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Football
Two-Minute Drill: Meyer Brings it Strong During Call-In Show
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are just two more days before the Buckeyes take the field for the second game of the Urban Meyer era, and he is hoping they are ready.

Ohio State’s first-year head coach appeared on his weekly call-in show Thursday to discuss the upcoming game against UCF and much more.  

Injury Updates

* RB Jordan Hall is getting closer. Have to make sure it's right or he will have issues with the foot the rest of his life.

* Meyer said they will have to manage DE Nathan Williams all year. Might not be able to practice every day.

* CB Doran Grant is battling a hamstring injury, but they expect him to play Saturday.

* They plan to "mess around" with some two TE sets this week now that Heuerman is healthy. He's been hurt most off the offseason.

* Meyer said they plan to use Jamie Wood (shoulder) and Zach Domicone (knee) on special teams despite lingering injuries.

Knights Coming to Play

* Meyer said he doesn't think his players will overlook UCF. Said they are on Big Ten level, have one of the 5 best D-lines they will face this year.

* Meyer said he and his coaches are preparing as if they are going to see both spread and power from UCF this week.

Meyer Recaps Miami

* Meyer said Miami's goal was to take Hankins, Simon and Goebel out of the game and they did that for a quarter and a half.

* Big play to Devin Smith wasn't really a part of the game plan, but they wanted to take Miami out of its defense.

* Miami was bringing its free safety down into the box. Gave Smith a 1-on-1 opportunity on the outside.

* Meyer asked about the offensive line. Immediately clouded by the missed opportunity at the 1-yard line.

Dueling Quarterbacks

* Meyer said Braxton Miller has gotten away with making plays with his legs for so long. Just starting to be a QB.

* Meyer on Braxton: "It's freakish what he can do with the ball in his hands." Said the room for improvement is incredible.

* Meyer said he does have a 2 QB package but it's hard to take #5 out from behind center. Still developing it.

* Meyer had "zero hesitation" putting Kenny Guiton in the game. Said he has an incredible knowledge, but needs to get better at throwing.

* Meyer said Guiton was not a good leader or teammate. May not have survived January if he didn't change.

Offensive Notes

* The center gives the cadence in shotgun. Clap lets him know the offense is ready so he doesn't have to look back.

* Meyer said Ohio State should have one of the best offensive lines in the country and they don't. But potential is there.

* Meyer thought Reid Fragel had one of his better days at RT. I happen to agree with him.

* Meyer said Stoneburner is a hybrid player. Not fast enough to be a flex guy all the time, but played pretty good. Called his career "just OK" so far. Said they expect a lot more from him with that talent.

* Meyer called Zach Boren "the John Simon of the offense." Said he practices hurt.

* Meyer: "You give Bri'onte Dunn a chance to carry the ball and he's going to run really hard. Same with Rod Smith."

* WR Ricquan Southward was Scout Team Player of the Week after playing Nick Harwell in practice last week.

Defensive Notes

* Meyer said LB Storm Klein will not be available this week. They'll talk about next week after the game.

* Meyer said Chris Carter had his best week of practice. Down under 350 now, but he's still not capable of playing. Wasn't capable of running across the street in Jan.

* Meyer praises the play of Etienne Sabino. Said Shazier still plays like a young guy, but he runs around.

* Also said Curtis Grant still has a long way to go, but he's working hard. Will get a lot more opportunity this week.

* Meyer made sure to let Chris Spielman know his team still works extremely hard on tackling. "We work as hard as anybody." They practice tackling to the ground during preseason camp, but not really midweek practices.

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