Unseasonably warm temperatures and ridiculously loud music welcomed the Ohio State football team to the practice field on Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
The Buckeyes are scheduled to visit State College, Pennsylvania, for a prime-time date with the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Urban Meyer met with the media after practice to provide updates.
NOTES:
- Meyer said he thinks every great team "has that moment" when they notch a particularly big win: "Wisconsin that we just had, it's over and we gotta keep pushing, but that was one of those moments."
- Meyer credited Noah Brown, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis and J.T. Barrett to making the key plays in that game.
- On Penn State kicker Joey Julius: "He's good. Just gotta be aware of him."
- Meyer said outside linebacker Dante Booker is going to play this week at Penn State: "He's good to go."
- "There's a difference between non-intelligent and over-aggressive," Meyer on Dontre Wilson and his punt returning.
- Meyer said he asked Luke Fickell before practice Wednesday what his biggest concerns were. Fickell said running back Saquon Barkley: "He said you could have everything locked down and it wouldn't matter ... he's one of those guys like a J.T. Barrett where he just makes plays."
- Meyer said Noah Brown has developed that ability to make catches on fade routes in the corner of the end zone: "He's always had those incredible hands but he's a guy like Mike Thomas where he likes that contact and gets the ball."
- Meyer credited his players, his scheme and how much Ohio State practices in the red zone for having so much success in that area this season: "Our guys thrive in it because that's the money area.
- He added that Ohio State always practices red zone throughout spring practice and training camp, unlike other situations likes 3rd-and-10. Working on that situation doesn't happen every day.
- Meyer said Ohio State "didn't really know" who Barkley was last year before they played: "He's continued it. He is elusive." Added that Barkley is one of the top three running backs in the country.
- Meyer said Booker is not quite at 100 percent yet but is cleared to play. He did not say how playing time will be dished out on Saturday but did indicate Booker probably won't start.
- On his wide receivers, Meyer said he is seeing some progression but "not nearly satisfied" with them: "I think that's an area that we still need to improve."
- Meyer said the wide receivers need to continue getting experience and work their technique: "We're not panicking ... but we're having a little bit of growing pains at that position."
- Asked about the Cleveland Indians imminent trip to the World Series, Meyer asked quickly what the score of the game was and what inning it was: "Like I told the team the other day, there's folks from Cleveland and folks not from Cleveland ... Huge Tribe fan."
