Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke to the media over a Zoom call Wednesday to give updates on how practices have been going with less than two weeks until the Buckeyes season opener against Nebraska on Oct. 24.
- Day said “it’s a very, very exciting time” to be a part of Ohio State’s passing game right now. Said it is now a challenge to get those quarterbacks to get drafted in the first round.
- On the struggles that other college football teams have had defensively this season, Day said he has shown clips from different teams to try and learn from. He said working on the defensive fundamentals like pad levels and tackling will be critical this season.
- Day said he won’t be changing the game plan because of what they’ve seen around college football with lesser defensive play. Said he trusts what he has on defense.
- On working with a young defense: “You stay up late at night worrying what that’s going to look like, but you can’t change what you do. You just have to make sure the guys can play fast, that they’re prepared.”
- Day said he “thinks the world” of quarterback Justin Fields, and said he’s learned Fields’ strengths, weaknesses and what motivates him after working with him for so long.
- Despite all the talent on the offensive side, Day said the team can’t be selfish and can’t get ahead of themselves. “Talent doesn’t matter, speed doesn’t matter, experience doesn’t matter if you turnover the football.”
- Day said him and quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis will often times split up the work between the signal callers, but most of the time they work with Dennis.
- On former Ohio State safety Jordan Fuller, who is a rookie on the Los Angeles Rams: “Jordan was probably the most unsung hero last season.” Called his absence a big void that will have to be filled this year.
- Day did not name a starting safety for the season.
- Said assistant athletic director Ryan Stamper has done a great job making sure guys are registered and able to vote and that’s a focus for Ohio State this season.
- Day said he is concerned with not having much time in pads with the four freshman receivers, but has liked what he has seen in how they have ran routes and how they are progressing overall.
- On freshman quarterbacks Jack Miller and C.J. Stroud, Day said it’s hard to know what he has with them until you see them play in a game, despite attempts to replicate it with scrimmages in Ohio Stadium.
- “I feel really bad for the recruits and their families” about the ongoing recruiting dead period. Mentioned that there have been some players who haven’t been able to see the culture that has been built at Ohio State.
- On recruits setting up their own events for specific programs: “We just have to stay out of all of that.”
- Day on the difficulties of recruiting during COVID-19: “We just have to handle it better than anyone else.”
- Day said Ohio State is having talks about putting social justice messages on the back of their helmets, and they should have an answer on that later this week. “I’m proud of our players. This is something they’ve led from the inside out.”
- Said the defensive tackle room is likely his biggest concern, in terms of depth for Ohio State heading into the season. “We’ll solve the problem. But it’s definitely a group that has to step up and has to create depth.”
- At right tackle, Day said Nicholas Petit-Frere and Paris Johnson “will both play.” Also said that Petit-Frere has taken the bulk of the snaps with the first team thus far.
- Day on how Fields’ season ended: “I know leaving that field last year just fueled his fire.”
- On watching college football these past few Saturdays instead of playing: “Most of it’s been torture.”
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