OSU Coach Fickell Addresses Last Week's Mistakes, Hints at QB Plan

At Tuesday's weekly press conference, Ohio State University head coach Luke Fickell had one word for his team: Focus.

"Our focus is on ourselves. How can we get better? We're going to look at ourselves, evaluate ourselves, figure out a way we can get better as a football team, football coaches. Get around our guys, making no excuses, whether they're young or old."

Like last week, there was a heavy focus on the quarterback situation at the press conference. Senior Joe Bauserman and freshman Braxton Miller threw for a combined total of 35 yards. Fickell addressed the situation: "We had a hard time throwing the football...if we play a little bit better, keep ourselves in the situation of the game game defensively as well, then I think things will open offensively," Fickell said.

Later, he noted, "We missed some shots when we had an opportunity to do it. That's obvious as well...I don't know that I can sit here and point a finger."

Regarding Miller's problem securing the ball, coach Fickell attributes Miller's issues to inexperience: "I think that's pretty much something always with a young guy. How do you hit quarterbacks in practice? You just don't do it...Is it something you hope comes with realizing what the situation is? Yeah. Can you really practice it? I don't think you can."

Finally, Coach Fickell hinted that he has a quarterback chosen for Saturday's game against Colorado: "We know what we think."

When asked to clarify if this statement indicated that Miller would take the opening snap, Fickell stated: "We have a plan every day...The thing it comes down to is: How do we become a better team? How do we become a better offense, how do we become a better defense?"

Following up, a reporter asked if Fickell if he saw an upside to starting Miller over Bauserman. He replied, "If he [Miller] could go out and make some plays on the football, we will [start him]."