Presser Bullets: Urban Meyer Talks Quarterbacks, Defensive Dominance and Previews Western Michigan

With a brilliant blue sky sitting above trees with leaves beginning to change on them, Urban Meyer took the podium at Ohio State's Woody Hayes Athletic Center Monday to discuss his team.

The Buckeyes host their second opponent from the Mid American Conference in as many weeks Saturday when Western Michigan visits Columbus for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Ohio State pushed past Northern Illinois, 20-13, last weekend.

Notes:

Urban Meyer opened by speaking about the defense, which thwarted Drew Hare: "That's a heckuva day against a guy we have a lot of respect for."
A dominant performance by the Buckeye defense led to 10 starters on that side of the ball grading out as champions, save for defensive tackle Tommy Schutt. Darron Lee and Vonn Bell were co-players of the game and special team champions were Erick Smith and Chris Worley (player of the week). There were no offensive champions from the game against Northern Illinois. Meyer: "One of the worst executed performances since we've been here."
On the quarterback situation, Meyer said he spoke with one of them Sunday and will talk to the other Monday. He addressed some talk about how one quarterback could be playing while looking over his shoulder, but Meyer said, "My response is, how could you not? You want to play in the NFL, there's always going to be someone there."
Meyer said he hasn't decided who is starting Saturday against Western Michigan: “Not one has beaten out the other. And they’re not playing great.”
Meyer said Cardale Jones has gotten most of the first-team reps in practice, but J.T. Barrett gets the reps standing right behind him.
Is the offensive line not performing consistently caused by switching quarterbacks? Meyer: "No."
On his radio show last week, Meyer said he tried to hire Toledo coach Matt Campbell, a young guy like Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck: "He's a star in the business right now."
"It was a bunch of different things," Meyer said on the offensive issues. "We have to play better. We don't do this (points finger). We need to get that fixed."
Meyer said he's anxious to play and try to get things fixed on the offense: "I wish we were playing tomorrow."
Meyer said the staff is "looking into" and trying to "get things cleaned up" with play calling, schemes and just about everything on offense. Particularly with having Ed Warinner down on the field calling plays.
Meyer said he encourages having a specialist work with an individual coach as much as possible, particularly in the offense. Punting, however, is handled at Ohio State. "Kicking, kickers are strange guys so that's a little bit different."
Ohio State turned the ball over five times Saturday, three on interceptions: "Every one of them was inexcusable." Meyer also added that they're watching closely the ball carrying and keeping the ball close to the player's body.
Meyer said he "thinks there something to" the sloppiness offensively being caused by so many guys on offense who are skilled, so when each one gets a chance, they could be pressing.
Does Meyer think the staff did a good job getting the ball to playmakers Saturday? "No."
Meyer said Ohio State isn't going to stop having Braxton Miller receive snaps out of the shotgun.
Meyer said "a feel of the game" determines if a switch at quarterback is needed. He again said it is a very unique situation that he's constantly evaluating: "My feeling is we have a very good player in the No. 2 spot, so if No. 1 is not playing well, go in there."
"We're playing defense on offense right now, and we don't do that. Our objective is to score a lot of points and play great defense." — Urban Meyer
Meyer called Ohio State's entire program "the hunter," and it's gotten away from that recently.
"I did go with one guy, and that guy didn't perform well, so I used the backup." — Meyer on the quarterbacks.
Is there a frustration within the offense because of a lack of big plays? "Yes. We're addressing that. We're not doing that right now."