With no Wednesday press conference at Ohio State this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer held his final scheduled question-and-answer session with the media prior to Saturday's game against Michigan on Tuesday's Big Ten coaches teleconference.
As Ohio State prepares to play the Wolverines, it would appear that the easier preparation would come on the defensive side of the ball, as Michigan's offense has struggled this season, scoring 13 points or less in each of its three losses. Meyer, however, says he is concerned about what Michigan does in the run game.
"Their tailback's an outstanding player, and their interior offensive line is really, really good," Meyer said.
Ohio State's defense also has to deal with the prospect of potentially facing one of multiple quarterbacks in this week's game, as Michigan starter Brandon Peters remains questionable to play as he goes through concussion protocol. Meyer said he does not believe that will affect defensive coordinator Greg Schiano's preparation drastically, though, because Peters and John O'Korn are similar quarterbacks and the Wolverines don't make major changes to their scheme based on which quarterback is playing.
Here's what else you need to know from Meyer's appearance on the teleconference:
- Meyer declined to answer a question about preparing for and coaching against Heisman frontrunner Baker Mayfield: "We're playing The Team Up North."
- Maurice Hurst is one of Michigan's best players, if not the best player.
- Dante Booker will be cleared to play this week and will practice today.
- On J.T. Barrett playing Michigan for a fourth time: "This is going to be a critical game for his career."
- Meyer said he took what he learned about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry from being a graduate assistant at Ohio State to how he approached rivalry games at the other schools he has coached at.
- The Buckeyes will spend a lot working on special teams this week. Meyer said Michigan's kickoff unit is "outstanding" and the Wolverines are aggressive in their efforts to try to block punts.
- Meyer believes winning The Game has an implication on recruiting, but not necessarily a big implication.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh also appeared on the Big Ten teleconference Tuesday and fielded a variety of questions about playing Ohio State and the rivalry. A sampling of what Harbaugh had to say:
- On recruiting in Ohio: "It's good football there, and they're well-trained. We aspire to get the best student-athletes and best football players to come to Michigan."
- Ohio State's offense is "very, very good," Harbaugh said. "Very good at all phases of offense." Ohio State's ability to both run and pass "puts pressure on a defense" and forces Michigan to be balanced in its game planning.
- Ohio State's offensive line is "very impressive."
- Harbaugh believes that players' understanding of and appreciation for the rivalry actually grows after they are done playing in it: "I think the more they're in it, the more that they get it."
- On Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst's improvement in his senior year: "He's got an intensity about him, a motor. He's really refined his technique, his fundamentals. I think he's even grown into his own style of play that is very good, very disruptive. To have the size he does and the initial quickness and tenacity that he has, he has all those things. He's a really great example of somebody who's developed ... It would be an understatement to say valuable member of the team. He is a valuable, valuable football player."
- Harbaugh isn't worried about having to prepare multiple quarterbacks for Saturday's game, with Brandon Peters being questionable due to concussion protocol, because the Wolverines have prepared multiple quarterbacks for each game all season.
Notes from the conference's other 12 coaches' appearances on the final Big Ten teleconference of the regular season:
Chris Ash (Rutgers)
- The Scarlet Knights have "a lot to play for" this Saturday against Michigan State as they look for their fourth Big Ten win, a feat that has not been achieved since Rutgers joined the conference.
- Ash is pleased with the leadership and production that the Scarlet Knights have gotten out of their graduate transfers this season.
- On the decision to voluntarily leave his job at Ohio State and become Rutgers' head coach: "It was a very, very tough decision to leave that situation. The job had to be right, and it had to be one that had potential, it was in a great league, it was in a recruiting base, you had the right support. So from that standpoint, I feel really good about where we're at, what we're doing and the decision we made to come here to Rutgers, but it's a hard one, no doubt, because you've got relationships with coaches, with players. You got family that enjoyed where they live and their neighbors and all that, so there's a lot that goes into it."
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin)
- Chryst said his decision to leave Pitt and become Wisconsin's coach after the 2014 season was made easier by talking to Pitt's players and being reassured by them that they would be OK without him.
- Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy, who is out for the season due to injury with a torn ACL, "has an amazing outlook on things," Chryst said. "Cich never makes it about himself, and is still contributing. He cares about this group. It's a lot different than he pictured contributing in his senior year, but nonetheless he's had an impact. He's finding ways to be a significant contributor." Chryst declined comment on whether Cichy will apply for a medical redshirt or attempt to play in the NFL next year.
- Chryst has "a lot of respect for what he's done in his coaching career" for Minnesota's P.J. Fleck, who Wisconsin faces this weekend.
Mike Riley (Nebraska)
- On what will presumably be his final appearance on the Big Ten coaches teleconference, Riley received no questions.
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State)
- On Chris Ash, as Michigan State prepares to face Rutgers this week: "I think Coach Ash is an excellent coach and has a plan."
- On building the identity of a program: "I think what you do is you start from scratch and you start building it one player at a time and one person at a time."
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
- On tight end Noah Fant, who scored two touchdowns against Ohio State: "He's really done a lot of good things this year, and we're hoping that he can finish this year strong and then just continue to grow."
- On Penn State running back Saquon Barkley: "I can't remember a more impactful player that we've played during my 19 years here." Said Barkley is one of the two most dynamic player he remembers facing, along with former Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El.
P.J. Fleck (Minnesota)
- Fleck said the toughest part of his decision to leave Western Michigan for Minnesota was how it would affect his children having to move, but that changing jobs was an expectation he had when entering the profession.
- On rivalry game with Wisconsin: "It's a very important game. Always has been, always will be."
- "The hardest change that has to be made is by those seniors" when there is a coaching change. Fleck is "really, really proud" of the leadership Minnesota's seniors have demonstrated in his first year there.
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
- Fitzgerald opened his Thanksgiving week appearance on the teleconference by giving thanks to the media for their coverage of Big Ten football. "We appreciate what you do for our game, and wish everyone the best of luck in their future professional endeavors. I know it's a challenging time here in the media world, and we're just very thankful here on Thanksgiving week for the coverage that you give our programs and our young men and our assistant coaches."
- On Illinois coach Lovie Smith, who Northwestern faces this week: "He's just been terrific, as a friend first of all ... he's a true pro's pro. I'm a big fan of his except one game, obviously this week."
- Fitzgerald believes Penn State running back Saquon Barkley has the talent to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft if he declares.
Lovie Smith (Illinois)
- Smith returned the favor and praised Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald: "Any team that Pat Fitzgerald is leading, you can expect a certain type of play."
- Smith acknowledges that his team has not played its best football this season, but is hopeful that the rivalry game with Northwestern will bring out the best in his team.
- Smith did not receive any questions from the media.
D.J. Durkin (Maryland)
- Is there any reason to play a game on a day other than Saturday in the Big Ten? "I don't think so. I like the format of high school is meant for Friday and college on Saturday and the NFL on Sunday. It fits pretty good. It makes sense to me."
Jeff Brohm (Purdue)
- Brohm said he is open to playing games on any day, but playing on Saturdays is his preference too: "I think all of us like the Saturday games the best. Without question, that's when college football games are supposed to be played."
- Brohm believes the Big Ten is similar now, in his first year as Purdue coach, than it was when he was last in the league in 2011 as Illinois' quarterback coach. "There's probably three or four elite teams, and there's others that are working hard to catch up."
James Franklin (Penn State)
- Franklin said he expects Penn State wide receiver Dae'Sean Hamilton to have a bright future in the NFL.
Tom Allen (Indiana)
- Allen doesn't think winning the rivalry game with Purdue is the main factor in winning in-state recruiting battles with the Boilermakers, but he does believe it is a factor.
