Back in Chicago at Big Ten Media Days, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said his team was as talented as any he's ever had, and that his biggest challenge would be getting it game-ready.
The Buckeyes had to replace 16 starters, so it was a pretty daunting task.
After a 5-0 start in which no game has been decided by fewer than 21 points, Meyer was asked Tuesday if that process went as smoothly as he had hoped back in July.
"I don’t know if it’s gone as smoothly, there's been some growing pains but I’m very pleased," the Ohio State coach said on the Big Ten coaches weekly teleconference. "I really like this team as far as people, as far as their attitude and work ethic. It is a very talented team."
Meyer continued, saying Saturday's primetime showdown at No. 8 Wisconsin would provide a stiff test to see where his team is at following its hot start. The Buckeyes still have three teams currently ranked in the Top 10 of the AP poll remaining on their schedule.
"Sometimes you get asked questions like, 'Is it the most talented team you’ve ever had?' I think so. It’s a very talented team that gets better each week," Meyer said. "Certainly, you've seen the evolution of the defense. Offensively, we kind of stumbled a bit last week but up to that point, we had been playing exceptional."
"The real hard part of the schedule is surfacing. We've just gotta keep improving."
Additional Meyer notes:
- Meyer was asked if he feels his team was as good a rushing team as it was last year. Ohio State ranks third nationally in rushing offense. "I think it's still a work in progress," he said. "I'm pleased with where we're at, but I'm not surprised because we have very good players that believe in what we're doing."
- On the impact Greg Schiano has had on Ohio State's secondary, Meyer said, "Greg has been fantastic. I think he and Coach Fickell have a unique relationship; they're very close. We've made a few changes as we do every year and the changes have been very positive so far."
- Meyer was asked how the perception of his running backs has changed in recruiting after the last few years. "We're right in the middle with every top running back," he said. "That's kind of one of the positions in college football is the tailback at Ohio State. ... That used to come up once in a while, but I haven't heard that in several years."
- Meyer almost didn't realize he had just one starting senior and was asked how Ohio State is still so good. "It all starts with the talented players, which we have."
The Big Ten currently has four teams ranked in the Top 10 of the AP poll for the first time in 56 years. Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska are all doing their part to represent the conference.
This weekend's marquee matchup features the second-ranked Buckeyes at No. 8-ranked Wisconsin while the Cornhuskers traveling to play Indiana is another intriguing matchup.
In addition to Meyer, the Big Ten's other 13 coaches spoke Tuesday on the weekly coaches teleconference. Some highlights of what each coach had to say are listed below.
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):
- Fitzgerald asked if he was in favor of an early signing period. "I am," he said. "I think there's a lot of details and a lot of discussion that needs to happen between now and the time any legislation gets voted on, but I am in favor of an early signing period."
- Fitzgerald also said he's in favor in allowing recruits to take official visits prior to their senior years.
- Fitzgerald on new Big Ten video review system: "I think it's been great from a standpoint of communication. I can't think of any issues we've had in our games."
- On Michigan State: "Our guys are well-educated on Big Ten football and to see the success that coach Dantonio and his program have had, they know. It jumps off the video."
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan):
- Harbaugh was asked if he will peek Ohio State at all this week with Michigan not having a game. "We're looking at it as an improvement week, improving any area that we can," he said. "There's a lot of emphasis with individual technique and younger players."
- On Jabrill Peppers: "His football IQ is high, off the charts. You can literally show him a drawing or a clip and he can visualize it and then athletically he can go to the field and do it the first time."
- On Don Brown's impact on Michigan's defense: "He's a tremendous coach, teacher. It's really high. It's really, really good in all areas. One of the finest coaches I've ever known or had the opportunity to work with."
- Harbaugh said he's in favor of an early signing period. "Yeah, I'd be in the category of for it," he said. "I feel like if somebody wants to sign an agreement they should be able to sign it before the first Wednesday in February."
- Harbaugh was asked if his team is a better rushing team this year. "I think that's still to be determined."
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin):
- "Excited for the opportunity to play Ohio State at home."
- On Wisconsin LB T.J. Watt: "I was lucky to be here when J.J. was playing and I feel really fortunate to be here with T.J. Their work ethic and their love of the game, those are similarities."
- Chryst on Ohio State's defense: "I have a lot of respect for the coaches there and I do really think it's a really good scheme with talented players executing it. When you've got good athletes that know, they play fast and they're productive."
- Chryst asked if Wisconsin has an opportunity to put itself among Big Ten's best after playing MIchigan tough and now playing Ohio State. "I think you hope to earn that right to be in those conversations. The only way you earn that is by certainly playing your best on game days."
- Chryst: "We know we're playing a heck of a team Saturday night."
- On quarterback Alex Hornibrook: "There are guys with stronger arms, no doubt, but I think we didn't play real well."
Mike Riley (Nebraska):
- Riley: "We're expecting a very tough game with Indiana."
- Riley on the new early signing period proposal: "I think it is a move to kind of match the rules with what's going on in reality. The recruiting process has accelerated so much in the last decade."
- More Riley on potential early signing period: "If I was asked to vote, I don't think I'd be in favor of it, but I think it's going to happen."
- Riley on the Big Ten having four top-10 teams: "I've been very impressed with the football and the competitiveness in it. From what I've seen, it's not surprising to me that we have four teams ranked like this."
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):
- "We need to maintain our focus and move forward and we welcome the challenge of Northwestern."
- Does Dantonio appreciate previous success more during this current tough stretch? "I don't know if I appreciate it more, but I understand it's very difficult to win," he said.
- Dantonio on the early signing period proposal: "I know that it's probably inevitable that it's going to happen."
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):
- Ferentz on the new early signing period proposal: "Yeah, in general terms, I'm in favor of some form of early signing. ... I think it's much needed."
Tracy Claeys (Minnesota):
- Claeys: "We need to shake off any effects from that last loss and get our first Big Ten win."
- Claeys on the new early signing period proposals: "I'm all for them."
Chris Ash (Rutgers):
- Ash: "We're extremely disappointed in the outcomes in our last two football games. It's not what we expect, it's not what we practice for, but it happened and we're moving on."
- Ash asked to compare Ohio State and Michigan. "Well, they're both very good. I'll start there," he said. "They're both good up front on both sides of the ball, there's a lot of similarities on both sides of the ball."
- Ash on potential early signing period: "I'm for an early signing date, but more so in December and not for one that would happen in the summer or the spring."
Lovie Smith (Illinois):
- Smith on the Rutgers–Illinois #banger this weekend: "We both need to get a win."
- Smith on the status of quarterback Wes Lunt: "I know he's getting better, but his availability for the game, we haven't gotten that far yet."
- Smith said he was also in favor of the early signing period.
DJ Durkin (Maryland):
- Durkin: "Coming off a loss, our first one together, I'm interested to see how we respond."
- Durkin on the early signing period proposal: "I'd be in favor of an early signing date if it were in December, but if you're doing it earlier than that you're talking about a lot of changes that need to be made."
Darrell Hazell (Purdue):
- Sticking with the theme, Hazell's thoughts on the newly proposed early signing period: "It's something that I think we need."
James Franklin (Penn State):
- Franklin was asked how he'll balance open week with preparation for next weekend against Ohio State: "It's a little bit of both. No. 1, we have to get healthy, but we're obviously going to spend time on Ohio State, as well, breaking those guys down and getting to know them."
Kevin Wilson (Indiana):
- Wilson on last week's loss to Ohio State: "We played hard, but not good enough."
