Buckeyes gearing up for UC’s lethal passing attack

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Urban Meyer flipped on the TV last Friday night to watch his alma mater in action.

What he saw when Cincinnati hosted Toledo, however, blew him away.

”I was kind of like probably most of the country, like, ‘Whoa!”’ Meyer, said of the aerial attack produced by quarterback Gunner Kiel and the Bearcats in what would turn out to be a 58-34 win over Toledo. ”I thought it was going to be a 60-0 (game) and the kid was going to throw for 500 yards. They’re really good.”

No wonder the 23rd-ranked Buckeyes aren’t exactly lounging around despite a bye this week. They’re in full preparation mode for what they’ll face when they entertain Cincinnati on Sept. 27 at Ohio Stadium.

This game is why Meyer tore apart his pass defense.

In the wake of two losses to end last season in which opponents threw at will while scoring more than 35 points each, Meyer hired new co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash and had him rebuild the way the Buckeyes defend against the pass.

There’s been no opportunity to see it so far in the Buckeyes’ two wins. And everybody on the roster played so poorly in the 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech in Week Two that it was hard to pin the blame on just one unit.

But now the Buckeyes will truly be unveiling their new defense against the pass.

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