Abundant sunshine and cooler temperatures welcomed Ohio State to Week 7 of the college football regular season on Monday. The nation's No. 1 team is 6-0 and set to take on Penn State in the first home night game of the season Saturday at 8 p.m.
Urban Meyer met with the media at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to discuss his team's 49-28 victory over Maryland, black uniforms, the Nittany Lions and more.
Notes:
- J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones were named co-players of the game by Ohio State for their performance in a 49-28 win against Maryland. Other offensive champions include: Braxton Miller, Jalin Marshall, Taylor Decker, Jacoby Boren, Nick Vannett and Marcus Baugh.
- Sam Hubbard, who recorded his first career interception in the victory against the Terrapins, earned defensive player of the game honors: "Have a day, Sam," Meyer said. Joey Bosa, Gareon Conley and Eli Apple were Ohio State's other defensive champions.
- Special teams player of the game was Craig Fada.
- On Miller, Meyer singled out his blocking on screen passes to Marshall and Michael Thomas: "He's doing much better at that."
- Meyer said "I think so" when asked if J.T. Barrett playing in the red zone was a permanent thing: "We're not writing it in Sharpie yet."
- "Every good quality player wants the football and we don't discourage that," Meyer said. "When we go out and recruit athletes, we want them to want the ball."
- Meyer said the right way for a player to discuss getting more touches is simply say, "I want the ball."
- On the black jerseys, Meyer said, "I don't get real involved with the uniforms." He said his first reaction to the idea was "no way," then he saw them and thought they looked sharp. He added that he hasn't seen the black helmet yet, with a smile.
- Asked when he showed select players the black uniforms, Meyer said "I'm sure you know the reactions."
- Meyer said playing both quarterbacks is "very touchy," but "it can't be better" to have Barrett go in there and score touchdowns and return to the sideline with a smile. He said he realized last year that Barrett is one of the best leaders he's ever been around.
- Meyer said Penn State's defense is one of the best he's seen this season on tape.
- "I see a close team and a team that's playing very hard." — Urban Meyer on Ohio State
- Meyer said he thinks Jones is still growing as a human being and a player. Said he used to not have a lot of respect for Jones two years ago, but now he's earned the right to be a leader and a face of the program.
- On USC coach Steve Sarkisian's reported alcohol problems, Meyer said he doesn't know much about it, but every coach wants a guy on his staff to point out if something is getting out of hand, whatever it is: "Head coaches are wrong a lot of times. You need to have the checks and balances in order."
- Halfway through the season, Meyer sees a very good team on film, but one that gave up a ton of yards to a rushing quarterback: "That long one was just a scramble and our defensive line just got out of position."
- "I just want to make sure guys are enjoying the victories around here ... not let the drudgery pull you down. It's high expectations and how you deal with them." — Urban Meyer
- Why does J.T. Barrett allow Ohio State to run the ball better in the red zone? "He's a different runner than Cardale is," Meyer said. He added that Jones' rushing yards have primarily been on scrambles off pass plays: "Sometimes it takes a little while to get 250 (pounds) going."
- More on Miller, Meyer said the senior is aiming to play at the next level and the coaches are trying to do everything they can to get him there: "He is fully integrated right now at wide receiver." He wasn't at the beginning of the season.
- On the offense, Meyer said he thinks Ohio State is doing a lot of good things but "we're maybe not to the Star Wars numbers (from late last year)."
- Meyer on J.T. Barrett: "He's a guy that gets better once you let him roll."
- Meyer said Barrett still hasn't beaten Jones out as the full-time starting quarterback yet, which is why he's just used in the red zone. It's just like any other position at Ohio State.
- Meyer said "absolutely not" when asked if he made any promises to Cardale Jones when he decided to come back to Ohio State.
- Meyer said Ohio State "is getting pretty close" to hitting the mark for individuals and the number of times they touch the ball during the game.
- "Every day is a grind, there's injuries involved ... a defense is playing a certain way, so sometimes it's not as easy to get this guy 10 touches or whatever. I think last Saturday, that was a lot of fun on that sideline." — Urban Meyer
- Meyer said each game is different with regards to how the quarterbacks are used: "I’d love Cardale to throw for 300 & J.T. to play like he did, but I think this defense is going to have a lot to do with that."
