With Ohio State set to play its eighth game of the season and third road night game of the season against Purdue on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ABC), Ohio State coach Urban Meyer met with the media on Monday morning to discuss the Buckeyes' performance in their 30-14 win against Minnesota this past Saturday and look ahead to their trip to West Lafayette.
A bullet-point recap of what Meyer had to say:
- Ohio State's players of the game on Saturday were K.J. Hill on offense, Jordan Fuller on defense and Blake Haubeil on special teams. Dwayne Haskins, Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, Luke Farrell, Malcolm Pridgeon, Michael Jordan were also champions on offense, while Dre'Mont Jones, Pete Werner, Kendall Sheffield and Jeffrey Okudah were also champions on defense.
- Meyer said Sean Nuernberger strained his groin in warmups before Saturday's game.
- Meyer said he believes Nick Bosa is flying back to Philadelphia tomorrow to get re-evaluated, and Meyer is hopeful that Bosa will be back this season, though he is not certain.
- Thayer Munford is "sore" but "probable" to play on Saturday.
- "This will be a big challenge this week," Meyer said of playing Purdue's offense. "I see the stats, they're really good."
- On Justin Hilliard: "He's one of my favorite players." Said he "played pretty good, not great but pretty good" in his first start at linebacker on Saturday.
- Meyer said the Buckeyes have more of a run-pass option instead of a run-run option with Dwayne Haskins at quarterback instead of J.T. Barrett.
- Could Haubeil replace Nuernberger at kicker? "It's open for conversation ... every day's a competition."
- On Purdue's Rondale Moore: "He's certainly a guy who can play anywhere in the country."
- Meyer said he thought Isaiah Pryor made progress on Saturday and that Shaun Wade "came in and did some good things" at safety on Saturday as well. Meyer said there are still conversations being had about who should start at safety this week.
- On Ohio State's tight ends: "Luke and Rashod (Berry) have been playing pretty good."
- Meyer described Purdue's Jeff Brohm as "an excellent coach and very aggressive."
- On Ohio State's struggles in the running game: "We have two very good tailbacks, and we're making a concerted efforts to get the ball in their hands and get them going."
- Meyer said he believes Michael Jordan is "doing pretty good" at center this year.
- Meyer made note that Ohio State's defense kept Minnesota off the scoreboard for "the better part of three quarters" on Saturday, but also acknowledged that the defense has to play "much better."
- Meyer said he believes the Buckeyes are getting better as the season progresses. Singled out Josh Proctor, Marcus Hooker, Chris Olave, Wyatt Davis and Joshua Alabi as players who have developed.
- Jonathon Cooper and Malik Harrison are back this week. Robert Landers is "probable" to play Saturday, and Damon Arnette is "questionable."
- Meyer expressed displeasure with how many road night games Ohio State had to play last year, but as the Buckeyes play their third night game away from home this week, he didn't want to talk about it today: "We're going to go back in there and talk about all the things you guys brought up. Not that one."
Check back with Eleven Warriors for additional coverage from Meyer's latest press conference.
