With Rutgers mopped up and a bye week on deck, Urban Meyer took to 97.1 The Fan's airwaves to discuss all things Buckeye football with Paul Keels, the Voice of the Buckeyes, and former All-American Jim Lachey.
Caller noted he spends every day listening to sports radio. Urban: "I'd rather step on rusty nail [than listen or talk on sports radio]."
Urban "wanted to do [a book] for awhile now." Thought it'd be a great tribute to his players and his 2014 team. "It's almost illogical as what happened." Noted he did not write the book, but he "hired a writer to do it." There "was never a pen in my hand."
"We've already started preparation for Minnesota."
Urban's first year at Ohio State they focused on offense during the bye week. Last year was defense. Fundamentals, conditioning, and sports performance will all be pushed during the week off. Lachey noted Wednesday's practice was "one of the hardest [he's] seen this year."
"I love throwing the ball down field and we did a lot of that on Saturday night." — Urban when asked about lack of deep balls.
There are certain times in the game where Ezekiel Elliott has 100 yards yet, but the calls will always be team-oriented.
On Nick Vannett's lack of touchdowns: "It's not like we're saying, 'Don't throw it to him.'" They're trying to spread it around as much as he can, but the two-tight end formations will continue.
Meyer says Minnesota fans "were all over it," last year in Minneapolis during a long soliloquy on the respect he has for the program up there.
On Jerry Kill's retirement: "We've known each other for a long, long time. I've always appreciated guys who worked up the ranks." (Kill started at Pittsburgh State.) "His teams are tough, they play hard... I have a lot of respect for him... At some point, this football stuff is overrated and it becomes 'just take care of your family.'"
Mike Thomas' growth is "exponential." They red-shirted him not due talent, but because they "couldn't count on him." It could've turned "either way," Urban, Keyshawn Johnson, and Mike Thomas' dad all stressed: Become a better player. "We have a very good player in Mike Thomas."
On J.T. Barrett: "He just works so hard on his trade." He's a "coach on the field; he motivates those around him; he's a tough guy. At that position, if you're a tough guy, it permeates to other players."
Urban Meyer "is not ashamed to say" that they owe it to Braxton Miller to get him ready for professional football.
On zero penalties: Urban doesn't stress penalties to his players. He wants them going hard A to B without making mistakes. "Always remember, effort overcomes anything."
Ideally the coaches would like to give the ball to Ezekiel Elliott more than they did against Rutgers. "They were taking Zeke away [on the read-option]." Rutgers also took away Zeke with high pressure, man-to-man defense that allowed Ohio State to make some plays downfield to Curtis Samuel and Braxton Miller.
"To go on a road and beat a team that woulda could shoulda beat Michigan State... and play like we did in that environment, I'm pleased with everything."
Joel Hale "played a lot" a lot in lieu of the injured Tommy Schutt. Donovan Munger and Michael Hill have "a lot of pressure" on them because Adolphus Washington and Schutt won't be there next year. Schutt will "hopefully be back in a few weeks."
Urban Meyer: "I don't think Rutgers crossed the 40 until the end of the game."
