If one of Urban Meyer's assistants walked into his office recently with a question, there is a good chance they will see their boss' eyes honed in on one specific detail.
"I have never spent this much time on practice schedules. People laugh at me, I stare at that board around two hours a day," Meyer said last week at Big Ten Media Days. "Every practice I've probably gone over five, six, seven times."
Meyer is as obsessed with perfection when it comes to his football program — that isn't news. But as he looks at what he has in front of him ahead of Saturday's report date for fall camp, it is much different than a year ago.
"I haven't really gotten in great details with Mick (Marotti) yet, but we are not a ready-made machine to be," Meyer said. "It might happen later in two-a-days."
Ohio State's strength coach is responsible for feeling the pulse of the team, preparing it in the weight room for camp, then handing it to Meyer when players report.
Marotti told both Meyer and quarterback J.T. Barrett Ohio State's development through spring and summer workouts was "not bad." It could be better, but also could be worse. Either way, it is significant contrast than in 2015 when the Buckeyes entered with a loaded roster coming off a national championship.
"That means that I guess we weren't good enough to say 'good' and didn't say 'great,'" Barrett said at Big Ten Media Days. "We're just progressing. I don't think there's been any regressing in what we're doing so we're progressing each and every day, but know that we have some ways to go since he said 'not bad.'"
Meyer also recalled how his team "wasn't ready" ahead of camp in 2014. That group won the first-ever College Football Playoff national championship.
Parallels between the two squads join the youth and inexperience as headlines in the final days before practice begins. The 2014 roster featured future stars like Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, Joey Bosa and Darron Lee, names that at that time were not well-known across the country.
Meyer and his staff hope something similar unfolds this season, but the team is marginally younger this time around. That is why Meyer gazes longingly at those white boards, trying to perfect practice itineraries down to the minute.
“I would say going into this is as talented a group top to bottom as we've had. Now how do we get them game-ready?”– Urban Meyer
"Making sure we are getting things accomplished," Meyer said.
It is Meyer's job as CEO and head coach of Ohio State's football program to ensure his team is prepared in all phases before Bowling Green visits Sept. 3. He and his staff preach the idea of nine units strong every day, whether it be to their players, on social media or during press conferences.
That should continue in 2016 season, even though the Buckeyes must replace 16 starters and 12 draft picks. The talent makeup of Ohio State's last three recruiting classes is extensive so expectations won't change — Meyer's team is again the favorite to win the Big Ten and compete for a College Football Playoff spot.
"I see that potential," Meyer said. "I think 2014 was the template that everybody wants. J.T. Barrett was buried in the depth chart, Darron Lee, Eli Apple, Zeke Elliott, Mike Thomas — those guys were no-names, and they became very good throughout the course of 2014."
Outside of Barrett, all of those names are gone. Training camp will be different and Meyer knows it. He and his staff will be tested, which is why the head coach wants to be sure to get the most out of each and every practice.
"I'm giving them a line of demarcation where they have to name a starter," Meyer said. "At some point, we have to say, 'This is our guy.' Jamarco Jones is the only guy that we've done that yet. So I'm putting a lot of pressure on our coaches too that I need to know by this scrimmage who is our starting outside linebacker. Is it Chris Worley? Or is it Jerome Baker?
"A lot of pressure on our coaches, assistant coaches and myself, to get them game-ready," he added. "I would say going into this is as talented a group top to bottom as we've had. Now how do we get them game-ready?"
