Urban Meyer and Ohio State are moving headfirst to the latter portions of spring drills. The Buckeyes had their ninth of 16 installments Tuesday morning at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Meyer met with the media briefly afterwards.
Notes:
- Meyer fell asleep watching the NCAA Basketball Championship Monday night, but woke up and saw the end. He added he wishes to one day go back and watch the TV versions of Ohio State's games because he never has that opportunity: "It's just a great thing with all that hype for those young people."
- Asked about recruiting between Michigan and Ohio State, Meyer said the staff recruited players like Damon Webb, Michael Jordan and Mike Weber harder than others because it was against their rival.
- "I don't have to preach much to J.T., he's smarter than I am ... He understands what we're trying to do." — Meyer on reps in the spring for returning starters, but Barrett taking more snaps than most in the 2,000-rep club.
- It is "much more difficult" for Barrett to get better with so many top receivers out due to injuries.
- Meyer was "very disappointed" in his staff for not offering Kentucky signee Landon Young and did see the latter's comments last week.
- More on recruiting, Ohio State "can't offer 100 players from our state. Some people say 'Why didn't you offer this guy?' It's hard to do sometimes."
- Ohio State must be careful to offer in-state guys for fear they commit too soon. The Buckeyes offer some out of state guys "to get in the game soon."
- Meyer thinks the fact players like Taylor Decker, Eli Apple and Mike Thomas are still around helping the younger players is what separates Ohio State from other programs: "I just love to see that. That doesn't happen everywhere."
- Michael Hill is fighting through a nagging ankle injury. Meyer thinks the progress of the defensive line has been "just OK" this spring, but Davon Hamilton and Robert Landers have improved plenty. Jashon Cornell and Dre'Mont Jones are also in the rotation as it sits right now, Meyer said.
- Meyer also mentioned Jalyn Holmes is "making a push" and Sam Hubbard is "doing really well." Added Hubbard must be a guy that steps in and becomes a star next season.
- Meyer plans on shutting down practice both Thursday and Saturday this week because Ohio State "has to get better now." Last week was about getting as much chaos on the table to see how players respond and now this week is about deciding who will play and who will not play: "We have to make some decisions around here."
- Meyer said there are three reasons you're not playing well: 1. You're not a good player, which is a surprise considering what level you're at; 2. You're not being coached well enough; and 3. There's something wrong with chemistry in the unit room, in your life and how you're getting rest or not thinking about football. Meyer said 90 percent of the issues revolve around No. 3: "That's a very complicated — it's something we spend an inordinate amount of time on, is why isn't that kid playing well."
- In the spring of 2014 is when guys like Darron Lee, Steve Miller, Eli Apple and others "really showed up" and became a huge part of the title run. He's anxious to see if that happens this spring.
- Johnnie Dixon had his best scrimmage Saturday. Meyer joked "probably his first scrimmage" due to his knee injuries.
- The other wide receivers like Austin Mack and James Clark have impressed him as well. Meyer also mentioned Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell.
- Last year's quarterback competition was "fantastic" because both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones pushed one another: "We'd rather have a lot of depth and guys pushing each other to be better."
