OSU Buckeyes

Ohio State already had started paying more competitive salaries for assistant coaches before Urban Meyer arrived in November 2011.

But when Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith sat down to discuss staff pay, Smith soon realized he needed to do more.

"I think Michigan had stepped up with their coordinators," Smith recalled last week during Big Ten spring meetings in Chicago. "So we were already going to that before Urban Meyer came, but we bumped it up a little more. Any time there's change, you have that opportunity."

"Everyone's always focused on head coaches' salaries," Smith continued. "That's always the thing. But really when you look at the changes, it's really been assistants' salaries across the country -- not just in the SEC, but the Big 12, Pac-12, all across the country."

The Big Ten is part of the change, too, as the league is allocating more money toward football assistants than ever before. The Detroit Free Press has an excellent look at Big Ten assistants' salaries, complete with a database that includes 10 of the 12 current members (Northwestern doesn't submit salaries as a private institution, and Penn State doesn't have to because of state laws).

The Free Press found that eight of the 10 schools are paying more for assistants in 2013 than they did in 2012 (only Indiana and Illinois are not). There are some significant total increases, such as Wisconsin (up $558,000), Nebraska (up $518,500), Purdue ($400,000) and Minnesota ($355,000). Staff pay had been an issue at Wisconsin, which lost six assistant coaches following the 2012 Rose Bowl, and at Purdue, which paid less for its staff during the Danny Hope era than any Big Ten school.

The total trend among the 10 schools is an increase of $1,720,852.24 for 2013.

Ohio State and Michigan remain No. 1 and No. 2 in Big Ten staff salary, as the Buckeyes allocate $3.416 million and the Wolverines allocate $2.805 million. Nebraska and Wisconsin make the biggest moves in the league for 2013, as the Huskers rise from sixth to third and the Badgers rise from seventh to fourth.

Illinois, which replaced five assistants from the 2012 team, including co-offensive coordinators Chris Beatty and Billy Gonzales, dropped from third in staff pay ($2.314 million) to eighth ($2.065 million).

The database shows that nearly every Big Ten assistant with "coordinator" in his title -- whether he's the sole coordinator or a co-coordinator -- will earn north of $300,000 for 2013. Only 18 assistants listed will make less than $200,000 in 2013 -- 15 work for Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana.


Some notes:

• Although Wisconsin paid former offensive coordinator Paul Chryst good coin, the school has increased its commitment for Gary Andersen's staff, not only with the coordinators but with some coveted position coaches like running backs coach Thomas Hammock ($300,000).
• All of Nebraska's assistants are earning $200,000 or more for 2013, but there's a huge drop-off between Beck and the next highest-paid assistant (defensive coordinator John Papuchis at $310,000).
• Michigan State has a similar drop off between Narduzzi and co-offensive coordinators Dave Warner ($270,000) and Jim Bollman ($260,000). Warner will be the primary offensive play-caller and has been on Mark Dantonio's staff since 2006, while Bollman is a newcomer.
• Although Michigan is paying top dollar for its coordinators, the school gets its assistants for a relative bargain. Receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Jeff Hecklinski will earn $225,000 in 2013, while the others all will earn $205,000. Ohio State, meanwhile, pays all but one of its assistants $286,000 or more.
• The Big Ten's three lowest-paid assistants all are in their first years: Illinois wide receivers coach Mike Bellamy ($125,000) and Purdue linebackers coach Marcus Freeman and running backs coach Jafar Williams (both at $120,000).
• Although schools like Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa ($325,000) pay their coordinators the exact same amount, others have slight differences in salary. Purdue's Shoop makes $5,000 more than defensive coordinator Greg Hudson. Minnesota defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys ($340,000) makes $5,000 more than offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover. Wonder if that leads to any underlying jealousy?
• Most Big Ten schools have assistant salaries in round numbers, but there are some interesting totals from Indiana, which pays co-offensive coordinators Seth Littrell and Kevin Johns $255,500.04 and new recruiting coordinator/assistant defensive line coach James Patton $173,740.08. Never know when that change can come in handy.

The Big Ten still lacks some of the OMG totals seen in the SEC -- LSU is paying new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron $3.4 million in the next three years -- but the overall trend puts the league more on par with what we're seeing nationally.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With spring practice in the books and Ohio State heading into its offseason conditioning program, BuckeyeNation is looking at the players who boosted their stock with the program the most during those 15 workouts. The offense will go first this week, followed by a handful of defenders who will be in line for heavy workloads this fall, as well.

No. 1: Chris Fields

• Who: The Buckeyes aren't yet in a position to feel truly comfortable about their depth at wide receiver, but they certainly can rest a bit easier at the end of spring practice -- and not just because a talented group of signees will be arriving this summer in time for training camp. Ohio State apparently had another potential starter under its nose the entire time, and Fields finally presented himself as a target worth throwing out with the first team with 15 productive practices that clearly caught the eye of coach Urban Meyer. Fields has only sporadically contributed much of consequence heading into his senior season, and while the Buckeyes might not have gone undefeated without his overtime-forcing touchdown last year against Purdue, that's the only score of his career at this point. It appears he has positioned himself for a chance to improve that production considerably.
• Spring progress: The relative lack of bodies on hand at receiver in spring gave Fields plenty of chances to show what he could do as a weapon in the spread offense, but he also benefited from a minor injury to Jordan Hall that opened up some reps at H-back and gave the Buckeyes yet another option to consider. Fields offered steady hands as a target, appeared much more comfortable with his routes and responsibilities and showed good speed and elusiveness once he had the football in his hands -- whether it got there through the air or if he took it as a rusher, as he did on a 6-yard touchdown carry in the spring game.
• Jockeying for position: Evan Spencer might have posted better numbers a year ago and Michael Thomas could have the greater upside as a target in the passing game, but neither left camp with Meyer calling them a starter. Fields took that honor, and if the Buckeyes had to play a meaningful game in April, he would be listed along with Devin Smith and Philly Brown as the first-team wideouts on the depth chart. That's a pretty remarkable development and a tribute to the work Fields has done since chipping in just 4 catches last season, though more competition is on the way.
• He said it: "Chris Fields, I’m going to name him starter today. I told him I would if he finished the spring, and Chris Fields has earned a starting spot on the offense -- which is amazing. He’s a wonderful guy. Last year was very inconsistent, but I know [offensive coordinator] Tom Herman feels the same way. He’s earned a starting spot." -- Meyer after the spring game
• Closing number: Fields pulled some double-duty in the closing exhibition in Cincinnati, and that heavy workload helped him pile up some yardage and continue to catch Meyer's eye heading into the summer. In all, Fields caught 5 passes for 37 yards and added 9 more yards on 2 carries with a touchdown to put a wrap on his productive camp.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With spring practice in the books and Ohio State now heading into its offseason conditioning program, BuckeyeNation is looking back at the players who boosted their stock with the program the most during those 15 invaluable workouts. The offense will go first this week, followed by a handful of defenders who will be in line for heavy workloads this fall as well.

No. 5: Jeff Heuerman

• Who: The junior tight end was already a relatively known quantity for the Buckeyes after providing some rugged blocking and some occasional assistance as a receiving threat last season. But Heuerman had to cede some of the responsibility to Jake Stoneburner in terms of the passing attack. But Stoneburner's departure, Heuerman's continued development and added comfort in the spread system has the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end in position to be a major factor for the Buckeyes.
• Spring progress: Given his particular role a year ago and his huge frame, Heuerman might not have had much to prove as a blocker this spring. But coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman love to create mismatches with their tight ends and use them in a variety of ways to keep a defense off balance. Showing more familiarity with the playbook went a long way for Heuerman and could help keep him on the field for almost any scenario -- from short-yardage to third-and-long.
• Jockeying for position: Heuerman already owned a starting job at tight end, a spot he shared last year with Nick Vannett. The sophomore was impressive in his own right during camp, and he'll likely stay bracketed with Heuerman as the official first-teamers and keep giving Meyer a couple reasons to feel good about the amount of flexibility he'll have on offense.
• He said it: "I’m just excited about being more of an every-down tight end, rather than last year where third-and-long, third-and-7, Jake’s in there running routes. That’s the big thing they’ve been working on this spring, being the every-down tight end. [Position coach Tim] Hinton and coach Meyer, coach Herman, they’ve been doing great getting me ready for that, and I’m excited for that."
• Closing number: Heuerman generated most of his excitement before the spring game, but he still wrapped up camp by tacking on a catch for 6 yards in the exhibition win for his Scarlet team. He finished last season with 8 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Last year, Ohio State led the Big Ten in scoring at 37.2 points per game. Great, right?

Not in the minds of the Buckeyes, who thought they could have fielded a much better all-around attack.

"I feel like last year we didn't play a complete game as an offense," running back Carlos Hyde said. "Some games it was all running, while others it was just passing."

Head coach Urban Meyer rarely seemed happy with the offensive production last year, outside of the running skills of Hyde and quarterback Braxton Miller. He often expressed his dissatisfaction over a lack of speedy playmakers and an inconsistent passing game.

"I'd get frustrated," Meyer told ESPN.com. "But the bottom line is, name an offense that doesn't have guys who make people miss and are dynamic with the ball in their hands, and that's not a great offense. We don't have enough."

The names on offense haven't really changed much this spring. But the hope is that with another year of understanding the system, some improved throwing and catching and maybe some reinforcements from the recruiting class, the Buckeyes will come closer to fulfilling Meyer's vision of a truly great offense.

It all starts, of course, with Miller, whose efforts to become a more accurate passer this offseason have been well documented. Ohio State also needs continued development from its receivers, which is not a very deep group right now. Meyer singled out Corey "Philly" Brown, who led the team with 60 catches for 669 yards, as someone who's becoming one of those dynamic playmakers he's seeking.

"I've tried to work on my open-field running and body control so I could cut faster," Brown said. "It's really paying off for me right now."

Brown is the clear No. 1 receiver, but he needs more help. The team has only six scholarship receivers this spring, and offensive coordinator Tom Herman said he'd only feel comfortable playing four of them for a whole game. Devin Smith made some highlight-reel catches on deep balls early last year but was less effective down the stretch, as he had only 13 receptions in the final eight games.

"People, for lack of a better term, figured him out," Herman said. "He wasn't a very versatile guy. He did a couple of things really well, but the other things that he tried to do, he was very below average. He's starting to improve some of his weaknesses to be a more complete receiver, and he has a lot of physical tools and a great attitude."

Herman said Chris Fields has had a really good spring, and Evan Spencer is a reliable target. Sophomore Michael Thomas, the star of last year's spring game, has shown flashes of his talent but needs to progress in a lot of areas. Herman called the receiver depth "a bit scary right now." But the Buckeyes recruited several receivers in this year's class, including Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, James Clark and Corey Smith. They're hoping at least one or two contributes right away.

"You hate to count on [recruits] because they're usually overrated," Meyer said. "But that's why we went out and recruited them."

"We're not asking them to come in and be Jerry Rice," Herman said. "We just hope they can provide some depth and maybe add some skills that we don't currently have in that room right now."

One area certainly not lacking in depth is at running back, where Hyde returns after rushing for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Rod Smith is having a good spring, Warren Ball appears to be coming on and if sixth-year senior Jordan Hall can ever stay healthy, he'll provide lots of versatility. There was a buzz last week in practice when the Buckeyes lined up with Hyde, Smith and Ball in the same backfield with Miller in a formation Meyer cribbed from the San Francisco 49ers.

"That can give a bunch of trouble to defenses," Hyde said. "They just see three big backs in the backfield and a quarterback who can also run the ball. They don't know who's getting the ball or who's going where."

Ohio State's offensive players do know where they're going, which is different than last spring. Now in the second year of the system, Herman says he can teach his guys not just what to do but why they're doing it.

"It's not just the memorization of, 'OK, I have to line up on the left here,'" he said. "I could train a monkey to do that. What separates really good offenses from average to below-average offenses is all 11 guys understanding the big picture, the entire concept and scheme we're trying to accomplish. It's been nice to kind of dive into that with all of our players this spring."

Knowing how to change a route against a certain defensive look, for instance, should help the Buckeyes play faster this year. The coaches have challenged the players to be a Top 5 offense in the nation this year. That's a lofty goal, but remember that this team is starting from an already high level despite its flaws.

"I definitely think we can be one of the top offenses in the country if everybody takes care of business and is mistake free," Brown said.

If Urban Meyer had placed a banner with the words "The Chase" in Ohio State's indoor practice facility last spring, he might have been asked, "For what?"

Sure, football players are always chasing something, as Meyer noted Tuesday when asked about the big, bold banner now hanging at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. That "something" can be localized: a starting job, a bigger role in the offense or defense, a scholarship, a coach's approval.

But Ohio State couldn't chase many tangible team goals last spring. The Buckeyes couldn't chase a Big Ten championship or a national championship because of NCAA sanctions. They only found out in September that they could chase a Leaders Division title. Undoubtedly their greatest attribute was an ability to chase the grandest goal they could -- a perfect 12-0 regular season, capped by a win against archrival Michigan -- and achieve it.

The banner makes much more sense now. Ohio State has emerged from the shadow of postseason probation and can chase whatever it wants, including the crystal football that has eluded the Scarlet and Gray -- and the rest of the Big Ten -- for more than a decade.

"Some guys are chasing starting positions," Meyer said, "some guys are chasing a bowl game, some guys an NFL contract. ... It means more, but that's where we're going to stop."

Meyer and his players can stop there for now. They should, as it's only spring practice. But "The Chase" will be a theme throughout Ohio State's offseason as bigger, broader goals are back on the table.

"Everybody’s got big dreams," Meyer said, "and we as a football team have some dreams."

Ohio State can dream big primarily because of an offense that transformed in 2012, rising from 81st nationally in scoring to 21st and from 107th in total yards to 47th. Quarterback Braxton Miller blossomed in Meyer's system, racking up a team-record 3,310 yards of offense, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Miller, who spent part of his winter break working with noted quarterback instructor George Whitfield in California, leads a unit that returns nine starters, including four linemen. Ohio State also regains the services of versatile running back Jordan Hall, who missed most of last season because of injury and turned heads during Tuesday's practice.

After delivering scathing -- and accurate -- critiques of Miller, the receivers and the entire offense last spring, Meyer has a much rosier outlook these days. Tuesday, he called Miller's footwork "outstanding" and praised Hall and several other skill players.

"Last year, who knew what as going to happen," the coach said. "I think the appropriate term was 'clown show' at this time. I don't feel like [it's] a clown show."

If Miller makes strides as a passer, Ohio State should have its most potent offense since the 2006 season, when the Buckeyes played for the national championship (coincidentally against Meyer's Florida Gators). The key to the spring -- and to the season, really -- is whether Ohio State produces a typical Ohio State defense. Otherwise, Meyer says, any discussion about "those two words that we don’t use very often" is pointless.

The spring spotlight shines brightest on the defensive front seven. Ohio State lost all four starting linemen from 2012, including Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year John Simon and massive tackle Johnathan Hankins, a possible first-round draft pick. Talented young linemen such as Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence got a taste last fall, and Meyer's staff has recruited extremely well up front, but others must emerge to fill out the rotation. Meyer on Tuesday challenged players such as Steve Miller and Chris Carter to do so.

All-Big Ten selection Ryan Shazier returns at linebacker, but depth remains a major concern for a group that needed fullback Zach Boren to fill a starting role midway through the 2012 season.

"If we put together a good D-line and linebackers, I think we'll have a good team," Meyer said. "If not, we won’t. It's pretty simple."

There's also a leadership void to fill this spring. Players such as Simon and Boren made sure the Buckeyes kept up the chase in 2012. Meyer expressed concern last spring at how the team would handle its first brush with failure. Thanks to the seniors, it never happened as Ohio State recorded only the sixth unbeaten, untied season in team history.

The torch has passed to players like Miller, a quiet kid from a quiet family whose voice must be heard more in 2013.

"He needs to be a better leader," offensive coordinator Tom Herman told reporters last month.

Other likely leaders include Shazier and dynamic cornerback Bradley Roby, a big talker who almost always backs it up on the field. Their challenge differs from that of their predecessors, who kept the team focused in spite of the bowl ban, yet did so under measured expectations.

The expectations are back to Tressel-era levels, and perhaps even higher because of the perfect season and Meyer's recruiting success. Anything less than a celebration Dec. 7 in Indianapolis -- and perhaps another Jan. 6 in Pasadena -- will be considered disappointing.

"The chase," Meyer said, "is on."

With national signing day in the books, the next big date on the Ohio State calendar as it continues working toward an encore for an undefeated season in 2013 is spring practice. Before those workouts begin, BuckeyeNation will take a look at each position to see where the roster is at -- and where it's going.

QUARTERBACKS

• Who's back: The Buckeyes didn't lose either of the guys on the two-deep from the end of last season, and while Braxton Miller's job is carved in stone and Kenny Guiton's veteran experience makes him a handy backup, the situation behind center could be even more stable if Cardale Jones is able to keep making progress after one brief, extremely public bout of immaturity last fall.
• New face: Early enrollee J.T. Barrett will be limited physically during camp after undergoing surgery to repair a knee ligament torn last October, but he's quickly impressed with his knowledge of the game and leadership skills and should only provide a boost in the meeting room. The best-case scenario for Barrett is a redshirt season that would help separate him from Miller in terms of eligibility. The Buckeyes have the bodies and talent on hand to likely keep him on the sideline for a valuable year of development.
• Projected depth chart: Miller starting ahead of Guiton with Jones getting third-team work ahead of the recovering Barrett
• Numbers game: There was hardly any doubt that coach Urban Meyer's spread offense and Miller's multipurpose ability were going to be a perfect match, and the two quickly produced huge numbers on the scoreboard and have yet to lose a game together. But there is still room to grow as a passer for the rising junior, and Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman will be working hard to boost two numbers in particular -- 181.5 yards per game through the air and a completion percentage of 58.3 percent.
• One to watch: The Buckeyes know what kind of rare athlete they're working with as Miller readies for his third season as the starter, and Guiton's value off the bench was well documented a year ago as a junior. But this spring could wind up revealing plenty about Jones and how he fits in the picture down the road. It depends on how he develops physically, competes on the practice field and absorbs the playbook in meetings. Ohio State's situation at quarterback already would make most programs envious, but if it can get a third guy ready to potentially produced, or at least primed to be a backup when Miller is a senior, there might be more reason for jealousy.
• He said it: "I think we’ve got the best backup quarterback in college football, and potentially the best starting quarterback in college football. So, yeah, I guess that is kind of a luxury. ... Having Kenny and having Cardale now coming off a redshirt year and really understanding and buying into the program and what we expect out of him and out of that position certainly puts us in a position that probably a lot of schools would like to be in." -- Herman on signing day

The work for the 2013 season is already underway for Ohio State with the strength program in full swing, but the first moves that started shaping the potential encore effort from a perfect campaign began almost two months ago. BuckeyeNation is counting down the five biggest early developments for the team since last season ended and how they will impact the Buckeyes moving forward.

No. 1: Urban Meyer keeps his staff in one piece

• Development: Jobs of all kinds were open all over the country during a busy offseason in the coaching ranks, and on the heels of an undefeated season, the Buckeyes had plenty of guys in demand to fill them. There were apparently four of them, in fact, who had opportunities to move on and lead their own programs elsewhere. But there apparently wasn't anything tempting enough to prompt anybody on Urban Meyer's first staff to walk away from what Ohio State has going now, and every member of that group will be back to honor the two-year commitment the boss asked for when he took over -- and potentially make a run at a championship it couldn't compete for last season.
• What it means: There is no shortage of benefits for Meyer in keeping his collection of assistants intact for a second season, starting with the continuity it provides for the players already on campus and extending to the class of recruits that the coaches built relationships with while representing the Buckeyes. In the short term, keeping offensive coordinator Tom Herman and giving him another season to help install the uptempo spread offense should help take it to a higher level as the players get more familiar with the playbook and the pace of play. On defense, the Buckeyes won't have as many experienced players returning as the other side of the ball will have, but there's plenty of young talent and they won't have to learn a different way of doing things with Luke Fickell, Everett Withers, Mike Vrabel and Kerry Coombs all back for another season trying to restore the proud tradition of the Silver Bullets. And while maintaining the same sort of communication that had been expected by recruits from the staff is invaluable as well, there also figures to be a stronger bond and more understanding between all the members of the staff just within the meeting rooms at Ohio State. Chemistry doesn't typically happen instantly, and the coaches should be plenty comfortable with each other now.
• He said it: "The fact that our coaching staff remains intact is important. We had four guys that had some people trying to discuss head coaching opportunities for them, and I hope that happens for some of them, kind of glad it doesn’t happen after just one year. After two years -- I always ask for just a two-year commitment -- I think that’s fair." -- Meyer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- So much for waiting a year to become an award-worthy quarterback.

A longshot candidate for any trophy heading into the season thanks to the combination of pedestrian passing numbers as a freshman, his relative inexperience and the transition to Ohio State's new spread offense, the preseason perception of Braxton Miller largely seemed to be that it would take time for him to become an elite player on the national stage.

But that timeframe didn't work for the undefeated Buckeyes or their star sophomore, who picked up the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday to further validate his emergence in the conference. And even if he isn't invited to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation next week, the hardware he's already collected provides another reminder that Miller's development is ahead of schedule -- even if it's not complete.

"You know, I appreciate everything that went down this year, and with the guys, those seniors, it came out really well," Miller said during a press conference on campus Tuesday. "The hard work we put in during the offseason with [strength] Coach Mick [Marotti], it paid off in the end. I’m pretty appreciative of that.

"You know, it’s one step closer to all the goals that I want to reach playing football. There’s a lot more things I’ve still got to work at."

The work for the Buckeyes is done for teammate John Simon, who couldn't wrap up his career on the field against Michigan last week but still picked up the complementary award to Miller's by claiming the Big Ten's defensive player of the year honor.

The two-time Ohio State captain was both an emotional leader and the conference's most prolific sack artist. Simon topped the Big Ten leaderboard with nine sacks despite playing through injuries throughout the season and missing the Michigan game after being injured against Wisconsin, a game that would go down as his last action with the Buckeyes.

Perhaps no departing player will be tougher to replace than Simon as the Buckeyes turn their attention to next season and try to duplicate 2012's perfect record, with his production every bit as valuable as his work ethic. But they will have Miller returning to defend at least one major award from the Big Ten, and if he continues improving the way he did from his first year to his second, more could be on the way.

"It means a lot, achieving my goals, but I still haven’t reached them yet and have a lot of things to work on," Miller said. "Coach [Urban] Meyer and [offensive coordinator Tom] Herman, they’ve helped me a lot with the process since last year being a freshman. I’m getting better each and every day.

"I’d say the [goal is meeting the] potential that I have. I haven’t really reached all the things that I can really accomplish yet. Just taking one day at a time to get better."

There is already nobody better on offense in the Big Ten.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer made it clear Monday: he's not going to change Braxton Miller.

"You let him be him," Meyer said.

It could result in more moments like the one late in the third quarter Saturday against Purdue, when Miller writhed in pain on the turf after being slammed on his neck. While no one hopes it results in another trip to the hospital, the quarterback's style of play as a runner keeps the ambulance team on alert.

Miller has taken fans' breath away with his dynamic running skills in Meyer's spread offense this season. He also has had Buckeye Nation holding its breath a few times.

It's hard to have one without the other, especially as Ohio State tries to develop more reliable offensive weapons around its best player. Meyer noted Monday that if other offensive players step up, Miller will have to do less, thereby reducing his injury risk. Interestingly enough, Ohio State got several out-of-nowhere contributions -- notably from wide receiver Chris Fields -- after Miller left Ohio Stadium in an ambulance.

Fortunately, Miller is OK. Meyer said the sophomore quarterback has a "very, very sore neck," and had a whiplash-like feeling at the time. But after all the tests came back negative, Miller will return to the practice field Tuesday. He's expected to start Saturday night against Penn State.

"We are trying to balance it," Meyer said. "We don't go crazy with him running the ball. At some point, though, you have to try to move the ball a little bit. We're very cognizant of that."

Meyer is still "very concerned" about Miller taking big shots, as the quarterback has in games against Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue to name a few. Asked if the trend is symptomatic for quarterbacks in his offense, Meyer noted that former Florida star Tim Tebow took some shots, while Chris Leak, Alex Smith and Josh Harris did a better job of staying out of harm's way.

"He doesn't go down very easily, and he's a competitive guy," Meyer said of Miller. "The good thing is, he usually bounces right back up. This one was a tough one. … He just is a dynamic athlete. He's more difficult to bring down."

The Ohio State coaches can tell Miller to keep his well-being in mind -- to run out of bounds after getting a first down, maybe even to slide once in a while. They can limit him to 12-15 carries rather than 18-20. But it's not in Miller's nature to go down easily. Miller's natural ability to break tackles and find running room when none seems to be available also leads to fewer safe plays.

Asked if Miller's injury issues will have any impact on his play calling against Penn State, offensive coordinator Tom Herman said, "None. We've got to win the game. ... That won't factor into any of our decisions."

This is Ohio State's reality in 2012 as it tries to build scoring threats around Miller. For long stretches, he has been the Buckeyes' offense.

If that's the case going forward, there will be more breathtaking runs -- and more breath-holding hits. Bring your oxygen.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Early in the game, Devin Smith started thinking there would be an edge.

At halftime the Ohio State wide receiver talked it over with his quarterback, and Braxton Miller agreed.

Now all they needed was an opportunity in the second half, and when it finally arrived, they took advantage of it together, just as they've already done a few notable times with the Buckeyes. They turned their big-play partnership into a game-winning touchdown in a 17-16 victory over Michigan State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

"I knew I could beat them deep," Smith said. "I was hoping I’d get something, but you know, [offensive coordinator Tom] Herman didn’t call it much. He called it at the right time and we made a play. I kept telling Braxton the sideline, 'Man, we’ve got to run a go route; they can’t guard us.'

"He put it right on the money."

Smith didn't even need to break stride after beating his man down the right sideline as Miller dropped an inch-perfect strike into his hands, with the sophomore receiver taking care of the rest on the 63-yard deep ball that erased a lead Michigan State had just claimed on its previous drive.

The highlight reel was already starting to get long for the collaboration between the multipurpose passer and his athletic target -- and now they've got yet another go-ahead, game-winning score to squeeze on there.

"That’s one of my favorite receivers," Miller said. "I’m always going to look for him."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The projected starter was healthy enough to play, and Ohio State gave him his job right back.

The coaching staff never even turned to a backup after that first snap, either, rolling with Jordan Hall in his first game back from start to finish.

The senior wasn't perfect in his return from surgery to repair a torn tendon in his foot in June, and at times he looked unsure of where to go with the football in his hands. But he was effective enough in a 35-28 win over California that the Buckeyes gave him every rushing attempt that went to a tailback after a week of uncertainty at the position.

"There was certainly, I don’t want to say rust, but some issues with Jordan seeing where plays should go," offensive coordinator Tom Herman said. "But at the same time, he hadn’t played a whole lot of football since spring practice. That’s to be expected, and I’m sure he’ll come out and play better."

At a minimum, Hall was able to help ease the burden on quarterback Braxton Miller by taking the ball 17 times and chipping in when needed in pass protection. He also was productive by averaging more than 5 yards per carry on the way to 87 against the Golden Bears, a total that looked like it could be improved as he gets comfortable again in the offense thanks to a potentially dynamic combination with Miller in the option game on the perimeter.

The Buckeyes didn't even try tinkering with other pairings against California, leaving both Bri'onte Dunn and Rod Smith without carries despite being listed as the top two running backs on the depth chart all week until Hall officially reclaimed his position.

"It felt great, felt good being back out there at practice with the guys, my brothers," Hall said. "I just want to get back to work. I had a little rust, and I just want to get back to work and get better."