In the mind of Urban Meyer, Braxton Miller can never get enough touches in Ohio State's offense.
After all, the quarterback turned H-back did win two Silver Footballs in the coach's first two seasons in Columbus, leading the Buckeyes to 24 consecutive wins from 2012-13.
Saturday at Rutgers, Miller tallied 71 total yards in Ohio State's 49-7 romp against the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Buckeye offense looked better than it had all season as J.T. Barrett made his first start at quarterback, but Meyer yearns for more from the guy who served as his lone star early on in his Ohio State tenure.
“Two months ago it was just getting lined up, getting in a stance. We are so committed to get that guy — he’s done so much for this program. I’m very pleased with how he’s blocking, how he’s catching the ball, his route running. I’m really excited for him.”– Urban Meyer on Braxton Miller
"He had three touches it looks like; I wish he had more," Meyer said. "I think he can certainly play receiver at the next level; he’s that close right now."
The first seven games of the season, Miller got his feet wet at his new position while Meyer, Ed Warinner and Tim Beck tried to figure out how to exactly use him within the offense. Jet sweeps, direct snaps and some passes down the field sometimes put a strain on both Barrett and Cardale Jones as well as the rest of a loaded unit, because with so much talent plenty of people deserved touches.
Miller falls in that realm, too, and as he's gotten better, his role has grown.
"I just want to seize the opportunities I get and just pray for more," Miller said. "Just thanking the man upstairs that I got an opportunity to play football again and just give it all to my teammates."
Miller battled back from two labrum surgeries and missed the 2014 national championship season before deciding to play receiver and willingly take himself out of the Ohio State quarterback derby. At first the job was solely in the massive hands of Jones, but Meyer elected to make the switch to Barrett last week.
A better, more shifty runner than Jones — as evident by his 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Rutgers — Barrett's ability in the read-option and quarterback run game affects Miller, too.
If Miller wants to be on the field every play, he's got to be willing to block.
"Two months ago it was just getting lined up, getting in a stance. We are so committed to get that guy — he’s done so much for this program," Meyer said. "I’m very pleased with how he’s blocking, how he’s catching the ball, his route running. I’m really excited for him."
Meyer swears up and down Miller can play receiver at the next level, and he showed another glimpse of what he can do down the field Saturday night. Miller hauled in a pass while on his backside, even though he couldn't find it in the lights initially when it left Barrett's hand.
"At first I lost it in the air because I had to slow down," Miller said. "He put his arms up and I lost it completely. But I was in a good position and used my senses to catch the ball."
Miller's always had tremendous ball skills, he's just used to taking a snap and making plays happen instead of running routes and blocking on the outside. It's been a transition, just like it is again now with playing alongside a more run-oriented quarterback, but confidence remains that he can be successful at the next level.
"Absolutely. For sure. After Game 1, I was really getting comfortable at the receiver position and playing the H-back role," Miller said. "Just having fun out there and showing my talent at the wide receiver."
And, he's a fun toy for any offensive coordinator.
"Braxton is a very unique, elite athlete. He can do a lot of things. So nothing he does surprises me because I've seen him for three seasons do things on the field where I'm like, 'wow,'" Ed Warinner said Saturday night. "He's getting better and better at tracking the ball and using his eyes and hands. It's good for him and good for us."
His skills give Ohio State another weapon and change of pace for defenses to worry about, because Meyer can insert him at quarterback any time. After Miller's big grab, he took a direct snap and scooted 16 yards around left end to set up Barrett's first scoring run of the night.
Huge plays, huge gains, but still not enough touches, according to Meyer.
Don't worry. Miller feels that way, too, because he knows he can make a difference.
"I love it. Coach Meyer knows I love it, too," Miller said.
