Ohio State blasted Michigan last weekend, but the Buckeyes still have work to do with a Big Ten Championship matchup against Northwestern on deck.
Urban Meyer, Kevin Wilson and Alex Grinch each took to 97.1 The Fan to discuss Chris Olave's recruitment and development, look back at the offensive line's dominance against Michigan and how they can rebound from Demetrius Knox's injury, and break down how Dwayne Haskins' running ability has added to the offense.
The trio also broke down Saturday's Big Ten Championship matchup with Northwestern and its stout you don't win championships by just showing up."
Here are some highlights:
Urban Meyer
On the offensive line
- "That was the biggest part of the game that was the game changer for us."
- Meyer said several units had great performances, but the offensive line was the best.
On Chris Olave
- "Chris Olave, my goodness. He's going to be a great player."
- Meyer said Ryan Day was Olave's primary recruiter. "I was not that involved. Obviously, I became involved."
- "He's got some Devin Smith speed, and the way he tracks the ball too."
On rebounding from Demetrius Knox's injury
- Wyatt Davis will start in Knox's place
- "We've been talking about him for a while. We have a ton of confidence in him."
- Meyer notes Davis is a little lighter and more athletic than Knox, but is "tough as nails."
- "The things he's lacking is experience and endurance," and Meyer said they'll monitor that.
- Urban Meyer said Branden Bowen and Josh Myers add depth to the position, but Bowen is next up.
Tim Hortons coffee with the coach question from Jane in Mansfield: as Ohio State prepares to play for a Big Ten Championship, what is the significance of playing for a Big Ten title these days?
"Ultimately, the ultimate goal is to win a Big Ten Championship and beat our rival," Meyer said.
"That's the way it is, and we take that very seriously around here," Meyer said.
Meyer said one of strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti's mantras all season is "Get to Indy." This week, it's now "Win in Indy."
On Northwestern's defense
- "They feed off of one another, so there's no weakness in their game."
- "They're one of those teams that keep everything in front of them."
- Meyer said their back seven is so disciplined and smart it makes big plays difficult
On Northwestern's offense
- "Statistically, they're not great, but production has been there all season."
- Clayton Thorson is a veteran at quarterback.
- Meyer notes hey do a lot of crossing routes and hurt Ohio State last year.
- "Their last few games have been outstanding."
On Dwayne Haskins running the football
- "You don't have to be the J.T., but there's got to be a threat."
- Meyer said the threat of a running quarterback keeps the defense "clean" so they can't just key in on the running backs.
- "Every school – everybody has a guy that can do that."
- "That was by far his best game."
On the three senior wide receivers
- "You can't have favorites, but everyone knows I have favorites."
- Meyer said he loves Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin.
- "It's what you see, but it's also what you don't see."
- Meyer praised a guy like Terry McLaurin for the development of younger players like Chris Olave. "He sees Terry go to work every day."
- "Their value for this program is immense."
On the punt block
- Meyer notes that Greg Schiano came up with the punt block along with quality control coach Parker Fleming.
- Meyer was not confident it would be successful because he thought the twist took too long to develop, and Michigan's punt timing is between 2.1 and 2.2 seconds.
- They wanted to do a punt block, and Meyer made the signal, but Schiano called the twist instead of the one Meyer wanted "I didn't have time to overrule him."
- Meyer was upset, but it worked out.
- "All of the sudden I hear a 'thump, thump' and all the players go crazy and Greg Schiano has a big smile on his face.
On Parris Campbell
- "We've been fortunate at that position. We've had some elite players."
- Meyer mentions Robert Redd at Bowling Green, Paris Warren at Utah, Percy Harvin at Florida, and here they had Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson and now Parris Campbell."
- "He was unrecruited out of high school. He'll tell you he was recruited – he was not."
- Meyer said they found him when they were scouting Dante Booker.
- Meyer notes that Jaelen Gill is coming on and seems to be the future at the position.
On Terry McLaurin
- "We should have a Terry McLaurin segment on here."
- "He's a guy that's a good as there is."
- "I just can't wait to follow his future ... There's nothing Terry McLaurin can't do."
On Malik Harrison
- "Malik played fantastic."
- "He's been getting better and better and better."
- Meyer notes that he's seen the improvement from Harrison in practice."
Kevin Wilson
On Dwayne Haskins running
- "As always, we just try to be smart about it."
- "He's actually bigger than you think, and more powerful."
- "He's not maybe the most natural runner ... I think as he's played, he's become more comfortable."
- Earlier in the year, they didn't want Haskins to get hit a lot because they didn't know how good he was as a runner and they don't have a ton of depth at the quarterback position.
On Northwestern's defense
- "We're seeing a team that's playing good."
- Kevin Wilson notes that they played both Michigan and Notre Dame close.
- "They make you work, they make you earn it."
- "Statistically, they're in the upper half of the Big Ten."
- "They tackle well."
- "They're actually best or second best in the conference in giving up touchdowns in the red zone."
- "It's going to be a challenge."
- "This is going to be as tough or tougher – you don't win championships by just showing up."
Alex Grinch
On Northwestern's offense
- "They do a great job and it starts with the quarterback."
- Grinch praised Thorson's ability to extend the play to throw the ball.
- "It will be a real challenge for us."
On the big hits in the secondary
- Grinch said playing zone helped set up some of those big hits.
- Grinch said the key is to mix in zone when you primarily play zone to keep the offense on is toes
On Northwestern running back Isaiah Bowser
- "He's a load."
- Grinch said they key to brining him down is gang tackling him and not making guys make one-on-one tackles.
- "Do the best job we can to get him on the ground before he gets going."
