With a road game against Maryland approaching, Urban Meyer met with reporters for his weekly press conference Monday:
- Meyer said the “player of the game was the offensive line,” which anchored one of the biggest offensive outpourings in Ohio State history. The Buckeyes amassed 710 total yards and 45 first downs on 101 plays in a 50-28 win against Cincinnati Saturday.
- Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel and a talented corps of wide receivers dropped 352 passing yards and four touchdowns on a pass defense that whiffed on another opportunity to showcase a supposedly overhauled defense. “It’s a combination of coaching and playing, so we’ve gotta get it fixed," Meyer said. In particular, big plays through the air gashed the Buckeyes. “It happened here in 2012 when we had a real bad day against Indiana,” Meyer said. “Four really bad plays that we have to get corrected and I’m satisfied with the direction going … we’re gonna grind and work and get better.”
- When asked if this year’s defense could improve and compete at a championship level, Meyer said “absolutely.”
- Meyer said this was the first time Ohio State's offense truly used an up-tempo style of play. "I could see this potentially as a really good (offense), maybe a great one. First-time seeing the up-tempo." He added that's why he hired offensive coordinator Tom Herman in the first place.
- Meyer on playing Maryland in what will be the Terrapins’ first home game in the Big Ten conference: “I know that’s what we’re gonna walk into, I’ve never been to the stadium … they’ve been working on this one for a while I imagine.” Meyer said the afternoon in College Park figures to be a “big-time atmosphere.”
- Meyer on sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa, who forced a critical fumble for a safety against the Bearcats: “I thought we would have a guy that was game ready … but I didn’t know he’d be this ready.” Meyer compared him to former defensive tackle and fan-favorite John Simon, but perhaps better. “He’s a little more talented than John, he’s a little longer.”
- Meyer said redshirt quarterback J.T. Barrett “continues to be a very good distributor … we’re really were giving him more and more responsibility for getting us into the right play … He’s a product of those around him. I think as a group, this is a good group to be around.” Meyer said Barrett is still learning to “take charge” of the offense. “He doesn’t exactly rattle the walls when he speaks.”
- In light of Michigan’s implosion, Meyer said he hasn’t paid much attention the Wolverines’ unraveling in Ann Arbor: “I haven’t followed our rivals very much.”
- Ohio State will have to contend with talented wide receiver Stefon Diggs, whom Meyer recruited to play for him at Florida. “I really thought we had a legitimate shot at him … he’s as good as there is in America.”
