Urban Meyer got the first glimpse of what the 2017 Football Buckeyes might look like this fall and it's so far, so good.
"As most coaches do I feel very good about the first practice," Meyer said. "They're really excited to be out there running around. I hope we have that same zip in practice 12 or in the middle of August. I'd put it as a great first day but there are a lot of great first days out there."
One of the story lines this spring will be the direction of the offense under the new offensive coordinator and former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson. He takes over a Buckeye offense that was shutout by Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl--the first time in Urban Meyer's career that he's had a team get blanked. Meyer brought Wilson on board in January, along with new quarterback coach Ryan Day and has been enjoying the offensive staff meetings.
"There's some fun things you get to do and some non-fun things you get to do, in the coaches world, that's fun for us," Meyer said. "The (offensive) coaches get in there and you watch video tape of other programs or of (the new coaches) programs and say 'how does that fit our offense?'"
Meyer expects it to fit very well, complimenting both Wilson and Day for blending in and enhancing the Ohio State staff. The two new offensive minds inherit an accomplished returning starter at quarterback in J.T. Barrett. The senior to be seems destined to re-write the Ohio State offensive record books but was often criticized last year when the Buckeye offense struggled at times to find consistency--especially in the pass game.
"I just want to see more accuracy," Meyer said when asked what he would like to see Barrett improve upon this spring. "We went back and looked at our best games that we've had here....and the one common denominator in all those games was we hit the deep ball. It's who we are. We're going to pound the football at you and we're going to go over the top. When that works, life is pretty good."
Barrett has already made history. He has been named a team captain again, making him the first three time captain in Ohio State football history. Also named captains already are seniors Tyquan Lewis and Billy Price.
To watch Urban Meyer's press conference following the first practice, click on the link here.