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Game Thread tOSU at Wisconsin, Sat. Oct. 18th, 3:30 pm ET, CBS

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sparcboxbuck said:
I agree that we’ve heard that story before… plenty of times. But I would suggest that even with last year’s team, they were working out issues with the run game throughout the season. That’s a LOT easier to do (read: cover up the ugly) while figuring things out with two first round running backs. It really wasn’t until the payoffs that they really figured out gap v. zone blocking schemes. Part of that, I think, was forced by the injury issues we had on the line. Ultimately, the end result was the same.

Net, net. I agree we’ve heard that story in the past… but given what we saw last year as well as what we’re hearing from the beat and the coaches, it does seem like they are taking the opportunity to use some of these games to work through areas for improvement. As you say, ‘taking down every opponent with relative ease…’ With the reduction in physicality in practices, there’s only so much you can really test without the potential for injury. I think this ‘relative ease’ is a luxury for a coach. I can say that I’ve been in both situations… and I’d offer that lacrosse is less reliant on the orchestration that is needed for football… but I absolutely used opponents we would beat with relative ease to work through things that are difficult to do in practice against your own guys.
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Agreed, last year does give me more optimism than I would usually have, especially concerning the run game. Just wish OSU had something resembling two first round backs.

Let's just not wait until disaster to turn the switch on I suppose. It also seems that's what Day has been preaching; staying hungry and desperate. As I've said before, Day has more than earned our trust as fans, I think OSU is gonna be fine, just cautiously optimistic. Being able to turn it on at any point is a luxury, but if you haven't actually turned it on yet, how do you know you will?

Edit: also, excellent point about the limited physicality in practices, never really thought of that myself
 
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On winning a game on the road​

  • "A different experience."
  • "A great experience."
  • "It can bring you together. You have to focus a little bit more when you're on the road. All those things are good for the growth of the team."

On Ohio State continuing to improve​

  • "What we did last week means absolutely zero."
  • "What matters is what we put in this week."
  • "It's really the things that aren't flashy. You can't get bored with doing the same thing over and over and over again. That's the whole idea of chopping wood and carrying water. It goes right back to your technique. It goes right back to your pad level. It goes right back to your focus, to your effort. Nothing new or extraordinary, but that's, I think, in the end, what will separate us, is if we continue to stay focused and do the same things over and over again but get more efficient and get better at them."

On Ohio State's leadership this season​

  • "When your best players and your leaders and your hardest workers and the coaches are willing to hold those guys accountable — it's easy to yell at the third-string cornerback or whoever, the scout team guys. But when you're pushing the guys who are the leaders and the biggest contributors and the guys performing on the field, it holds everybody accountable."
  • "All parts of the growth of the team."
  • "We're halfway in now, and there's a lot of things we got to get better at, but to your point, the leadership has been strong so far this season."

On where Ohio State can improve​

  • Day said Ohio State's players know where they can improve.
  • "We only get better by being uncomfortable."
  • "The minute anybody feels comfortable in the building, that's a bad sign."
  • "We have to fight against complacency."

On Ohio State's run game​

  • "I do think we've been efficient."
  • "I'd certainly like to see more explosive ones."
  • Day said he's been stressing the importance of Ohio State's running backs breaking tackles, making people miss and fighting for extra yards.

On Ohio State's slower offensive pace this season​

  • Ohio State has averaged 60 plays a game during its 6-0 start.
  • Day said college football's pace of play has changed in recent years, transitioning from faster-paced, no-huddle schemes to slower-paced, huddle schemes.
  • "We're not trying to do that. Feel free to get first downs and keep the thing moving. But we're gonna try to make sure we're dictating the tempo the way we feel best. But ultimately, it comes down to efficiency in the game. We want to be explosive. We certainly always want to score points when we're on the field. We'll continue to work different tempos and make sure we're being efficient, but that's the most important thing."

On Julian Sayin's growth​

  • "I think Julian is seeing things well."
  • Day said Sayin has reached a point where he can share what he likes and doesn't like in Ohio State's game plan.
  • "I really am impressed with what he and the quarterbacks and Billy Fessler do in the meeting room. I'm in there daily listening to the preparation. I can tell when I go into the meeting, they've already put a bunch of film work in, they've done a bunch of it, because he already knows the answers. That's a good sign for a quarterback."

On whether Illinois had success while running tempo​

  • "They did hit a couple of plays on the tempo, so we'll make sure we're getting lined up and doing a good job with that."
  • "There's give and take to everything. You want to play in tempo? That means the game is gonna be a little bit longer and more plays."
  • "Everyone has to make their decisions, but it's our job to make sure we're lining up and playing fast."

On Jermaine Mathews Jr.'s performance against Illinois​

  • Day said Mathews has "good short-area quickness."
  • "He's competitive. He's tough. He's got a good sense for the ball, kind of a baller. When you see him make plays like that, it's just exciting to watch."
  • Day said Ohio State is "hoping to get Lorenzo (Styles Jr.) back in this game," but if the Buckeyes need to move Mathews inside, they will.
  • "When a guy can play inside or outside, it's a little bit harder to identify sometimes what coverage we're in."
  • Day said Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Matthews "can do multiple things." Day called players like them "a defensive coordinator's dream."

On whether AI has impacted game planning​

  • Day said he believes there will be a time when AI helps teams put game plans together.
  • “We’re not quite there yet."
  • Day said Ohio State has used AI for analytics and data tracking. They’ll look for ways to use it to their advantage.
  • Day said Ohio State will be "all over it" if and when AI can give teams an advantage.

On Wisconsin​

  • "I've been impressed watching their film on defense."
  • "I think they probably feel like their backs are against the wall."
  • "We got to expect their best shot."
  • "There's a great environment there. Camp Randall always is a difficult place to play."
  • "It is about us, but we got to make sure we know our opponent. It's all about preparation."

On Wisconsin linebacker Tackett Curtis, the Badgers' defensive front​

  • "Tackett Curtis is a guy we recruited. He was a really good player. He's very athletic and can go sideline to sideline."
  • "I think they're a good defense. I really do."
  • Day said Wisconsin's rushing defense impresses him.
  • "We got to come in and certainly get a fast start."

On whether Ohio State will be at full strength vs. Wisconsin​

  • "I think. I think."
  • "Go get it. Go get this win, man. Let's go. Everything we got, and then we have a chance to heal up for a week and go from there."
  • "We got to recover, get healthy and then go play hard on Saturday."
  • "I feel like we'll have a full group ready to roll."

On the potential for inclement weather in Madison​

  • "It's all about your focus."
  • "Just adapting."
  • "You got to handle it better than your opponent. That's the bottom line."
  • "We just got to handle it."
  • "It's part of the game. Just something we got to handle."
  • "It's an outdoor game, just gotta figure out.

On whether Ohio State will participate in the "Jump Around" tradition​

  • "If guys want to jump, they can jump, I don't know," Day said with a laugh.
  • "Just make sure we're out there playing the next snap and doing well. That's all."
Just sayin': Clink on the link to read what read what Carson Hinzman had to say.
 
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RhodeIslandBuck said:
I've always been nervous about the "they're saving it for later idea". I think there's more validity to it in the modern context (longer season, can afford a loss or two etc) but still, we've heard that a million times in the past 25 years and it never really turns out to be true.

Still taking down every opponent with relative ease so who am I to criticize really. I just hope they're done with the round holes/square pegs thing we've seen on the offensive side, specifically on Thanksgiving weekend. With our skill set on offense, there's no reason for 13 personnel as much as they use it. Like you, I hope it's part of a grander scheme.
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It was true under Tressel. Not so much with Day
 
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OregonBuckeye said:
It was true under Tressel. Not so much with Day
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Day is intentionally slowing the pace down to save reps. That much is certain.

Like those above, not so sure he is straight up using these games like "spring training". I think we are seeing some legit issues.

As far as "they turned it on for the playoffs" last year thinking goes, well if that was just a flip of the switch then (for the 10 trillionth time) WTF was that in The Game?

So that remains my main source of skepticism about anything other than pace of playing being 100% deliberate.

Hope I'm wrong and he comes out and just ass blasts tsun.
 
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Wisconsin Expected to Start Hunter Simmons at Quarterback Against Ohio State

Wisconsin is expected to start Hunter Simmons at quarterback against Ohio State. Once the team's third-stringer, Simmons will make his third straight start for the Badgers.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

Wisconsin Expected to Start Hunter Simmons at Quarterback Against Ohio State​


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Hunter Simmons began the season as Wisconsin’s third-string quarterback. Now, he’ll start against top-ranked Ohio State.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Simmons is expected to make his third consecutive start for the Badgers. An offseason transfer from Southern Illinois, Simmons opened the year behind Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. and San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil on the depth chart.

Edwards started Wisconsin’s season opener against Miami (OH) before leaving with a knee injury, completing seven of 16 passes for 113 yards. O’Neil took over and led the Badgers to a 17-10 win, finishing 12 of 19 for 120 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

For a brief stretch, Wisconsin’s offense appeared to be in good hands with O’Neil. The sophomore went 23 of 27 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 42-10 win over Middle Tennessee State. But the unit sputtered in back-to-back losses to Alabama and Maryland, as

O’Neil completed just 25 of 39 passes for 237 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Fickell benched him in the second half against the Terrapins, turning to Simmons, who has since gone 33 of 59 for 329 yards, one touchdown and three picks in appearances against Maryland, Michigan and Iowa.

Fickell had Simmons and O'Neil battle to be Wisconsin's starting quarterback this week. According to Thamel, there's still no timeline slated for Edwards' return.
 
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