer said there are "nine or 10" offensive linemen who will be here in the fall that aren't here right now. Not playing the starters up front is a big reason why practice isn't the best.
  • Meyer called Curtis Samuel "a top-5 playmaker" right now for Ohio State: "The days of him playing 10 plays a game are over." He also said the Buckeyes had 10 playmakers last season on offense, but are still trying to determine who will be the playmakers this year.
  • Michael Thomas has been bothered by a sports hernia since the national championship game, Meyer said. He will undergo surgery for that soon. Former linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered the same injury two years ago: "It's not that serious."
  • Could Meyer imagine using a two-quarterback system, one with a "specialty quarterback"? "Sure ... I've thought about that a little bit, but it's one day at a time."
  • Meyer said Bri'onte Dunn has a little momentum in his life right now and it's showing up on the field.
  • On Braxton Miller's AdvoCare situation, Meyer said he's been told that "everything looks to be OK." Said he shouldn't have commented on it yesterday at the Hall of Fame luncheon.
  • Meyer again spoke about wanting the recruiting process to slow down. He really wants to see young players go to camp and improve. Meyer said schools offer scholarships "like Pop Tarts."
  • Meyer said there's three characteristics in a great player: "Competitors, toughness and go-hard."
  • Meyer said Tommy Schutt's had a "very good" offseason and has cut weight. He's been happy with his development so far in spring and is looking forward to getting Joel Hale back into the rotation.
  • At the defensive line, however, Meyer said he's still disappointed in the depth behind Adolphus Washington and others: "There are bodies there, but they've got to get better."
  • Meyer said the pass defense is making "great strides" now that the players are in Year Two of the new press scheme implemented by Chris Ash: "That's an area of strength right now."
  • Marshon Lattimore is not at full speed yet after hamstring surgery, Meyer said. But at the back end of the defense, the depth is improving with the likes of Cam Burrows, Erick Smith and others.
  • Meyer said he doesn't like doing public speaking opportunities, especially after Ohio State won the national title.
  • Meyer said when NFL coaches approach him about his players' potentials in the NFL Draft, he opens up to them about the three qualities of toughness, if they're competitors and go-hard: "All the ways that my best recruiters do ... there's some organizations that do a phenomenal job. But there's quite honestly there are some that draft one of your players and you go, 'how did they get information on this kid?' Course those are the ones that don't win a lot of games, either."
  • The Dallas Cowboys were in Columbus the other day, Meyer said, and performed an "A to Z" evaluation on some of Ohio State's players.
  • What about the Cleveland Browns? "Fantastic. They've been fantastic every time they've been here."
  • Meyer said Raekwon McMillan has been practicing a lot better than he did last week. He said the biggest thing is that McMillan's been told he's been so good for so long.
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