It almost seems silly to think Ohio State needs more guys to get the ball to considering how young it was when it won the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship not even three months ago.
Urban Meyer isn't one to rest easy after rising to the top of college football, though. He always wants more – more talent, more speed, more everything.
"If you guys just go back to three years ago until now, you just sit there and say 'OK, who are your playmakers 1-10?' If you're fortunate to have 10," Meyer said Tuesday following spring practice No. 6. "Last year, we had 10. And even pushed a little bit more than that."
Among those 10 were the usual suspects of Ezekiel Elliott, Dontre Wilson, Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas, Nick Vannett, Jeff Heuerman and whoever was playing quarterback, either J.T. Barrett or Cardale Jones. The list didn't even include two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Braxton Miller.
Two who were huge components to an electric offense that are no longer available, though, were wide receivers Evan Spencer and Devin Smith. But Spencer's blocking abilities and Smith's uncanny ability to beat opponents deep are no longer at Meyer's disposal due to their graduation, leaving two pretty large voids in the Ohio State offense.
"This year with Evan and Devin gone, who are those guys and what order do they touch the ball?" Meyer said. "Mike Thomas is certainly in there, Jalin Marshall is in there and then you start, where does Nick Vannett fit in? Can Marcus Baugh step up?"
Baugh is going to be looked to with the departure of Heuerman as someone who can perform when called upon in two tight end sets this fall, as long as he can keep his nose clean.
The questions remain about who can be that downfield threat for whoever gets the nod at quarterback, as well as fill Spencer's shoes as a stout blocker on the edge.
Someone who could do the latter, Meyer said, is sophomore Noah Brown.
"Noah Brown had a very, very good day (Tuesday), too. He's moved from 15th to wherever," Meyer said. "At the end of spring, I'll have that, what order they're going to touch the ball."
Toss in Marshall, a healthy Wilson, Johnnie Dixon and Curtis Samuel – "the days of Curtis Samuel playing 10 plays are over," Meyer said – and there might not be enough footballs to go around.
"This year with Evan and Devin gone, who are those guys and what order do they touch the ball? Mike Thomas is certainly in there, Jalin Marshall is in there and then you start, where does Nick Vannett fit in? Can Marcus Baugh step up?"– Urban Meyer
"Obviously Zeke Elliott is way high on the list, but Curtis Samuel's not that far behind," Meyer said, listing off a pair of ballcarriers who are part of the embarrassment of riches present at Ohio State. "So we have to find ways to get the ball in his hands."
Meyer and company always keep an eye out for the best playmakers in the country on the recruiting trail, with the idea of stockpiling talent in order to plug any and all potential contributors into the offense so a lack of production can be avoided.
"We're based on toughness, execution, fundamentals. We want to continue to do that, we want to be able to find who are playmakers are and all within the confines of Coach Meyer," offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said Thursday. "He sets the tone for that."
He does, but often the best players available don't perfectly fit the mold of Ohio State's offense. So it is up to Meyer, Warinner and quarterbacks coach Tim Beck to adapt.
"I just talked to our team and there's three characteristics: Competitors No. 1, tough No. 2 and go-hard. I don't want to hear 'he's 5-11, we want a guy who's 6-1.' You'll never hear that conversation," Meyer said. "The three characteristics, if we find that, and obviously you have the God given skill, but if he has those three characteristics, we're recruiting him.
"It's up to us as a staff to change the offense around."
Without Spencer or Smith in the lineup this season, expect Meyer and his staff to tweak things slightly on offense. Especially considering the starter at quarterback is still up in the air.
But one things for certain: If you want to get on the field in 2015, you better be able to make plays.
"I think that's what we do best," Meyer said. "Not best, but I'm just, I think that's one of the fun parts of coaching, when you got these checkers that are really attractive to you and how you can use those guys?"
