With his team’s preparations for a trip to Purdue winding down, Urban Meyer confirmed injuries have had a ripple effect on the second-ranked Buckeyes lately.
“The scout team starts getting watered down because you take your redshirt guys or potential redshirt guys and start moving them into those backup roles and then the trickle-down effect takes place this time of year,” said the Ohio State football coach.
» WEEK 8 COVERAGE: Ohio State hoping to get healthier | Buckeyes happy to be 7-0 heading to Purdue
While acknowledging that has impacted practice, he also pointed out it is not unique to Ohio State.
“Any time you’re in week seven or week eight, whatever it is, you’ll have some of that you’re dealing with,” Meyer said. “It does impact practiced quite a bit to be honest with you.”
Meyer also covered a handful of other topics during his mid-week media checkin:
- Meyer was reluctant to go into detail about what he told his team about Nick Bosa's decision to withdraw from school to prepare for the NFL draft, but he did again express gratitude to Nick and his brother Joey for their contributions to the program. "They're great people. They've done so much for us. We all love 'em to death and wish them well."
» MORE ON BOSA: Players respond | Photos of Bosa brothers | Twitter reacts | Hartman’s analysis
- Interim receivers coach Brian Hartline continues to perform well after replacing Zach Smith right before the start of training camp. "He was here for a year before and he's very good technically obviously because that's how he made a living for a while in the NFL. Where he's improved is the tactical part." Hartline brings instant credibility since he has been in their shoes as a player at Ohio State and in the NFL.
- Asked if players practice one-handed caches like the one K.J. Hill made Saturday against Minnesota, Meyer said yes. "It's more having fun. You don't go out practicing one-handers."
- He had high praise for Tyreke Smith, a true freshman defensive end whose role has expanded throughout the year. "Tyreke is just getting better and better. He's got a great future. Great future." While true freshmen rarely playin the trenches in the Big Ten, "Tyreke's a very gifted guy. He's also very mature, very intelligent."
- He described Purdue coach Jeff Brohm as, "very aggressive and creative."
LISTEN: Urban Meyer, Jeff Brohm preview OSU-Purdue on Big Ten teleconference https://t.co/UrJYX3AIU8 pic.twitter.com/XSuAj6n5gb
— daytonsports (@daytonsports) October 17, 2018
- Regarding Ohio State's red zone offense troubles, Meyer confirmed they have to redo their plan when they get close to the goal line because stuff they can do from farther out won't always work without the same space to operate.
- "The whole field condenses and you don't have the vertical stretch passes, so it's much different. We're not the only people who have some issues down there. The single-wing style of football is still very productive there. That's why you see some people doing the Wildcat. Throwing, you've got to be creative and be very good. We at times are very good and at other times are not."
- Right tackle Isaiah Prince was having one of his better games to start out last week before having trouble with Minnesota's Carter Coughlin as the game wore on. "But he rallied back and finished well," Meyer said.
Ohio State faces Purdue on Saturday night at 7:30 in West Lafayette.
Ohio State football coaches have same concerns as everyone else https://t.co/HV1QemWDcn
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) October 17, 2018
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