Ohio State is in the home stretch of its spring practice set at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
The Buckeyes are in their final week of drills before the annual spring game Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff is set for approximately 1:30 p.m.
Urban Meyer met with reporters briefly after the team's 12th session of the spring season Monday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Notes:
- Joe Burrow is becoming a much better runner and his release is "night and day" than what it was. If Burrow had to play, Ohio State "would probably lean on the tailback quite a bit." Meyer added Burrow is "close" to game ready.
- Tracy Sprinkle and James Clark are the most improved players at Ohio State this spring, Meyer said.
- Dre'mont Jones "had his best day as a Buckeye" Monday.
- Ohio State is focusing on the passing game more than rushing this spring. Bri'onte Dunn and Mike Weber are still battling to start at tailback. Neither has separated himself yet.
- On the satellite camp ban the NCAA dropped Friday, Meyer said "he'd wish they'd revisit" the decision to not allow schools from the MAC to come to Ohio State's camps: "I'm not worried about the high level guys, because they're going to get where they need to get. But the other guys need some help."
- Meyer called the unlimited texting rule among recruits "the most ignorant thing I've ever heard." The NCAA passed that rule Friday.
- Meyer called Tim Beck's performance last year "just OK," and noted how Beck stepped in for "a very valuable guy" in Tom Herman: "I just expect more out of him and our offensive staff in general. I think we have to do a better job than we did a year ago."
- Meyer hopes there are 100,000 people at the stadium Saturday. He wants to see guys like Joe Burrow, Mike Weber and Dre'Mont Jones perform in such an atmosphere: "The value this year is greater than our first four years here."
- "There's nothing like performing in front of 100,000 people and I watch that. I watch that."
- J.T. Barrett's development this spring is "outstanding." This is the first spring he's fully healthy at Ohio State. Fundamentally, Barrett is honing a little technique and "twitch" elements to his game.
- Barrett is throwing the ball regardless what happens on the outside with his receivers, like if they don't get open: "We want his body to get used to doing it."
- Prompted about his past comments on issues like paying for family travel to the College Football Playoff, Meyer said the best thing he can do is continue to tell the media things like unlimited texting to recruits are ignorant and keep discussing it so the discussion continues: "It just doesn't make sense to me."
- Meyer's feelings "are not anti-NCAA," but he believes there are more coaches that share the same opinion, especially on the texting: "Do you really want text messages from 100 universities on your phone when you come out of school?"
- More on Tracy Sprinkle and his past off-field issues, it takes time for players who deal with things like that to mature and get by them. Meyer also mentioned Marcus Baugh and how he likes to try and keep guys like that within the program to hopefully help them grow.
- On the quarterback plan for Saturday, Barrett will still wear the black jersey and play, but how much is to be determined. Stephen Collier and Joe Burrow will play live, but the details for that stuff will come after Wednesday.
- On the tragic passing of former Buckeye defensive end Will Smith, Meyer learned the news when Luke Fickell texted him. Ohio State had a moment of silence for him before practice Monday and spent the first 15 minutes of meetings to discuss that and what else is going on around the world of college football.
- Meyer hopes the NCAA "calls and asks for our opinion" after stories are written about the changes to the NCAA rules with regards to satellite camps and texting.
