"It's invaluable. I can't tell you enough. That was one of the concerns we talked about. He's the guy, he's the eyes and ears off the field on the sideline. If we didn't have him, per se, like Alabama week, it's a different story. And he's an understanding voice, he knows what the defense is doing, and he understands it offensive-line wise. So to be up top ... it's not the same."
- Ohio State offensive lineman Billy Price via Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group
Despite Ed Warinner being promoted to offensive coordinator for Ohio State in 2015, as discussed prior, the assistant coach is going to remain on the sidelines during games in the upcoming season. Warinner also works with the offensive linemen, and because of the way he has coached the linemen up to this point, the team collectively felt it was best to keep the coach on the sideline. Typically, offensive coordinators are up in a box high up in stadiums, to have a bird's eye view of the field.
At Ohio State, Warinner won't be the only coach calling plays. As coach Urban Meyer has stated in the past, calling plays for the offense is a combined effort from the head coach, the offensive coordinator, and various assistant coaches communicating with the headsets. It makes sense for Warinner to continue to want to stay close to the players for as much progress the offensive line made during last season.
"'We can't rotate 10 guys. Why do they have better players than we do? Why are they better coached than we are?' Because we have to ask that question. We're Ohio State, so we should have 10 guys rotate in there."
- Urban Meyer via Tim May, The Columbus Dispatch
Urban Meyer has been critical of Ohio State's defensive line situation so far this spring. Even since last season, Meyer has preached about having better depth on the defensive line and nothing has changed - except for the Buckeyes losing Michael Bennett and Steve Miller. Meyer's quote above was his response to when he recalled talking to Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen and found out that the Bulldogs could rotate 10 different players on the defensive line.
Understandably, Meyer wasn't very happy to hear that in regards to the situation with Ohio State. Coach Meyer wants the Buckeyes to get to a point where they can rotate 10 players on the line, as they should already be there. If Mississippi State can field 10 players in a rotation, Ohio State should certainly be able to.
"Ohio State wideout Michael Thomas, the team's leading returning receiver, will undergo surgery soon to repair a sports hernia, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday."
- Brian Bennett, ESPN
During Urban Meyer's press conference on Tuesday, the Ohio State head coach revealed that Ohio State wide receiver Michael Thomas would undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia. Meyer also shared that Thomas had been bothered by the injury since the national championship game against Oregon. The team's leading returning receiver is expected to make a full recovery by the start of the season.
Last season, Thomas hauled in 54 receptions for 799 yards and nine touchdowns. After a somewhat disappointing start to his career as a Buckeye, Thomas emerged as a go-to receiver for J.T. Barrett and then later Cardale Jones. The nephew of Keyshawn Johnson is set to have another big year for the Buckeyes in 2015, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
"I don't know about that, but you might have a specialty quarterback."
- Urban Meyer on quarterback battle via Brian Bennett, ESPN
With the quarterback competition heating up at Ohio State between Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, some discussion has started about the possibility of using a multiple-quarterback system. Since Meyer has a considerable amount of experience working with multiple quarterbacks and one starting spot (Chris Leak and Tim Tebow at Florida), it might make sense for the Buckeyes to run a similar offense.
When coach Meyer was asked about it, he offered up the quote above, implying he might not use the exact format he used at Florida for Ohio State. With one starting job, two tremendous players are going to be on the sideline watching. With that in mind, it could be beneficial to play more than one, even if that means at a different position or having a different role altogether.
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