Presser Bullets: Urban Meyer Recaps Bye Week, Previews Ohio State's Game Against Nebraska

By Dan Hope on October 29, 2018 at 12:00 pm
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After holding no in-person media availabilities at Ohio State during the bye week, Urban Meyer returned to the podium on Monday morning to recap what the Buckeyes worked on last week and preview Saturday's game against Nebraska at Ohio Stadium (Noon, Fox).

A bullet-point recap of what Meyer had to say:

  • Most improved player from summertime until now? "I'd have to say Ben Victor might be in that category." Also named Thayer Munford and Pete Werner as players who have made substantial improvement.
  • Meyer named the drive-extending penalties and missed tackles as among the issues from the Purdue game that Ohio State addressed during the bye week.
  • Asked whether he plans to retire after this season, Meyer said "I plan on coaching."
  • Meyer said Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez is an "elite guy" and said his ability to make plays as both a passer and runner make the Cornhuskers offense tough to defend, as well as their "unique scheme."
  • On how moving Michael Jordan to center has worked out for Ohio State: "At times outstanding, and at times it has not been great." Says there has been a little bit of a ripple effect on the offensive line from moving Jordan to center.
  • Brady Taylor and Branden Bowen are "both getting very close" to being ready to play again, and "there's a chance" they could play this week.
  • On whether Ohio State needs to completely change its running game: "It's too late to do that," but said the coaches need to make sure they put players in better position to succeed through the structure of play calls, and that the runners need to break more tackles.
  • Meyer on how he's feeling this season: "I'm fine. I want Ohio State to be successful in the worst way. I'm working extremely hard to make that happen." Asked whether the games are "getting to him," Meyer quipped: "The games have been getting to me for 30 years."
  • Meyer says the Buckeyes need to do a better job getting players in space. "We're usually pretty good around here about getting players in space, and we haven't been doing that."
  • Meyer said there were at least 10 plays at Purdue where the Buckeyes called runs but threw the ball instead.
  • On Nebraska wide receiver JD Spielman: "Playmaker. Speed. He's having a great year, and he had a great game against us last year."
  • On the mood inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center: "There's a tremendous amount of urgency ... we understand what's at stake, and we understand our shortcomings."
  • Meyer said it's still possible that Shaun Wade could see more playing time at safety.

Stay tuned with Eleven Warriors for additional coverage from Meyer's press conference.

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