COLUMBUS — Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer needed nearly a month after spring practice to assemble his first depth chart. The next one he posts may take only a matter of minutes.

While allowing for an incoming freshman who might challenge for playing time or a veteran who makes an unexpected splash in preseason camp, Meyer said the depth chart he released to the media Wednesday will pretty much be the pecking order at positions for the season opener against Miami University on Sept. 1.

“We made a big emphasis with our team that spring practice isn’t just about fundamental development and skill development. It’s about earning a spot on the team,” Meyer said. “Our focus in August — and this has just evolved for me over the years — isn’t developing a depth chart. It’s trying to go win a game.

“The urgency was there this spring — especially after the players were aware that their playing time will be determined in spring practice, not so much in the fall. I just like that approach.”

The depth chart didn’t contain any surprises, but Meyer did point out that there are still battles to be won. He has freshman offensive tackle Taylor Decker, an early enrollee from Vandalia Butler, and sophomore defensive tackle Michael Bennett, a Centerville grad, on the second team. But the coach said both are challenging the starters.

“Without question, the addition of Taylor Decker makes the offensive line ‘functional.’ I put them as non-functional in January and very functional after spring practice,” Meyer said. “I thought coach (Ed) Warinner did a very good job with them in what some would say is a very complicated offense. I’ve got to give them credit.

“Reid Fragel is in a dogfight for that (right tackle) position. Taylor Decker is right on his heels. We just need to continue to develop and recruit depth. But as I said throughout spring and again now that I’ve had time to reflect ... our offensive line was the most improved group on the team.”

The defensive line may be the Buckeyes’ deepest position. Meyer said star Nathan Williams is making steady progress after missing all but one game last season with a knee injury, and All-American John Simon will anchor the front four. Johnathan Hankins, Garrett Goebel and Adam Bellamy are designated as the other starters, although Bennett figures to get plenty of snaps.

“I know I’ve got him listed behind Johnathan Hankins, but that’s not necessarily going to be the case next fall,” Meyer said. “We’ll rotate guys, and our best four will be on the field at one time. It’s hard for me to say he’s not one of our four best. We’ll move him around.”

During his 30-minute press conference, Meyer displayed his usual candor — some of which might make OSU fans wince. He said he doesn’t see the Buckeyes being ready to make a major jump from last year’s 6-7 record.

“Talent will get you about seven to eight wins,” Meyer said. “Discipline will start to push you to nine wins, maybe. And when you get leadership, that’s when magic starts happening. ... I think there’s enough talent to win some games. Discipline, we’re still evaluating that. And the leadership is not where it needs to be.”

Meyer has been insistent on leaders stepping forward in the offseason because coaches aren’t permitted to work with players.

“If we get that out of (quarterbacks) Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton, you’ll see our throwing game be much improved this year,” Meyer said. “If not, you’ll see it fail. It’s that simple. ... I hate to be so brutally honest, but those guys know that.”

Meyer added of his starting QB: “I’m very pleased with Braxton Miller’s progress. He’s come a long way just (in) the ‘want to.’

“I hate to stereotype a kid as a typical high school player, but I get the sense when I first got here that he was kind of a cool guy and ‘I’m going to lift weights and take care of my business,’ as opposed to, no, you’re going to finish first in every drill, you’re going to be the first one in the office, you’re going to do extra work, you’re going to push yourself to be one of the best. And he’s doing that now.”

As for the offense as a whole, much has changed since Meyer characterized the unit as a “clown show” at the start of the spring.

“Our guys have been instructed, no one is allowed to watch that (early) video tape. It WAS a clown show,” Meyer said. “The third week was when all of a sudden it started to resemble an offense. That starts up front. Once we got our offensive line cooking, they really improved.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@ DaytonDailyNews.com.