Coach's Show Recap: Urban Meyer and Alex Grinch Talk Penn State's Offense, Ohio State's Young Safeties, and Developing a Defensive Gameplan

If you haven't heard, there's a big game this weekend.

The Buckeyes head to State College on Saturday night to face No. 9 Penn State in raucous white out Happy Valley in an early season contest that could decide the fate of the Big Ten East division.

Urban Meyer and co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch took to 97.1 The Fan's radio waves to preview what could be Ohio State's biggest game of the season, discussing Penn State's prolific offense, its second half surges, and what goes into developing a defensive game plan.

Here are some of the highlights:

Urban Meyer

On Dwayne Haskins' accuracy

• He is a very accurate passer.
• Called it a "cumulative effect" of the offensive line, receivers and the running backs
• Said Tulane made a decision to stop the run, and Haskins made them pay.

On all the receivers stepping up

• "That's going to be a big part of what we do and who we are."
• "If we isolate and they give us single coverage, we have to hit them. And so far we have."

Tim Horton's coffee with the coach question from Francis in North Kingsville: What makes the receivers so good this season?

"We have three captains, and I have to say that's maybe never happened before," Meyer said of having three captains in one position group.

Meyer said what sets the receivers apart is their selfishness. He said what most people don't see is that blocking sets up a lot of the big plays, especially on screen passes.

Scouting Penn State

• "You'd think there'd be a drop off when Barkley left, but you can't see a difference on tape," Meyer said. "You just change a number."
• Meyer praised the Penn State offensive line.
• "It's a Penn State football team, and it's a very good team.
• "Top to bottom, one of the best defenses in the country."

On the defensive performance last week

• Davon Hamilton played his best game.
• "Our linebackers are playing better and better."
• Said Tuf Borland is no longer on a pitch count.
• On the cornerbacks: "This will be a challenge for them this week."

On Penn State's second-half surges

• "They've got very good quality depth."
• "They're somewhat close games, then their depth kind of takes over in the second half."
• Said those opponents have not been able to match their depth in the second half.

On Demario McCall

• "At running back he's just not quite big enough but he's getting stronger over the years.
• "He's actually really improved at receiver, too."
• "You'll probably see him this week."

On freshmen getting playing time

• "You've got that four-game redshirt rule, and we're still evaluating that."
• "Blue Smith has had a couple good weeks of practice."
• Chris Olave, Gant, Tyreke Smith, Tyler Friday and Taron Vincent are all guys who will not redshirt this year.
• "Freshmen, you come here to play."

On the Patriots signing John Simon

• "He got that nice contract, which he deserved."
• Meyer called him one of his favorite players.
• "He's at the right place with the right coach in New England, and I'm really happy for him."

Alex Grinch

On creating a stout defense

• Highlighted the importance of "gap integrity."
• "Any issues we've had on defense this year have stemmed from a lack of gap integrity."
• "There's a finishing aspect to it too," Grinch said of making a tackle.

On developing a defensive game plan

• "There's got to be carry over on a week-to-week basis."
• "We've seen several different styles, but what's important from a staff perspective is that there's commonalities"
• "What you're trying not to do is to be so specific to the opponent that there's no carryover from the week before."
• You want the game plan to work, but the players to be comfortable and confident.
• "If you make it too simple, you're also making it too simple on your opponents."

On the safeties

• "You're talking about all young players."
• They're all sophomores and Shaun Wade is a redshirt freshman.
• The key is week-to-week improvement, and not just on Saturdays.
• "If this Thursday's practice is no better than last Thursday's, we've got problems"
• "It all should culminate with the best Saturday of the year."
• "I think we're trending in the right direction."
• "We have to make sure our best Saturday is this Saturday."

On Penn State's offense

• "Tremendous skill, big up front, athletic up front."
• "Everything starts with the quarterback. His ability to make a bad play good is just alarming."
• "He's going to make sure he gets positive yardage."
• "There's not a whole lot of drop off from the run game a year ago."
• "They have a system, they believe in their system, and nobody's seemed to have an answer so far this year."

On Trace McSorley

• "If you don't corral him early, his ability to scramble out... Now all of the sudden a five-yard route turns into a 15-yard route.
• "What's so special is his ability to throw the deep ball, as well."
• "He makes it all go. It's a real challenge."
• For every spy taht you have on the quarterback, it's one less guy rushing him or one less guy in coverage.
• "What you can't do is let him scramble for 20 or 25 yard gains and make you pay for having good coverage."

On defending tempo

• "In college football now, you really have to be a down ahead," Grinch said of calling defensive plays
• You have to get your next call in before the current play is even over.
• "It's almost impossible"
• "That's also why you see the score board looking like it does."
• "It's hard, and tempo is part of that."

No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Penn State kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.