Ryan Day​

On Ohio State’s win over Illinois​

• “I thought there was a good mix of run and pass early on.”
• “A lot of the big plays by Jeremiah.”
• Day said other players stepped up. He mentioned Phillip Bell’s clutch third-down catch as a play that stood out.

On Ohio State’s run game vs. Illinois​

• “There were some good runs in there.”
• “Good balance, but we always want more.”
• “There was some progress made.”
• Day said Iowa has “the best defense in the country” statistically and said Ohio State’s offense must have balance running and throwing the ball to move the chains and score points.
• Day said establishing the run helps teams control the game. He said that’s been a point of emphasis this week.

On facing Iowa on the road​

• “To go on the road and win a game like this at Iowa — especially after the win they just had last week, they got a lot of momentum there, they got GameDay there — this is a great opportunity for this team to build a ton of momentum.”
• “Everyone’s got to be on their game.”
• “It’s all about preparation.”
• “It’s gonna take everything we have.”
• Day said Ohio State has to be ready physically and mentally for this game. “We need everyone to step up in that moment and then be ready to play for 60 minutes. It starts with the beginning right out of the gate, throwing the first punch, but playing for four quarters and being focused and staying focused.”

On Ohio State’s 2017 loss to Iowa​

• When asked about Ohio State’s 2017 loss at Iowa, Day said he wishes he could “bleach that from my mind.”
• “It’s a lesson learned about a lot of things, but that was then, this is now. That was a long time ago. But it doesn’t change the fact that Coach Ferentz and his staff do a great job and when you go there you got to be on your game and got to be able to execute at a high level across the board in all three phases.”
• “We got to make sure we recognize the fact of how much of a challenge this game is. I think this game has everybody’s attention. That’s not the case at all here. Everybody knows how good of a team Iowa is.”

On Kirk Ferentz and Iowa’s veteran coaches​

• “I think it’s one of the more amazing jobs in the last 20 years of college football, what they’ve been able to sustain there. To think of a head coach, a defensive coordinator and some of the assistants that have been there for that long, it’s unheard of these days.”
• “It speaks to their character. It speaks to their culture. But also speaks to what a great job they’ve done on the field schematically.”
• Day credits Ferentz and Parker for the identity they’ve created for Iowa’s defense, which has become “plug and play” with athletes that know how to do their job effectively and play within a scheme.

On Ohio State’s defensive line vs. Iowa’s run game​

• Day said he’s looking for every defensive lineman to step up this week and stop Iowa’s run game.
• Day said Zion Grady is back for the Buckeyes this week. “We get a little bit of help from him being there.”
• Ohio State’s defensive line needs to be fundamentally sound to keep Iowa's run game from gaining steam.

On what impresses him about Jeremiah Smith​

• “Just how hard he practices every day.”
• “If you want the ball as a receiver, get open in practice. … When you’re running routes constantly where you’re getting open. Guess what starts happening? You start getting plays that are designed your way where you’re the first or second look.”
• “We have to pull him back because of how hard he practices.”
• Day said Smith sets a great example for how he approaches his life off the field and his play on the field. “If I’m a young player, I just look to him as the example. When you can coach your best players the hardest, and when they set the example and set the pace, it gives you the chance to have a really good team.”

On the environment at Kinnick Stadium​

• Day said Ohio State will have the same routine before the Iowa game as they do with all other games.
• “It’s a Big Ten road environment. It’s gonna be really, really loud and really, really hostile.”
• “GameDay will be there. We’re sort of used to that.”
• “That’s why this is such a big game for us.”
• Day said he’ll talk with his coaches and players about waving to the children’s hospital at the end of the first quarter.

On Ohio State’s Bison package​

• Day said he’s seen good things from Ohio State’s Bison package. That package could continue to expand the rest of the season.
• Day has been pleased with Cook’s performance in the role. Though he hasn’t been perfect, Cook has been learning and growing.
• Day said Joshua Padilla would be the next man up behind Cook in the Bison package.

On Iowa’s win over Michigan​

• “I was actually watching the end of that game,” Day said, explaining how he was asking himself what Ohio State would have done in the same situation Iowa ended up scoring its walk-off touchdown against Michigan.
• Day said communication is critical in those moments. Everyone, from coaches to players, needs to be on the same page.

On Julian Sayin’s mobility and toughness​

• “That’s what being a quarterback is. When the offensive line is down there with no ball — they don’t touch a ball, offensive linemen, they’re just smashing into each other all day — and you’re over there throwing routes to the receivers. How do you show toughness? You got to stand in there when it matters the most and take those shots and keep coming back.”
• “You got to show toughness by making plays when it matters the most with your feet, the sneaks, all these different things.”
• “When you can do that, you build that trust in your team.”
• “Even that third down, when he was on the sideline, you saw the whole sideline erupt.”
• “It was great to see those things on the field last week from here. Now we’re gonna need it on the road.”

Jaylen McClain​

On Ohio State's defensive backs​

• McClain said Ohio State's defensive backs have the right mindset entering every game. They're positive and hungry.
• McClain said he trusts Ohio State's cornerbacks "with everything."

On Caleb Downs​

• McClain called Downs "a pro."
• "His mindset and the way he went about every day and the way he played rubbed off on me a lot."
• "He lived up to the standard, expanded it, and he brought people along with him, and I was one of those people."
• McClain said Downs brought along Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Devin Sanchez, too.

On Ohio State's wide receivers​

• "Iron sharpens iron."
• "We have the best receivers in the country. We have the best receiver in the country in Jeremiah. Being able to play against him every day gets me prepared for anybody we play against week in and week out."
• When Lachey asked if Ohio State's defensive backs hold back while hitting Smith in practice, McClain laughed and said, "For sure."

On his father, Maurice, playing for Matt Patricia​

• McClain called playing for Patricia after his father "a real full-circle moment for me and my family."
• McClain said Patricia told him he's a lot like his father.
• "I've been hearing things about him since I was little. It's pretty cool."

RugbyBuck said:

Ricky Dudley V.2.0.

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osuvictory1 said:

Man to have Thurman in this O would have been awesome.

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osuvictory1 said:

Man to have Thurman in this O would have been awesome.

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brodybuck21 said:

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Punting​

brodybuck21 said:

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Fungo Squiggly said:

View attachment 95816

By gawd, the really IS Parker Fleming’s music!

Man, AI is such a fucking shitshow.

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RB07OSU said:

That's exactly what was rattling through my head. If you follow recruiting, it's not like we brought in a litany of high 4 star or 5 star talent we can't keep off the field. The only one we had (Thurman) transferred out. The rest are serviceable receivers that need to block their asses off to justify being on the field. Having more TEs on the field with our personnel makes zero sense right now.

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osuvictory1 said:

For no reason too. The Oline is playing just fine.

My criticism of the TE room and multiple TE's is they aren't good blockers.

WR's are actually better blockers.

Nate Roberts can catch. So he should be used as a big body target.

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Onebuckfan said:

Nothing says you don’t trust your OL like the three TE formation.

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Mike80 said:

I fully expect Saban to take on a southern accent soon….

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Jim Harbaugh Urged John Harbaugh, Giants to Trade for J.J. McCarthy​