Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has made it known to all that quarterback J.T. Barrett is not the same type of player as the injured Braxton Miller.
But when it was brought up Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference that Barrett has looked a little like Miller in his ability to escape pressure at times this year, Meyer didn't necessarily disagree.
“He does a nice job pulling himself out of harm’s way and pulling himself out of — he’s saved our bacon a few times," Meyer said. "… I think having that kind of a player, we’ve made a decision that we cannot not have that kind of player and you don’t have to be 4.3 (in the 40-yard dash) which J.T.’s not, but you have to be a tough guy and be willing to go get you some yards and J.T. has done a nice job of that.”
One of the huge factors in Barrett's development this year has been the emergence of young playmakers around him. Players like Ezekiel Elliott, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall, who Meyer was asked about specifically.
“Like a lot of guys, (Marshall) was just not a good practice player last year," Meyer said. "… Here’s a kid now who’s one of our better practice players, does well in school, gentleman and a guy who represents Ohio State the right way so it’s just great to see young people grow up and he’s done a great job.”
Meyer was also asked about the importance of adding Larry Johnson — the long time Penn State assistant coach — to the Ohio State staff this year. to replace Mike Vrabel. Johnson will be returning to Happy Valley for the first time Saturday since he joined the Buckeyes.
“Mike Vrable, although he’s only been coaching very few years, he’s a star in the profession. When you lose a star — it’s like when you lose a good player — you cannot replace him with a lesser quality coach," Meyer said. "Larry was a guy that I pinpointed when I first was hired here and that was before I knew Mike Vrabel. Just a lot of respect for Larry over the years and we didn’t really know each other but we knew of each other. It was perfect timing and he’s done a great job for us.”
Johnson's position group, the defensive line, will play a huge role in Ohio State trying to win the game against the Nittany Lions. But Meyer said, the matchup up front plays a huge role in every game.
"Regardless of who you're playing, that's where everything starts," he said. Meyer also added Joey Bosa played his best game against Rutgers because he "minimized his mistakes."
Meyer did add Ohio State still needs to add depth at the defensive line, citing Chris Carter, Tommy Schutt, Donovan Munger and Mike Hill as players who should be contributing to the rotation.
"Those are all guys who are scholarship football players here and when you get a scholarship to go play football, you’re supposed to play," Meyer said. "It’s time for them to start contributing more."
Finally, Meyer was asked about Ohio State's role in the national picture and referred again to his state of the union address he has with his team every year.
"I’d rather go move to a desert island, just worry about going to school and worry about playing a game, but we talk about it. I give them my opinion," Meyer said. "It’s about a four- or five-minute conversation and I ask them to focus on what’s important and that’s going to class every day and practicing every day.”
Notes:
Ohio State, Michigan State and Minnesota are the only remaining Big Ten teams who are undefeated within the conference.
In true Big Ten form, the top-four rushing leaders in college football all play for Big Ten teams. Indiana's Tevin Coleman leads the group with 1,192 yards on the year.
In addition to Meyer, the other 13 Big Ten coaches met Tuesday on their weekly teleconference. Here are some highlights of what each had to say:
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):
- On Penn State linebacker Mike Hull, who the Buckeyes will face this week: "He's just the latest in a long of great linebackers at Penn State."
- Fitzgerald was asked about Northwestern's Miles Shuler, who was taken off on a stretcher during last week's game: "He's doing great. Thanks."
- On Northwestern's priorities other than getting healthy during its bye week: "I'm not sure there is another priority."
Brady Hoke (Michigan):
- "I think the bye week was very good for us. ... I think it helped some guys get healthy or healthier."
- Hoke said Michigan State's Connor Cook is "one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country."
- Again, Hoke was asked about some injured players and declined...twice: "I'm not talking about injuries."
- Does Michigan refer to previous year's games against the Spartans as motivation? "There's no question you talk about and you look at how they tried to attack you from a defensive standpoint and what they did offensively, so yeah, you always refer to (last year)."
Gary Andersen (Wisconsin):
- Andersen said Maryland, which is Wisconsin's opponent this week, is a "great addition" to the Big Ten.
- On the difficulty of going into Madison and playing the Badgers: "I think it's the best venue I've been in."
- Andersen was asked if he feels the new College Football Playoff has impacted the regular season at all: "Not in any way, shape or form."
Bo Pelini (Nebraska):
- "We're looking forward to coming back home. It seems like it's been awhile since we've played a home game."
- On Ameer Abdullah, who is third in the country in rushing yards and closing in on Nebraska's career rushing record: "For Ameer, it's been business as usual."
- Pelini said ESPN's relationship with the SEC would worry him if he was up against an SEC team for a playoff spot: "I think human nature can set in."
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):
- Is there any complacency for Michigan State when it comes to its rivalry with Michigan: "No, I don't believe there is."
- Dantonio said the rivalry with Michigan "impacts your perception day-to-day in this state."
- Dantonio said he feels a one-loss Big Ten champion should be in the College Football Playoff. "But that's just me as a fan," he said.
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):
- Ferentz with some real insight into the new four-team playoff: "The bottom line is the more you win, the better chance you have to get in."
- On the Big Ten's running backs: "Regardless of who you're preparing for, you've got your work cut out for you and it keeps pressure on you each and every play."
Jerry Kill (Minnesota):
- "We're building a program here at Minnesota."
- On running back David Cobb, who ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards: "He's worked very hard and he's in tremendous shape. He's a back that keeps getting stronger as the game goes on."
Kyle Flood (Rutgers):
- "We're coming off a game where we're disappointed with how we executed. We know Ohio State's a great football team and the margin for error in the game was very small, but we just didn't execute very well."
Tim Beckman (Illinois):
- Beckman said both Reilly O'Toole and Aaron Bailey will see time at quarterback this weekend against Minnesota.
- Beckman called Minnesota "one of the top three, four teams in this conference."
Randy Edsall (Maryland):
- Edsall on having to constantly rotate quarterbacks: "When we get injuries or things happen, we don't really blink an eye."
- Has the transition to the Big Ten played out like Edsall has though? "Every week is a tremendous challenge. That's what we try to focus on."
Darrell Hazell (Purdue):
- On Purdue's youth: "We're extremely young right now. You take a look at our travel roster and of the 70 guys we travel with, close to 50 of them are freshmen or sophomores, but you've gotta play the best players."
James Franklin (Penn State):
- Franklin said Ohio State is "playing at an extremely high level."
- On the matchup of Ohio State's defensive line against a struggling Penn State offensive line: "I think it's a huge factor in the game, but it is every week. To me, you look up front, O-Line, D-Line, whoever is the best up front on either side of the ball has the best chance to be successful."
- Franklin on Ohio State's offense: "They've got a lot of guys that are breaking tackles, making people miss and getting a lot of YAC yards."
- Franklin said Ohio State is "probably the fastest, most athletic team we've played so far."
- On the lack of depth of Penn State's offensive line: "If we take our left tackle out of the game for a series, we have to change three positions."
- Franklin on the departure of Larry Johsnon: "I've respected Larry for my 20 years in this industry, that's not gonna change. ... I'm happy for Larry that things have worked out well."
Kevin Wilson (Indiana):
- Why should MIchigan State, Ohio State's opponent Nov. 8, be considered for a spot in the playoff: "They're complete. The way their offense has really matured over the last few years and they're always gonna play great defense."
