On a hot August afternoon during Ohio State’s preseason training camp, Urban Meyer ended a pre-practice speech by saying “Jeff Heuerman, this is your team” before inviting the senior tight end and captain to break down the team’s huddle.
A month or so later — even with a lingering foot injury that’s rendered him ineffective on the field — this is still Heuerman’s team. But, boy, could the Buckeyes use him healthy.
Heuerman, who had surgery on a sprained foot in the offseason, missed last week’s 66-0 rout of Kent State to rest up what head coach Urban Meyer called a “stress reaction.”
It’s why Heuerman, who played in a limited capacity against Navy and Virginia Tech, has yet to catch a pass this season. Neither he nor the coaching staff have wanted to risk a delicate situation.
“It’s a long season is the way the coaches are handling it so you’ve gotta kind of look at the big picture a lot,” Heuerman said days before suiting up against the Midshipmen on Aug. 30.
For Ohio State, the big picture means taking things slow.
“There’s no cure other than to rest,” Meyer said Wednesday. “I shouldn't say there’s no cure, there’s no answer of than rest.”
Which also makes it hard for Meyer to gauge when Heuerman will be healthy enough to start making the impact so many projected him to have this season. He had 26 catches for 466 yards and four touchdowns last year and was supposed to be better in 2014. Fellow tight ends Nick Vannett and Marcus Baugh have taken reps in his absence, but neither are quite as effective as the senior. At least not yet.
And without star quarterback Braxton Miller, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, and the bulk of an offense that made Ohio State’s outfit among the best last season, the Buckeyes lack an identity. They also lack senior leadership after losing Miller, Carlos Hyde, four offensive lineman and Corey “Philly” Brown.
Heuerman — who’s as good a blocker as pass catcher — is an obvious remedy to both ailments, but it’s unclear when he’ll return to full form.
Meyer said he hopes he’ll be ready to go by Monday and spent Ohio State’s bye week working out in the pool. The problem, though, is how “he can’t slam (his foot) into the ground,” Meyer said. At least not yet.
With an upcoming bout against Cincinnati — which dropped 58 points on Toledo with Notre Dame transfer quarterback Gunner Kiel at the helm — the Buckeyes will have to either pace or shut down a Bearcat offense that made Meyer go “Woah” two Friday nights ago.
“You think there’d be more first game mistakes with a new quarterback, but they were outstanding,” he said. Added Meyer: “Pass defense is gonna be the call to arms, they’re really good.”
But equally important for Ohio State to have a healthy Heuerman — who was supposed to be a cog for an offense that got exposed against the Hokies.
