Sports

With season half over, No. 4 Ohio State taking stock, working on basics, taking a breather

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller (5) runs past the outstretched hands of Northwestern linebacker Collin Ellis (45) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill. Ohio State plays their next game at home against Iowa on Oct. 19. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer shouts to his team during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State plays their next game at home against Iowa on Oct. 19. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)

As anyone with a demanding job can attest, there's nothing quite like getting a couple of extra days off.

No. 4 Ohio State seconds that.

The Buckeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) got a respite earlier this week after playing and winning against ranked opponents in primetime the past two weeks.

They're using the time to heal bumps and bruises, assess where they are, enhance the things they've been doing right and improve those at which they have not been so good.

Among the items on coach Urban Meyer's checklist of to-do items: shoring up the secondary, avoiding long gainers, getting quarterback Braxton Miller to hang on to the ball and taking a breath before the rigors that lie ahead.