If you're an individual with a stellar football mind, Urban Meyer needs your help.
Ohio State's offense so far in 2015 is not the juggernaut many believed it would be after a strong run through the post-season last year that ended in the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship. Even with talented playmakers like Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson, Ezekiel Elliott, Braxton Miller and many, many more at his disposal, Meyer isn't pleased with the number of chances each is getting within the offense.
"I see a guy that's dynamic and a guy that does deserve more touches," Meyer said when asked about Samuel Wednesday after practice. "Dontre Wilson deserves more touches. Zeke probably needs a few more. Then that kid Braxton Miller deserves a few more. If you guys got ideas, just put them on a note and give them to Jerry."
Jerry Emig is the football Sports Information Director at Ohio State, Meyer's go between for media inquiries and interview schedules. The head coach of the No. 1 team in the country said that last bit with a smile on his face, joking in an attempt to keep his usual Wednesday evening press conference light and moving.
“I see a guy that's dynamic and a guy that does deserve more touches. Dontre Wilson deserves more touches. Zeke probably needs a few more. Then that kid Braxton Miller deserves a few more. If you guys got ideas, just put them on a note and give them to Jerry.”– Urban Meyer
He doesn't exactly need outside assistant from the media or anyone else on how to run his power spread offense, but is by no means happy with the lack of touches for such gifted players a third of the way through the 2015 regular season.
"We can do better," Meyer said.
Ohio State's offense ranks 51st in the country and fifth in the Big Ten at an average of 436 total yards per game. It's on an upward trajectory, showing improvement last Saturday in a 38-12 victory against Western Michigan.
One guy in particular Meyer's continuing to evaluate is Miller, who switched from quarterback to H-back and wide receiver in the offense. After opening the season with a bang in the form of two 50-plus yard touchdowns at Virginia Tech, Miller's production has largely fallen off.
"Obviously, in the first game I evaluated pretty good when he did that spin move and took it 60 yards. We did a really good job as coaches. A spin when two guys come at you, spin behind them," Meyer said of Miller, again smiling. "We have not done as well, we haven't had the hits we need. We gotta block better for him."
Meyer said he's not at all concerned with Miller's progress to become a wide receiver as Ohio State heads to Indiana Saturday for its Big Ten opener. He even said Miller "is ahead of schedule."
"I'm not panicking, he's learning the game," Meyer said. "He's learning how to be a perimeter blocker for the first time in his life. Can't play receiver here and not be great at it. If you're not great at it, you won't play."
That, too, goes for guys like Samuel, Wilson, Elliott and Jalin Marshall, who all have improved since coming to Columbus. The need to get better and move the ball around is the goal of any spread offense, but much like anything else, Ohio State's still working to improve.
"Whatever happens behind us, happens behind us. Sometimes we don't even know who's getting the ball," starting right guard Pat Elflein said. "It could be Braxton back there and none of us would really know. We get a job description every week and we gotta go out and execute it."
The same goes for the quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends and everyone else involved with the offense. Meyer just wants those who he thinks deserves the ball to get the ball.
"It's just the skill set of Dontre Wilson, of Curtis Samuel, of Braxton Miller ... they're a little bit unique in what they can do and what we want them to do. Last week was the best flow of that," Meyer said. "It was a little awkward a few times, where you're 'who's at what position?' Like I said, it's a good problem to have, you're trying to fit them in and get the ball in their hands a little bit."
