Postgame Quotes – Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2015
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Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer
Opening Statement:
“Very pleased, it all starts with great defense. I really felt our defense has been getting better all year. We had some big plays against us the last couple of weeks but for the most part, we saw this coming and we have a lot of respect for the Rutgers quarterback. He’s one of the top efficient passers in the Big Ten and the country and then third downs, the leader in the conference at 50 percent, so I thought our defense played outstanding. The obvious is J.T. Barrett, he came in and played very well, energized us, ran the ball very well. We had a turnover, but we were penalty free on the road. It was a loud stadium. That a lot of discipline, no penalties in that environment. Very pleased. Bye week time. The best thing about going 8-0 is to have a chance to go 9-0. Time to get rested up.”
On Ezekiel Elliott going over 100 yards after having 15 yards in the first half:
“That the thing that’s happening right now, if we are not very efficient throwing the ball, which we are now. We were 17-of-21 and teams know to stop Zeke. They were doing a good job. They were loading the box. You have to take shots down the field. I should rephrase that, we have to complete shots down the field. Now we’re completing them. There’s some conflict on the defense, you take away Zeke you are going to see some guys singled out. Miller Braxton & Mike Thomas had some big hits down the field for us.”
On J.T. Barrett’s performance:
“What I saw, J.T. doesn’t surprise me. He’s back and that injury, I didn’t see it in the spring. Training camp he was getting, better, and better and better. He’s still only a true sophomore and I think he’s in full swing now, obviously. That was progression throughout practice.”
On J.T. Barrett getting more and more comfortable throughout the game:
“Especially throwing the ball. He was really efficient with throwing the ball, checking downs when you are supposed to check a down, taking a shots, being accurate. We had a couple other shots, where they were threatening us to throw it deep and we completed them. That was the key. That had to happen tonight.”
On J.T.’ Barrett’s running ability:
“I think you ask a defensive coach, anytime you’ve got a guy that can throw and run, that’s a problem. You see loaded defenses where the coverages aren’t very complicated. That’s what J.T. gives us.”
On J.T. Barrett starting:
“I think he’s a unique guy that was voted captain by our guys as a sophomore. Someone told us, I haven’t done the research yet, I don’t think that’s happened at Ohio State and that tells you the respect he had. He says things to the team right before we go out. He’s a really good leader.”
On the biggest improvements of the team:
“There’s many areas. Defense is where you start. Anytime you hold that offense that has been putting up a lot of points, a lot of yards, a balanced offense and basically pitch a shutout for 59 minutes, that was tremendous effort by our defense. We won the field position battle, but the thing that you’re not seeing is the self-destructive stuff, whether it be turnovers, interceptions, or penalties.”
On QB J.T. Braxton’s progression:
“He had three touches it looks like. I wish he had more. We’re doing the best we can with him. I am very pleased with him. I think he can certainly play receiver at the next level. He’s that close right now. He has done so much for this program. I’m very pleased on how he’s blocking, how he’s getting the ball, route running. I’m really excited for him.”
Sophomore Quarterback J.T. Barrett
Q: What did this opportunity mean for you tonight taking the field as the starter? Did it mean anything different to you?
A: “Not really, I’m just trying to go out there and do my best to help the team win and just coming from a different angle instead of the red zone the past two weeks.”
Q: J.T. I know we talk about the efficiency of the offense how do you think the offense played tonight?
A: “I think we started off pretty slow but I think we got together and started clicking and I think it was good finish today.”
Q: What was it like for you with the nerves before today?
A: “There [were] no nerves.”
Q: Is that just the way you are?
A: “I feel like I am just confident in our game plan and what I am doing as a quarterback I was nervous last year for the first couple games but now it is not really nervous or jitters or anything like that.”
Q: How do you think this team is improving from maybe lets say the Northern Illinois game?
A: “I just think we are getting comfortable, getting an identity on offense and which is definitely we know we want to run the ball, getting the offensive line going and moving the line of scrimmage and then play action pass and just pitch and catch from the quarterback and receiver I think that is what we do on offense and I think we are trying to do what we did last year — just getting back to what we do well on offense.”
Fifth-Year Senior H-B Braxton Miller
Q: The catch that you made – you made an adjustment there on the ball from JT, how do you think he played and just getting yourself in the flow as well?
A: “We played great. [Our] quarterbacks always play great and you know just give it to my teammates. We practiced this throughout the whole week and finally hit it in a game and at first I lost it in the air because I had to slow down and he put his arms up and I lost it completely and then I just got in a good position and just used my senses of catching the ball.”
Q: Urban was quick to say you are NFL ready as a receiver now do you think you are getting there?
A: “Absolutely, for sure. After game one I was very comfortable at the receiver position and playing the H-back role and I’m just having fun out there and showing my talents at the receiver position.”
Q: What did you see from the offense tonight — JT’s play?
A: “The coaches did a good job game planning the game and we executed and that is really the biggest, important thing. We executed in practice, we executed in the game and we just kept it moving and that was what the flow was throughout the game.”
Q: Your two big plays in a row — what does that do for you personally to deliver a couple plays that kind of sparked things a little bit?
A: “I love it and Coach Meyer knows I love it too. I just want to seize the opportunities that I get and just pray for more and thanking the man upstairs that I have the opportunity to play football again and just give it all to my teammates.”
