Urban Meyer still truly believes his team is close to something big. All he thinks it takes is a little fine-tuning in the red zone, a renewed focus as to avoid mistakes and simple fundamentals in ball security.
"Ball security — I was a raving lunatic this week about that," Ohio State's head coach said Wednesday after practice. "About just high and tight, fundamentals and it goes back to discipline, because obviously they've been taught that."
Jalin Marshall put the football on the turf twice against Indiana Saturday in Ohio State's 34-27 victory at Memorial Stadium. He finished the game with 110 yards receiving and 76 punt return yards, but the two mental errors marred a solid performance and helped keep the Hoosiers close.
“Ball security — I was a raving lunatic this week about that. About just high and tight, fundamentals and it goes back to discipline, because obviously they've been taught that.”– Urban Meyer
"I like Jalin, he's practicing very hard, he worked at it," Meyer said. "I don't mean to bore you with our answers, but we work really hard at it and try to get better. He's struggling in that area."
Meyer noted that Marshall did better at other portions in the game, like on one punt return specifically where he put both his hands on the football as a defender try to pry it from his grip.
"It just takes discipline and awareness," Meyer said, "and it's not all him."
Cardale Jones threw an interception in Indiana territory Saturday. The team as a whole has 13 turnovers in five games. It's not one guy.
"I think guys were pressing, trying to make plays," Meyer said. "If effort's an issue, then you implode. If it isn't, then you just coach and teach and get better each week."
With a visit from Maryland Saturday looming, Meyer said his team is aiming to improve in all areas, but taking care of the ball and fixing red zone woes sit near the top of the list. There was some talk about inserting J.T. Barrett at quarterback when the team is in the red zone, but Meyer said there are no "finalized decisions yet" on it. It's just gotta be better altogether.
"That's gotta be a strength," Meyer said of the red zone. "How's this for a comment: We score those touchdowns, if we don't turn the ball over, if we don't have penalties, there'd be nothing to talk about."
Meyer smiled when he said that, adding that if "I was taller and could run faster I'd probably be playing." Work inside the opponent's 20-yard line has been an area of intense focus, though.
"Just more reps in practice and just the more we practice the more we're going to execute," running back Ezekiel Elliott said. "Once we start executing, because it's not like we're getting bad looks, we just gotta make the plays, honestly. We're there. We're right there. We're really close."
It's how Meyer feels about the team as a whole, but if the turnovers stop, the offense will move to new heights.
"Do we have a T-shirt made that says don't fumble? No. I'm not being a smart ass, I mean we work really hard," Meyer said. "A bunch of grown men go in a room and stare at each other for 14, 16 hours a day and figure out why. That's why they call you coach. Quit turning the damn ball over."
