Urban Meyer: 'We Got Exposed a Little Bit'

By Patrick Maks on September 8, 2014 at 12:33 pm
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With days to reflect on a crushing loss to Virginia Tech, Urban Meyer said his Ohio State Buckeyes were "got a exposed a little bit."

The Hokies beat Ohio State, 35-21, Saturday night to hand Meyer his first loss as head coach inside the confines of Ohio Stadium. 

Meyer talked about the fallout from the defeat, the offensive line, the defense, and more during his weekly press conference Monday afternoon.

Notes:

  • Meyer said the “pain of regret is phenomenal.” He said the Buckeyes have more or less tortured themselves over what they could’ve done differently against the Hokies.
  • Meyer said he thought the team would be a bit further along in its development. He added that miss opportunities cost Ohio State. “It’s amazing how fragile this game is.”
  • Ohio State’s offensive line surrendered seven sacks and looked porous for most of the Virginia Tech game. But Meyer said it’s probably not an accurate gauge of the unit. “I’m still concerned, but Saturday was not a fair assessment,” since much of the pressure hurled toward redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett was extra defenders. “We have to hit guys on one on one plays” in the passing game, Meyer said.
  • Meyer said the defense was average. The unit struggled to force the Hokies -- which were 9-of-17 on third down -- into three-and-outs Saturday night. “I want to get the point where it’s shut-down lockdown defense … I think we can make that happen, theres still some new blood out there playing.”
  • Meyer said Virginia Tech’s defensive scheme flustered Ohio State and that it was the first time he’d seen such a look in perhaps his entire coaching career. Meyer said that’s probably something the Hokies have been game-planning for a long time. “The Virginia Tech coaching staff made a gutsy decision and did a nice job … that’s risky stuff.” Added Meyer: “You can’t really do that -- I bet that’s not something you put in on a Tuesday or Wednesday (before the game). That’s been going on for a while.”
  • Meyer said he figured the Hokies saw mismatches with their secondary and Ohio State’s new-look offense with Barrett and four inexperienced offensive lineman. Whether or not such schemes would’ve worked last season? “I don’t know if you do that against last year’s team, that was gutsy,” Meyer said.
  • Meyer said Ohio State didn’t do enough to get the ball to Dontre Wilson, Curtis Samuel or Ezekiel Elliott, but it was because the box was stacked in front of them by the Hokies. “Nine guys were at the line of scrimmage … we tried a couple times, it was gonna be a throw down the field type game.” Meyer said the Buckeyes have to be able to “scare people off” from stacking the box.
  • Meyer on wide receiver Corey Smith, who had a handful of critical drops Saturday: “I’m not giving up on Corey Smith.” Meyer said Smith has a label of potential, but hasn’t produced yet. Meyer added he wouldn’t give up on Smith because of “the way he’s changed as a human being as a football player.”
  • Meyer said wide receiver Michael Thomas “had a career day.” Thomas caught six passes for 98 yards and a long touchdown that kept the Buckeyes in the game.
  • Meyer on the wide receivers as a whole: “I’m disappointed, but I’m not lost on who we could become.”

 

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