Here are highlights from Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer’s portion of the Big Ten teleconference on Tuesday.

On the offensive line, are you finding the combination that you like?

“Last Saturday (against Cincinnati) was a little different,” Meyer said. “(The first two games of the season), we were trying to find the best combination to be the best offensive line we could be. And that certainly wasn’t the case against Navy and Virginia Tech. Kent State was much better.

“And now we’re rotating because some guys have earned playing time. So, it’s a little bit different philosophy; it’s a little bit different than it was a couple weeks ago. A couple weeks ago, we were not an offensive line that we expect at Ohio State. And as of now, after last week’s performance, they kind of crossed the barrier where we are playing like an Ohio State offensive line. Chase Farris and a couple other guys are starting to earn their way into some playing time.”

Ezekiel Elliott looked like a different running back against UC. Was anything said to him that he needed to step his game up?

“No, I think we just blocked better,” Meyer said. “He played well against Kent State, we just got him out of there early. We threw a lot in the first half and then we pulled him out when the game was out of hand in the second half. So, I think he’s playing well. I think he’s settling in to the starting tailback role. But I always say a quarterback is a product of those around him; certainly the tailback is a product of the quality of the offensive line.

“So, I think the biggest reason (for Elliott’s 28-carry, 182-yard performance against UC) was he ran very hard. But he was getting to the second level quite frequently and if you get to the second level it’s because of your offensive line. And then you make plus yards because of your ability. He was in the second level quite often.”

Elliott seems very mature. How would you describe him?

“Oh yeah, he’s been raised the right way,” Meyer said. “He’s probably one of the top two or three workers on our team. I don’t want to say he’s changed the culture – because that culture began to change last year – but the running back room right now is the top as far as work ethic on our team. And that’s a credit to their leader who is (running backs coach Stan) Drayton, and then the leader as a player and that’s Ezekiel Elliott.

“So, his work ethic is incredible.”

Pass defense – what is the issue? Is it coaching, execution, talent, lack of experience?

“I said after the game when I got a couple questions about it that I wanted to evaluate it and that’s what I’ve done,” Meyer said. “And I evaluated a very well-played game for the majority of the game. But unfortunately – offensively or defensively – a couple plays can really disrupt you and you could lose the game, obviously. So, there were four plays that cost us a lot of yards. Those four plays were significant.

“The first one was a guy making a play and we were right in position, so it wasn’t talent, it wasn’t execution of the defense, it was a guy making a play. A good player (Chris Moore) defended by a good player (Vonn Bell) and he came up with the ball.

“The second one was the screen pass and that was execution. They out-executed us. That was a scheme issue and we just didn’t execute.

“The third one was a one-on-one matchup that we lost and that was a big play right before half.

“And then the other one was missed assignments. So, I know I’m going through each one, but you asked the question.

“I don’t think we have a talent issue, but I do think we have some young corners that need to play better. Hopefully they settle in and do play better, and that’s Gareon (Conley) and Eli (Apple).”

What will be the biggest challenge for Ohio State at Maryland this Saturday?

“Well, they have three really skilled athletes at receiver and that’s been our Achilles’ heel and now it’s time to get that fixed and perform well,” Meyer said. “And anytime you face a quarterback that can run, that’s an issue. And their leading rusher is their quarterback (C.J. Brown). So, the quarterback run and covering their receivers.”

Describe your comfort level today in your offense compared to a month ago when you travelled East to Baltimore to face Navy in the season opener. Can you quantify how much further along JT Barrett is now and the comfort level that gives you?

“Night and day,” Meyer said. “It’s something that I expected because you expect it with a good kid that works hard, and it’s a pretty good system of offense that we have. So, I anticipated that we’d be much better. But the comfort level in game one was minimal and that was just because you just don’t know how they are going to react when the lights come on in front of a big crowd. I had a good feeling it would turn out good, but much different feeling now.”