With black uniforms and helmets awaiting in the Ohio State locker room, the Buckeyes finished another day of preparations for their first home night game of the season Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Urban Meyer met with reporters inside the team room at the facility to talk Saturday's 8 p.m. kickoff against Penn State.
Notes:
- Meyer said J.T. Barrett is still working in the red zone with the first team offense, while Cardale Jones enters the lineup when the backups go in for their snaps: "The red zone is such a unique place. We have to be good in that area."
- On the kickoff coverage, Meyer said he like where Ohio State sits right now. On the punt team, he noted Cameron Johnston's 70-yard punt that didn't hang in the air too long: "With a good returner back there, we didn't want that."
- Meyer said he thinks things are going well with Jones being taken out in the red zone: "I want to see how things go with him when things don't go well down there." Ohio State was 6-for-6 in the red zone last week against Maryland.
- Meyer said he sees Ezekiel Elliott rise to the occasion when the lights shine brightest: "I think elite players do."
- On the defensive backfield depth, Meyer said Malik Hooker "is really doing a nice job." Depth there, though is a concern.
- Meyer said that Parris Campbell is out this week after hitting his knee in practice again.
- Freshman Jerome Baker is set to start this week on kickoff team. K.J. Hill "is close" to playing, Meyer said.
- Meyer said he hasn't seen the Big Ten East ever be better than it is right now.
- Meyer said the Penn State passing game "surely" is the best Ohio State's seen.
- On Barrett, Meyer said he's a better leader than he was a week ago. He said he thinks Barrett's getting in the game helps not only the offense, but the team as a whole.
- On Torrance Gibson, Meyer said he's a "guy that we continue to watch." Sometimes Gibson practices well, other days he does not, just like freshmen tend to do.
- On the night game Saturday: "I love night games. I hear our players talk about it, but the worst thing is hanging around in the hotel all day. But the best thing is that atmosphere."
