Saturday marked the end of the Ohio State football team's lock-in at the Hyatt Park Place Grandview Yard, as well as its final installment of training camp at Coffey Road Park.
The players get to head back to their homes, but preparations for Virginia Tech and beyond continue, especially for Urban Meyer. Ohio State's head coach met with reporters Saturday morning at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, ending a weeklong blackout as he guided his team through hell week.
Notes:
- Meyer said he thinks the fact that Ezekiel Elliott could only use one wrist last year could have actually helped Ohio State last year, because it made him focus on his pad level: "He's one of the best at that."
- So far in camp, Meyer said he hasn't noticed much of a difference from Elliott as far as his stiff arm goes: "He's done very well, though."
- Elliott has not been tackled to the ground yet in camp, Meyer said: "Which is not unnatural for someone in the 2,000-rep club." Noted other players like Taylor Decker who they're still keeping an eye on with that.
- After a week of practices to watch quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, Meyer said "they're doing good. I really thought in my mind that one guy was moving ahead of the other ... but they're neck and neck."
- Braxton Miller did not practice today due to a "tight hamstring," Meyer said. He also added that it is not pulled, they're just being cautious.
- Meyer said Mike Weber is walking without crutches already after having surgery on his knee, and he doesn't look to redshirt him this year.
- "Today wasn't great. They were blown out," Meyer said. A two-a-day Saturday wore the team out, Meyer said, but "they're on schedule."
- "The way our defense played at the end of last year was as good as I've ever seen." — Urban Meyer
- Mike Hill and Donovan Munger did not practice Saturday, Meyer said. He is still concerned with the interior defensive line. All are going to be full-go Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at practice.
- Meyer said Sam Hubbard has "the edge" at the defensive end spot right now.
- Tommy Schutt's "Had a good camp. He's had a really good camp. He's one of our top-5 most improved," Meyer said.
- Bri'onte Dunn, Noah Brown, Tommy Schutt, Gareon Conley, Sam Hubbard, Chase Farris are the most improved players Meyer mentioned.
- More on Miller, Meyer said he's "getting his routine" with where to line up within the offense, what he has to do, and how he has to do it. He added he is not ready to name Miller the starting H-back for Virginia Tech yet, but that his "plan is to try and get him ready to do that."
- Dontre Wilson practiced Saturday, Meyer said.
- Meyer listed off the names of coaches he's worked with in the past who now lead programs: "I hate losing great coaches, but I also love it for them. And that's why we do this." Says he expects to lose two a year.
- Meyer said Ohio State's been working on Virginia Tech "a little bit. They beat us." But once the team gets back at it Monday half of the practices will be devoted to the Hokies.
- Defensive line, quarterback and kicker — Jack Willoughby hit back-to-back 60-yard field goals in practice — are areas where starters aren't set yet, Meyer said.
- Mike Thomas had a bone bruise on his foot and didn't practice Saturday, Meyer said. He expects him back Monday.
- Thomas, Brown, Johnnie Dixon, Corey Smith, Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel are all ready to be wide receivers at Ohio State. Torrance Gibson "is just scratching the surface," Meyer said.
