OSU wideouts out to answer doubters

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The criticism from head coach Urban Meyer got so bad that about the only respite for Ohio State’s wide receivers was when they were united in their misery.

Maybe that was what Meyer wanted.

“It did get to us,” said the starter at one spot, Devin Smith. “Every single day after practice we were, like, ‘Man, Urban is on us.”’

Meyer seldom failed to take a shot at his receiving corps from the minute he first saw it in the spring. He called the passing game from a year ago “non-functional” and “inadequate.” He continually complained that he couldn’t find a single playmaker among his pass-catchers. He questioned their heart, their effort, their skill.

Now, as the 18th-ranked Buckeyes draw closer to their Sept. 1 opener against Miami (Ohio), the verbal assaults have softened somewhat. Meyer has come around.

“Not where we need to be, but so much improved,” Meyer said this week. “You just enjoy being around them. I didn’t enjoy being around noncompetitive [players]. They weren’t competing in the spring. They’re competing now. It means something to them. That’s kind of neat to see.”

For the receivers, it’s almost as if they’ve survived a trauma together.

“I think coach Meyer said those things to get us to step up,” said Evan Spencer, another starter. “We needed it and we took it on as a challenge and I love that. The fact he expects so much of us, deep down, makes us realize we need to get out there and do our thing. I’m glad to see that as a unit we’ve been taking on the challenge positively.”

Tom Herman, the new offensive coordinator, has noticed the transformation. He has a succinct description of the quality possessed by those in the running to be the playmaker in the pedal-to-the-metal offense.

“Potential. That’s probably the biggest word. We all know in this game that potential just means that you haven’t done it yet,” he said. “So at least we have some glimmer of hope at that position, which is encouraging. Now it’s up to those guys and the coaches to [make sure] that potential turns into performance.”

There honestly wasn’t much performance in 2011. Leading receivers Smith, Corey Brown and Jake Stoneburner, all of whom return, managed just 14 catches apiece all season. To put that into perspective, one of the Buckeyes’ opponents a year ago, Toledo’s Eric Page, averaged 10 receptions a game.

“We kind of look at this as a new chapter in our life,” Brown said of the lessons learned from those sorry stats. “We had the 14 [catches for the leaders]. But that’s last year. We’ve moved on now. Coach Meyer really emphasized that we press ‘restart.’ As long as we give him our careers and do what he wants us to do, he’ll put us in the right situation.”

LB Klein reinstated

Ohio State linebacker Storm Klein, kicked off the team when he was charged with domestic violence, has been reinstated by coach Urban Meyer after pleading guilty to a lesser charge earlier this week.

Klein, a senior who started 10 games last year, will not be allowed to play until at least the third game. The No. 18 Buckeyes open Sept. 1 against Miami (Ohio) and then play Central Florida. Their third game is against California at home Sept. 15.

Klein was involved in an altercation with the mother of their child in July. He was charged with hitting his former girlfriend during an argument at his apartment. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor that his attorney said was the equivalent of “making excessive noise.”

In a statement issued Thursday night, Meyer said, “As I had indicated previously, if there are any changes in the charges against Storm, I would re-evaluate his status. The charges that would have violated our core values have been totally dismissed. I have spoken extensively to members of both families and that has prompted me to re-assess his situation and allow him back.”