Urban Meyer has been comparing the spring of 2016 to the spring of 2014, when the Buckeyes discovered the players that would help lead their national title run in the fall.
Eli Apple. Ezekiel Elliott. Darron Lee. Curtis Grant. Steve Miller. Michael Thomas.
Meyer listed them off this week.
“A bunch of average players,” Meyer said, “that this is the spring of ’14 where they showed up.”
In the spring of 2016, it hasn’t happened yet.
“Maybe they will show up because we still have a few more practices,” Meyer said, “but the acceleration has got to be there. We’re not accelerating like we did.”
That’s what is at stake for Ohio State this last week of spring football practice – momentum into the offseason. The Buckeyes’ 11th practice of the spring was Saturday, followed by No. 12 Monday, No. 13 Wednesday, No. 14 Friday and the spring game at 1:30 in Ohio Stadium next Saturday as No. 15.
In front of that spring crowd, Meyer will be looking for a lot of answers while hoping the whole program picks up.
Here are five of the many questions to wonder about as the Buckeyes end their spring in a week.
