In his final press conference previewing Saturday's game against Penn State on Wednesday evening at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he likes where his team is at with three days to go until the big game.
He also said, however, that the team's work getting ready for the Nittany Lions is far from over. He said the Buckeyes aren't focusing on the stage or storylines of the game, but instead has a pinpoint focus on execution.
"We're still not finished preparing," Meyer said. "It's a very good team we're playing, so we're going to use every ounce of preparation we can."
Here's what else you need to know from Meyer's meeting with the media:
- Is it fair to say this is the biggest game of J.T. Barrett's career? "No, I don't think it's fair to say that ... I don't think athletes look at it that way ... I know coaches don't."
- Fall camp was when J.K. Dobbins first really caught Meyer's eyes with his jump-cutting ability.
- Meyer believes the biggest thing that makes Barkley special is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He believes Dobbins has that same kind of ability.
- Dobbins has the ability to be a kickoff returner, but Ohio State hasn't used him there because of Parris Campbell's ability in that area.
- Meyer thinks it is appealing to recruits when Ohio State wears alternate uniforms. He keeps a black jersey in his office because of that appeal.
- Meyer believes Barrett's 2014 game at Penn State, which he played on a sprained MCL, will be a lasting part of his Ohio State legacy.
- Is it fun to watch two quarterbacks like Barrett and Trace McSorley do battle? The only fun is looking up and seeing a lead on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
- Ohio State tight end Marcus Baugh, who Meyer has considered an "underachiever" in the past, has "really been playing well" in recent weeks. The Buckeyes' other tight end, Rashod Berry, is a "freakish" athlete.
- Any injuries to worry about for the Buckeyes this week? "We're good to go."
- Meyer reiterated that he likes his personnel on kickoff coverage, but the Buckeyes have been working on adjusting and improving their kicking.
Check back with Eleven Warriors later this evening for further coverage from Ohio State.
