Following a season-opening win at Indiana, the Buckeyes are back at it in prep for a week two showdown with Oklahoma this Saturday night in the Shoe.
A key topic during the presser was Ohio State's running back depth chart after true freshman J.K. Dobbins started in place of an injured Mike Weber and promptly stole the show with 181 rushing yards on 6.2 yards per carry in Bloomington.
Meyer made it clear he wasn't shocked by the night turned in by Dobbins:
"I wasn't surprised at all. I kind of tempered my emotions with you guys early on, because we have seen that since spring practice. He has had a hell of a camp. Mike Weber could have went tonight, he's about 80%, and he was on call. We get Mike back next week, and that is going to be a nice one-two punch. J.K. has even more in the tank, I don't think he had a big hit today. His long was only 35 yards, and he has breakaway speed. He was close a few times."
Later that night when pressed on who would start next week, Urban simply offered, "J.K. Weber."
The "J.K Weber" hybrid was confirmed Monday when Meyer noted Weber was back:
Q. I'm assuming that Mike Weber is going to be ready for this game?
Urban Meyer: Yes.
Q. How do you envision the rotation will be at running back?
Urban Meyer: I haven't figured that out yet. They will both play. We haven't figured the exact rotation. Mike had a good practice today. He went full speed today.
Assuming Weber is indeed 100%, the manner in which the tailback carries are divided, and if any usage trend based on play call can be discovered, will be intriguing.
Taking a pulse on Buckeye fans via 11W and various social media, a reasonable man could draw the conclusion a simple majority, at minimum, would just as soon see Dobbins take over the starting gig and only defer to Weber when in need of a blow.
I'm not as bullish – certainly not yet – on the notion of putting Weber out to pasture and obviously Meyer isn't either based on his remarks.
We're all excited about what Dobbins showcased versus the Hoosiers and while it's entirely possible he will eventually overthrow Weber as the true No. 1 tailback on this team, the fact remains Weber broke 1,000 yards last season in his first year as a starter, and did so on the strength of 6.0 yards per carry.
That 6.0 average was better than B1G contemporaries like Saquon Barkley, Justin Jackson, Corey Clement and LJ Scott, among others.
No matter who starts, instead of getting too caught up in which guy gets more carries, focus on what a luxury it is to have a proven 1,000 rusher and an up and coming guy who has All-American written on all over him. As Woody always said, you want "a pair and a spare" and it appears the Buckeyes have that in spades.
Said differently, how things shake out over the long-term is something Buckeye fans should revel in instead of fretting over.
How's that saying go again? Who's got it better than us?
