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Since Urban Meyer returned to Ohio State's sideline Sept. 22, the coach has often struck an anguished pose: hands on knees, head bowed, eyes cast down.
Meyer spent much of last Saturday's game in the second round, watching the second-ranked Buckeyes implode in a 49-20 loss to the 3-3 Boilermakers. All of the Buckeyes' bad clothes, they had found ways to overcome until last week, showed up against Purdue, leaving Meyer to admit afterward, "The glaring shortcomings we have been exposed."
There are big-picture issues swirling around Ohio State and Meyer, whose health and future as well. Meyer on Tuesday denied a Football Scoop report on the tension between him, athletic director Gene Smith and on the coaching staff.
Short term, the Buckeyes must get a lot fixed for the Big Ten stretch run. After a 55-24 loss last year at unranked Iowa, Ohio State won its final five games, four by double digits, to secure a Big Ten championship and a Cotton Bowl title, finishing No. 5 in the final rankings.
The difference is only one year, and will probably reach the College Playoff Football if it wins out. But the Buckeyes also seemingly have more to mend, and they face a tougher challenger division (No. 5 Michigan) to turn things around.
"We've got good players, good coaches, and we'll get to work," Meyer said after the Purdue game. "We have a game last year and came back right." We have good guys – we're going to get it right. "
Meyer followed through Sunday, keeping the coordinators off the recruiting trail. The head coach and his top assistants 12 hours on possible scheme tweaks, capitalizing on the extra time in the open week.
After hearing from Meyer and Buckeyes in West Lafayette, I spoke with coaches and analysts about Ohio State, its problems, the possible repairs, Meyer 's impact on his return from suspension and whether he can fix this team in time.
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