The official first day of fall doubled as a midweek practice for the nation's top-ranked college football team, a group sitting unbeaten but driving to figure out what ails it offensively.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with reporters briefly Wednesday following practice, two days after he said he was unsure who he would start at quarterback against Western Michigan Saturday between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones.
Notes:
- Meyer named Jones the starter: "It's like anything. If someone replaces you, it's because he beats you out. That hasn't happened yet."
- Meyer added that the insistence has been put on not just the quarterbacks but everyone else on the offense to play better: "If someone wins Big Ten Player of the Week as a quarterback, it's because of those guys around him."
- With respect to Western Michigan's defense, Meyer said the Buckeyes are preparing for odd fronts, even fronts and anything in between: "That's where Ed Warinner and his troops, that's where the most important part is. We're prepared for the 4-3, man-free, but we're also never going to go into a game without something for a three-down, odd look ... I'm sure we'll see everything."
- More on the quarterbacks, Meyer said he can't remember exactly what he told the quarterbacks this weekend when he spoke with them: "We're just trying to get everybody on the same page and move forward."
- Meyer said the team has practice "really, really hard" this week in order to be better prepared than last week.
- Meyer said in picking between Jones and Barrett this week, he said he went to Jones because he was starter during the playoff run, in the spring as well as winning the job again in the fall. He said Barrett hasn't beaten Jones out yet, so therefore it is the latter's job.
- "That's why 50-year-old men spend 10 hours a day around the grease board," Meyer said.
- On Jones' struggle the last two weeks offensively: "It's not him. The offense is in a funk right now."
- Meyer said he understand the focus on the quarterback from the media and fans, but that's not where his focus is at, instead on the offensive line, wide receivers and everything else.
- Is Jones the guy? "Yes. He is the guy. Unless he doesn't perform well."
- With a question brought up about the defense, Meyer got excited: "Yes. They've played well. Special teams, too. Punt has been outstanding. P-U-N-T."
- Asked about Chris Ash, Meyer just said: "He's a really good question. The whole room on the defensive staff has done really well."
- Meyer said Parris Campbell has a knee bruise and sprained ligament. He's out for this week, but is probable for next week.
- Mike Weber "is not quite ready yet," Meyer said.
- Meyer said he does not have a timetable on Damon Webb's suspension: "I don't know much about it."
