OSU Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The quest for perfection is greater than the need for revenge.

But Ohio State is certainly aware of what happened against Purdue last year, and in some cases the veterans are still stinging from another loss in the series two years before that.

So while the search for retribution doesn't seem nearly as urgent as it did before games against Michigan State and Nebraska earlier this season, the Buckeyes are obviously trying to continue their trend of shutting down losing streaks to Big Ten opponents before they can ever start.

"It’s definitely a chip on our shoulder," cornerback Bradley Roby said. "When you go into a game, it’s like, ‘We lost to these guys last year, we can’t lose to them this year.’

"Especially last year we felt like we should have won the game, so it gives you more of an incentive to go out there and make plays and win the game more dominantly [after] a loss the year before."

Going back nearly a decade, the Buckeyes have used that mindset to consistently battle back in those situations to settle the score -- which they've already done twice this year alone.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The opportunity is still there, especially at linebacker.

Now the Ohio State freshmen just have to stay healthy.

Expected to help fill the void on defense after the loss of senior Etienne Sabino, a handful of young Buckeyes instead had to deal with injuries leading up to last week's trip to Indiana and ultimately didn't make an impact in the 52-49 win.

But the Buckeyes could still use some help from guys like Joshua Perry and Camren Williams, though they appear to have found a short-term fix for their depth issues by moving fullback Zach Boren over to lend a hand on defense. As it turned out, the real impact for the freshman class came up front against the Hoosiers.

Noah Spence

• Position: Defensive end
• Stats sheet: Five tackles
• What it means: Pressed into action after Nathan Williams was scratched due to a concussion, Spence had easily the most productive game of his young career against the Hoosiers. The pass-rushing talent didn't make any plays behind the line of scrimmage, but he played with good effort and ran down the ball to limit gains on a handful of short passes by the Hoosiers and could have earned a larger role heading into the stretch run of the season.
• He said it: "The guy that played very well is Noah Spence, so the thing you have to ask yourself, OK, Noah Spence and Nathan Williams play the same position, so let’s have a conversation about that -- and we are. How do you get them both on the field at the same time is the conversation. If they’re the best 11, 4-3, 3-4, whatever, get them on the field. We’re good enough coaches, let’s figure it out. I’m not saying that’s happening, we’re just identifying who the best 11 players are and putting the puzzle together." -- coach Urban Meyer

Joshua Perry

• Position: Linebacker
• Stats sheet: No tackles
• What it means: The Buckeyes still have Perry listed on the depth chart as the starter in place of Sabino, just like last week before an undisclosed injury kept him from moving into the rotation against the Hoosiers and lending a hand. It may still be too early in the week for the Buckeyes to know for sure if he'll be able to fill in against Purdue, but they could certainly use his blend of size at 6-foot-4 and athleticism to help patch up the defense.
• He said it: "He got hurt on either Tuesday or Wednesday, I want to say Tuesday when the whole shift with Zach went on. ... Josh Perry is also going to be [a contributor] -- we're just dealing with young kids and they have to play better." -- Meyer

Tommy Schutt

• Position: Defensive tackle
• Stats sheet: 1 tackle
• What it means: The 6-2, 295-pound athlete hadn't made a tackle since the season-opening win over Miami (Ohio), but he snapped that streak with a stuff on a fourth-quarter run by the Hoosiers. It's a small sample size of plays, obviously, and it's just one takedown. But getting Schutt some experience on the inside should only help the Buckeyes moving forward given his impressive credentials coming out of high school.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The focal point hasn’t changed.

Opposing defenses still have to account for Braxton Miller first and foremost to stop Ohio State on the ground, though even with extra attention the sophomore has proven plenty capable of busting big plays.

But when the Buckeyes are able to expand the arsenal around Miller and roll out additional weapons in the running game, that not only makes the quarterback more effective, it also turns an entire attack into a unit that is built to perform like few others in the country.

Ohio State now has a player who has developed into a tackle-breaking machine in running back Carlos Hyde and a backup from the same mold in Rod Smith. It has a reliable pitch-man in Corey “Philly” Brown for an outlet on the perimeter. And then there’s Miller, who is equally effective on the edge or bursting right up the middle. The group has helped the Buckeyes demolish defenses with 724 rushing yards and nine touchdowns over the last two games heading into Saturday’s home date with Purdue.

“The run game is predicated on being able to be physical and run the ball inside the tackles, create some conflict,” running backs coach Stan Drayton said. “Then the next thing the defense is going to do is try to load the box, so when they load the box, the next part of the offense is to be able to attack the perimeter -- and not just with one guy, but potentially two guys.

“That’s the essence of spread football in the run game, and we definitely have the personnel to fit it.”

That’s particularly true at quarterback for Ohio State’s version of the spread, which needs a triggerman who can stress the defense. Miller is certainly doing that in his second season as a starter with the Buckeyes, having rushed for 912 yards and nine touchdowns already while adding yet another component to the offense by throwing for 1,271 yards and 11 TDs.

He might only be getting started as he continues to learn new coach Urban Meyer’s offense while the Buckeyes recruit and develop talent to put more weapons around him. But even with the group he has with him now, Ohio State is already grinding up defenses at a rate that is hard to match.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Quick hitters from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer after his weekly appearance on the Big Ten teleconference on Tuesday afternoon.

All or nothing: A possible touchdown hit the turf for the second time, and Braxton Miller had to spin around to catch a video replay to believe it.

The favorite target of the Ohio State quarterback turned in two more big plays in the passing game and found the end zone at the end of both of his receptions, but Devin Smith could have doubled up to four touchdowns if not for relatively avoidable drops on Saturday at Indiana.

And while the Buckeyes don't have too much to complain about the sophomore's development into the best downfield threat on the roster or his six touchdowns this season, they would obviously like to tap into a bit more consistency with a receiver who is seemingly just as likely to make the highlight reel as let an easy ball slip away from him.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A glance at the Ohio State players named to preseason watch lists and how they performed in a 52-49 win on the road against Indiana to stay undefeated and move up to No. 7 in the AP poll:

QB Braxton Miller, So. (Maxwell, O'Brien): The Hoosiers had a few answers for the multipurpose threat on the option, but not nearly enough to stop him from breaking another long touchdown run and having one more enormous game in the spread offense. Miller complemented his 149 rushing yards with 211 through the air, tacking on a pair of touchdown throws to keep his name in the conversation for the major awards.

DE John Simon, Sr. (Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski, Lott IMPACT): A quick-hitting attack kept the Buckeyes from getting to the quarterback much, though Simon got close a few times, as usual. Even without a sack, he kept his recent run of success in the backfield going with another tackle for a loss to run his tally to 8.5 this season.

DT Johnathan Hankins, Jr. (Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski, Outland): Much like his buddy on the end, the defensive tackle wasn't able to do much damage statistically against the Hoosiers. But Hankins also found a way to make the most of the few plays he was in on, chipping in a tackle for a loss that cost Indiana 3 yards.

WR Corey "Philly" Brown, Jr. (Biletnikoff): The team lead in receptions was extended after Brown made six more catches in the win, but his biggest play came as a rushing threat on the perimeter. The junior took a well-timed pitch from Miller and did the rest of the work himself on a 12-yard touchdown carry that opened the scoring against the Hoosiers.

TE Jake Stoneburner, Sr. (Mackey): After a three-week drought, Stoneburner was once again a featured part of the passing game. He finished with four catches for 41 yards and provided a reliable weapon for Miller, particularly when the quarterback was rolling out of the pocket and couldn't help but find the big target.

SS C.J. Barnett, Jr. (Thorpe): Returned from a three-week absence because of a high-ankle sprain and picked up almost right where he left off in the secondary. Only converted linebacker Zach Boren made more tackles than Barnett in his first game back, and the safety also broke up a couple of passes as he settled back into his role in the back end.

K Drew Basil, Jr. (Groza): Basil finally tried some field goals longer than 26 yards, and the results were mixed. The junior drilled his first attempt from 35 yards away against the Hoosiers, but he missed on the second attempt (also from 35 yards) -- his first miss of the season in just four tries.

LB Etienne Sabino, Sr. (Butkus): The absence of the captain and the lack of depth at linebacker was pretty obvious as the Buckeyes moved Boren over from fullback to fill the void. Sabino will be out at least two more weeks as he recovers from a fractured bone in his leg.

RB Jordan Hall, Sr. (Walker): On the shelf again with a partially torn ligament in his knee, Hall remains doubtful for this week's home date with Purdue. Without him in the lineup, the Buckeyes have turned to Carlos Hyde, and the junior has 296 yards and five touchdowns in the last two games.

OHIO STATE

Record: 7-0 (3-0 Big Ten)

Ohio State can't tackle. It has endured multiple special teams breakdowns. It recently moved starting fullback Zach Boren to linebacker to a depth-starved position (he proceeded to lead the team in tackles against Indiana). It has endured multiple key injuries, particularly on the defensive side. Dropped passes have been an issue, too.

So what's the Buckeyes' record a little past the halfway point of Urban Meyer's first season? It's perfect. Few would argue that Ohio State has been the Big Ten's best team so far this fall.

If this is what Meyer can do with a flawed team in his first season, think about what he'll accomplish in the coming seasons at Ohio State.

The biggest reason for Ohio State's unblemished record is sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller. No Big Ten player -- and perhaps no player nationally -- has meant more to his team's success than Miller has to the Buckeyes. Although many pegged Miller to thrive in Meyer's spread offense, his first-year progress has exceeded all expectations. Through seven games, he has 1,271 pass yards, 912 rush yards and 20 touchdowns (11 pass, 9 rush), putting himself very much on the Heisman Trophy radar. The offense has had other bright spots -- running back Carlos Hyde, big-play receiver Devin Smith, a surging line -- and is well ahead of schedule as a unit, putting up 115 points the past two weeks.

Ohio State might have the offensive firepower to run the table in a weak Big Ten, but fixing the defense is the top priority for Meyer and his staff. Despite boasting several playmakers -- cornerbacks Bradley Roby and Travis Howard, linebacker Ryan Shazier, linemen John Simon and Johnathan Hankins -- the Buckeyes need to get back to their roots on that side of the ball.

Offensive MVP: QB Braxton Miller. The most obvious choice we'll make in any of the midseason team capsules. Ohio State wouldn't be undefeated without Miller and likely would have multiple losses on its résumé. He has been unstoppable as a runner and better-than-expected as a passer, completing 60.4 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has five 100-yard rushing performances and five games with at least 300 yards of total offense. He needs 88 yards to become the first Ohio State quarterback to record 1,000 rush yards in a season.

Defensive MVP: CB Bradley Roby. The Silver Bullets aren't performing at their usual standard, but Roby has been one of the Big Ten's most dynamic defenders in the first seven games. He's tied for the national lead in passes defended with 14, five more than any other Big Ten player, and recorded two interceptions in an Oct. 6 win against Nebraska, including a pick-six in the first quarter. Roby also had a punt block against Michigan State, a recovery of a punt block for a touchdown against Indiana and 33 tackles (2 for loss). Shazier and Simon also merit mentions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Quick hitters from Ohio State's media luncheon on Monday as it prepares for a visit from Purdue on Saturday.

Shake it up: For the time being, Zach Boren shouldn't make any plans to return to offense after shifting from fullback to linebacker and then leading the team in tackles against the Hoosiers.

Expecting somebody else to have that same kind of instant impact at a new position might be asking a lot in the middle of the season, but that doesn't mean the Ohio State won't consider more personnel shakeups in response to its lack of depth on defense.

Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer confirmed there "are conversations" as the coaching staff evaluates all its options, though the only player identified specifically when he was asked about tweaks to the lineup during his Monday press conference was freshman defensive end Noah Spence -- but he won't be playing offense any time soon.

"Options are very limited right now, so that’s one thing," Meyer said. "The guy that played very well is Noah Spence, so the thing you have to ask yourself, 'OK, Noah Spence and Nathan Williams play the same position, so let’s have a conversation about that' -- and we are. How do you get them both on the field at the same time is the conversation.

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