Carlos Hyde and the Buckeyes are on track to go undefeated again. (Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)
Ohio State continues to charge forward, leading the Big Ten and staying on the fringe in the BCS discussion about the potential combatants in the National Championship Game.
The Buckeyes went 12-0 last year, their first season under head coach Urban Meyer, and they have won nine straight to open the 2013 season. Looking out over the landscape, Meyer sees some distinct differences in the two units.
“We’re a better team,” Meyer said about the 2013 edition of the Buckeyes. “We’re a better functioning team. I don’t want to ever disrespect our seniors from last year. But we’re just more functional, certainly on offense. On defense I’m not sure we’re quite as good. Remember this time last year is when we hit the accelerator and we played excellent defense.”
The Ohio State defense, which this week hopes to wrap up Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase and limit his surprisingly effective passing attack, earns some kudos from Meyer, especially since that group got cleaned out by graduation.
“I understand we’re in the top 10 in the country in defense, rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense, and that’s pretty good, with replacing nine starters,” Meyer said about the Silver Bullets defense.
But Meyer, ever pushing for more despite his team’s perfect record, qualified those comments.
“We are getting a little better on defense,” he said. “Comparing the teams to last year, I think that’s an interesting conversation, but we’re just more functional, certainly on offense. We’re much better on offense than we were a year ago. Defensively, so I’m not sure. And special teams, we’re much better this year.”
One thing Meyer won’t involve himself with at this point, as he prepares to face an Illinois team that has lost 19 straight Big Ten games, is the post-season speculation over where the Buckeyes might end up in the BCS shuffle. Meyer said it’s not about style points or trying to impress the poll voters.
“It’s win the game,” Meyer said about the focus each week. “But the message is you have to play great. We do. I mean, to be even mentioned with those other teams, be careful what you wish for. That means you have to practice and play at a certain level. So that’s all I mentioned to our team.”
Meyer said he works each week, regardless of who the opponent is, to keep his team grounded and humble.
“I expect them to play, we all expect them to play, at a very high level, because you’re mentioned in the same breath with some very, very good teams,” Meyer said. “And to maintain that status you have to play very well. Very well.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
–OT Jack Mewhort is the best of a premium group of offensive linemen the Buckeyes have this season. His coach expects Mewhort to be playing on Sundays next season. “Jack Mewhort has turned himself into a definite high level pro prospect. He’s one of the best leaders I’ve been around,” Meyer said. “He’s a tough guy that I like to think that when people say that Ohio State is a tough program, then he’s kind of the benchmark.”
–TE Jeff Heuerman showed the Big Ten what he is capable of in the recent win over Purdue, grabbing five passes for 116 yards. Heuerman had a 40-yard grab, and four of his catches went for first downs.
–RB Carlos Hyde has 701 rushing yards in six games. After sitting out the first three games serving a suspension, Hyde has taken off. He averages 132 yard per game in Big Ten competition. Hyde is one of just two regular players nationally that has not had a negative carry this season.
–PK Drew Basil has been perfect this season. He has hit 7 of 7 on field goals and 52 of 52 on extra points. Basil has a streak of 96 consecutive made extra points, a school record.
–P Cameron Johnston, a freshman, ranks second in the nation in the percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line, with 61.5 percent of his punts pinning the opponents deep in their own territory. More than 25 percent of his punts have been downed inside the 10 yard-line.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’re nowhere where we need to be as far as the expectation level of the linebacker play here. When you think of the great linebackers that have played here … over the last decade, some of the linebackers were as good as any in the country, and they played at Ohio State. We need to get back to that.” — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer on his expectations for his linebackers.
