The Ohio State football team's preparation for the 2020 season has officially ramped up this week, as the Buckeyes are back to their usual in-season schedule of 20 hours of team activities per week as they prepare for their first game of the fall in just over one month.
While the Buckeyes still aren't allowed to hold full-contact practices until Sept. 30, when daily antigen testing will begin in the Big Ten, Ryan Day's squad is back to holding team workouts on a daily basis (excluding one required day off per week) as they prepare for their newly scheduled season opener against Nebraska at Ohio Stadium on Oct. 24.
With that in mind, Day joined the Ohio State IMG Sports Network's Buckeye Roundtable show on Monday night to talk about how the team's preparation is going so far, what they're looking to accomplish over the next two to three weeks, the importance of building depth this season and more.
- Day said the Buckeyes are currently treating their preparation like training camp, though he acknowledged it's a challenge not to be able to practice in full pads and that players have already begun classes. “We got to kind of kick-start to get into playing shape.” In 2-3 weeks, the Buckeyes will shift into practicing like they would during a typical game weeks.
- On the challenge of building toughness as a team when they have “We've got to be tough, we've got to be physical ... we've got to get that in short order ... once the pads go on, we're going to have to go.”
- Day said the team's current protocols at the facility haven't changed from what it was over the summer. “We're hoping that once we get the daily tests, we're able to get a little bit more back to normal.”
- On Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade opting back in: “Two All-Americans, two captains, a lot of experience there. To see Buckeye Nation embrace them, that won't be forgotten around here ... To come right back, so quickly too, it just shows you how much they love their teammates, they love Ohio State.”
- “We have to have extraordinary depth,” Day said because of the reality that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be out for 21 days. “Now more than ever, we're gonna need some of the guys that maybe wouldn't have an opportunity to play.” Said they've told all 120 players, including walk-ons, they'll be needed at some point this year.
- Day said the Buckeyes are always looking ahead to their opponents, but the next couple weeks will be about developing fundamentals and getting back into football shape.
- Day said he and his assistant coaches have been watching NFL games and sharing ideas and thoughts in group chats from things they've seen in those games. “We actually are able to watch more football than we ever have before.”
