Urban Meyer took to the podium at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center with a purpose Monday. It's officially Michigan State week in Columbus.
The 9-1 Spartans are set to visit Ohio Stadium Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff with towering Big Ten East implications. Ohio State is 10-0, pushing through the first two and a half months of 2015 without losing as it prepares for its two biggest weeks of the regular season.
Notes:
- Meyer named six offensive champions from Ohio State's 28-3 victory at Illinois. On offense: Ezekiel Elliott (player of the game), Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Taylor Decker and Pat Elflein.
- After a dominating defensive performance, 13 players were named champion from the unit: Joey Bosa, Eli Apple, Raekwon McMillan (co-players of the game), Tyquan Lewis, Adolphus Washington, Tommy Schutt, Michael Hill, Sam Hubbard, Joshua Perry, Darron Lee, Gareon Conley, Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell. Meyer called Bosa and Lewis "bookend defensive ends" for Ohio State right now.
- Samuel was also player of the game on special teams for his blocked punt.
- Ohio State is "going to take a hard, long look" at its pass protection.
- Ezekiel Elliott "was constantly in his ear" to remain in the game in the fourth quarter.
- On the senior class, Meyer listed a lengthy list of accolades for the group which will be recognized Saturday for Senior Day: "Saturday's going to be a tough day, Senior Day always is regardless ... Incredible group of people."
- "The most prepared team will win this game Saturday."
- Meyer is "very concerned" if his team is ready to make the jump against better competition Saturday, but he "lives his life concerned."
- On Connor Cook: "His job is to win games, and that's what he does ... One of the best quarterbacks in Big Ten history."
- "The next two games we have, are big, big time games." — Urban Meyer
- Meyer went to a family friend's house after the game and flipped on ABC 6 to hear postgame anchors say, "We just have to get on a roll here." Meyer: "Get on a roll? I guess we still have to get on a roll."
- Meyer is not considering personnel changes on his offensive line: "We just have to get some things figured out."
- On the quarterbacks, Meyer spent an inordinate amount of time this season to do what's best for the team. Now that it's decided and J.T. Barrett is starter, Meyer joked, "I have a lot of free time now."
- Barrett and Cardale Jones remain close friends, Meyer said, which is something he always really watches for: "You've heard stories, you want to destroy a team, have someone be other than a team guy. And they're not that."
- Meyer doesn't plan to recognize anyone Saturday who isn't a senior or at least been in the program for four seasons.
- Meyer saw on television that Ohio State "got by" at Illinois: "We won 28-3 on the road. But we know we can play better, yes."
- On Ohio State's defense, Meyer said the coordination between the front seven and back four is "exceptional right now." He said he thinks the personnel is very good, and gave credit to co-coordinators Luke Fickell and Chris Ash.
- Is Meyer taking the time to enjoy these win streaks and the constant success he's enduring at Ohio State? "I'm more experienced or aged, whatever you want to call it ... There's probably 10 places in America that are like this that you keep building the beast and you have to feed it."
- Meyer definitely feels like he's a part of something special right now at Ohio State.
- On Chase Farris, Meyer said Saturday "was not great" for him. Meyer gave credit to Illinois' defensive ends for Farris' struggles Saturday, but he must play better this weekend against Michigan State.
- Losing coordinators is tough sometimes, especially with a guy like Tom Herman heading to be the head coach at Houston but the offense in place remains: "Michigan State lost their D-coordinator, too, and there's really no difference. It's the same scheme."
- Meyer called the 49-37 victory at Michigan State last year "the best game we played offensively ... J.T. was ridiculous, the receivers played great, [as did the] offensive line."
- On Michigan State's vaunted defensive line: The biggest thing that stands out is how disruptive the unit is consistently, in a similar way Joey Bosa is for the Buckeyes.
- Braxton Miller only had two touches Saturday, but Meyer said "he's doing great." He said Ohio State was going to go to him more Illinois, but the defense was designed to take him away so they had to change things up.
- "We're 10-0 and a chance to go 11-0. If you're worried about more touches, or more sacks, then we're going to be 10-1. That's not the goal." — Urban Meyer
