Meyer: Braxton better than you think

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - What's brewing with the 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes ...

BUCKEYES BUZZ: Urban Meyer has become Braxton Miller's biggest booster.

Speaking at his weekly news conference on Monday, Meyer heaped praise on his QB in a lengthy, impassioned speech.

"If you really studied the game with the copies we have, he delivers punishment; he goes hard. He's a hell of a football player," Meyer said. "I mean, I think, a hell of a football player. Better than even everybody in this country thinks right now. That's how good I think Braxton Miller is."

He even conjured up some bad memories by using the word "tattoo."

Miller carried 27 times in Saturday's win over UCF. Meyer said that is way too many.

"We have got to be smart," he said. "He got tattooed a little bit. But we've all got to take care of him. That's kind of the message I'm giving in the team meeting to the offense here (on Tuesday): Take care of him."

MIXED REVIEWS: RBs coach Stan Drayton knows that with Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall hurt, he must rely on freshman Bri'onte Dunn and Rod Smith to bear a large load of the responsibility at tailback.

He also doesn't sound as if he has a lot of faith in them.

"Those younger running backs -- Bri'onte Dunn and Rod Smith -- their performance last week was not very good," he said. "However, we wipe the slate clean every week and they've got to have an unbelievable week of practice this week to earn their time on the field. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of attitude and what kind of approach they have in practice."

DON'T LOOK AT ME: WR Corey Brown was asked if he might be able to run the ball several times -- he carried on a reverse against UCF -- to ease the workload on the RBs.

Yes, he said. Then he was asked if, like Miller, he could carry 27 times in a game.

"Probably not. I don't think my body can handle that," the 6-foot, 187-pound junior said. "I'm too small."

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