Head coach Urban Meyer appeared before the media for the final time Wednesday in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center team room, where he addressed several key updates during his midweek press conference and previewed Saturday’s noon kickoff on Fox Sports 1 from Ohio Stadium between No. 3 Ohio State and Minnesota. With injury updates and position grades, Meyer shared his thoughts as he leads the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0) into week seven’s Big Ten battle against the Golden Gophers (3-2, 0-2).
Urban Meyer
On the tight ends…
“In the pass game, just OK. Blocking, we’re getting much better. (Sophomore) Luke (Farrell) is a first-time player. I know (junior) Rashod (Berry) played a little bit last year. Luke’s a first-time player. We want more out of (sophomore) Jake Hausmann and (freshman) Jeremy Ruckert‘s going to be an excellent tight end. So I’d grade them a B overall. That’s something that we’re still rolling with, but the pass game we need to get that more involved.”
On Ruckert’s playing time…
“(Offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Kevin) Wilson and (special assistant to the head coach Tim) Hinton work together on that, and he’s exactly what you look for in recruiting. He’s got a great future here.”
On the pass rush without junior defensive end Nick Bosa…
“Average. I think we need to get a little bit better. That ties in with our pass defense. Today was an excellent practice. You guys like (freshman defensive end) Tyreke (Smith) and (junior defensive end) Jashon (Cornell). We need more from (Cornell), I think. Obviously, (sophomore defensive end) Chase Young is an excellent pass rusher. So is (junior defensive tackle) Dre’Mont (Jones). So we just need a little bit more.”
On the comments from sophomore Dwayne Haskins that practice ahead of Indiana lacked energy…
“Excellent practice today. I wasn’t (aware). I don’t know if I would agree. Sometimes heat takes the energy out of practice. It’s a 60-degree day. So I’m not sure what he meant. I’m going to go ask him when I leave here.”
On the status of junior defensive end Jonathon Cooper…
“Not yet.”
On the pass rush between injuries to Bosa, Jones, Cooper and junior defensive tackle Robert Landers…
“It’s (frustrating) for (defensive line coach) Larry (Johnson), for everybody. That was the strength of our team. I won’t say it’s not anymore, but you start taking those names right up there out of that lineup, especially that first name you mentioned (Bosa), and that’s a difference maker, obviously. So every school’s dealing with it, every team’s dealing with it. Just keep going. What I liked about No. 11, (Smith) got his first sack last week and there’s more to come.”
On the development of Cornell…
“Just OK. I just met with him the other week and said that how do you finish. The stories around here are of guys that have finished strong. … He’s a wonderful guy, good student. He’s got his degree. He’s got ‘Real Life Wednesday’ stuff. We’ve already helped him. He’s got a nice career set up. But I’d love to have him come back here and show his children what he did on the field. The final two chapters are still being written.”
On the status of junior linebacker Malik Harrison…
“Malik Harrison, still don’t know.”
On if Harrison and Cooper are both in concussion protocol…
“Maybe. Yes.”
On the 1968 national championship team…
“I know a lot about the coaching staff. … Obviously, (Earle) Bruce was on that staff. … But I know a lot about that team. I was only 4 years old at the time, but I actually have a picture of them in my basement at the house, ’68 national championship team.”
