After a season-opening win against Minnesota that saw new faces all over the field, Ohio State now plays host to No. 12 Oregon on Saturday in its most high-profile non-conference game of the season.
With the game just two days away, Day took to his final weekly media availabilities on Thursday afternoon, joining his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan and briefly meeting with the media to offer some final updates.
Day was also joined by offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson for the final portion of his radio show.
Here are some of the highlights.
Ryan Day Radio Show
Ryan Day
On the offensive performance
- "It was a funny game on offense. We really only had 48 gradable plays."
- Day notes that the defensive score and the quick hits limited the number of snaps.
- "I wish we had more plays in that game."
On the big plays
- "It was bizarre."
- "I think it was 22 plays in the second half, and we had 35 points on the board."
- Day notes that the quarters defense Minnesota played allowed for some big plays.
- "That was the plan going in."
On the close game
- "We knew it was going to be that type of game."
- "Minnesota is not a team you blow out."
- "We knew we were going to take it into the fourth quarter and try to pull away in the fourth quarter."
On the weird formations
- "We wanted to make sure we matched up personnel."
- Day notes that they had some different packages and formations and that forced the Buckeyes to play a lot of different packages, as well.
- "At one point I think they had seven offensive linemen."
On C.J. Stroud's performance
- "To see how he came out in the second half and played was very encouraging."
- Day notes that he had a lot of firsts.
- "I wish there were more snaps to grow upon."
- "As a quarterback, all it takes is one or two plays to ruin your day."
On the running backs
- "Again, I wish they had more carries, but overall they ran hard."
- Day likes that they have multiple options in the backfield.
On Miyan Williams running the wrong way
- "You're like 'no no no no, yes yes yes yes.'"
- "It was just funky enough I think it just caught them off guard a little bit."
- "He ran hard all game."
- "The job of the running back is to take care of the football, and they have to continue to do that."
- "Any time that you have competition at each position, it brings out the best."
- Day notes they do want to build some consistency, as well.
On Luke Wypler
- Day said he's proud of how Wypler played when thrown into that situation.
- "It was a good start for him and a good sign of things to come."
- "It was a good start for Luke."
On Dawand Jones' game
- "As a first-time starter here, it was a good start for him."
- Day notes he'll have a bigger challenge this year.
On Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson
- "I think that their practice habits have been excellent, overall."
- Day notes that there were fewer touches in this game, meaning the rotation was tighter.
On allowing zero sacks against Minnesota
- "I think it was a different type of game."
- Day notes that Oregon is a great pass-rushing team.
- "This is a different kind of challenge for us."
- "You have to block a little longer this week."
On moving the pocket
- "We like to move the pocket and he seems natural in that aspect."
- Day notes that he was not perfect, but they like to move angles.
On Oregon
- "Very very talented."
- "Fast, athletic."
- Day notes that they recruit very, very well.
- "They have some All-American type players."
On the Oregon offense
- Day notes he actually recruited Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown early on at Boston College.
- "Both of those backs are quick."
- Day said they do a good job of getting their players the ball in space.
On Kayvon Thibodeaux
- "He creates a lot of problems on that edge."
- "He's really skilled."
- But Day notes there are a lot of guys who have skill across the whole defense.
- "A lot of talent and a good scheme."
- "Probably one of the more athletic defenses we've played in a long time.
On young players getting in the game
- "What you perceive is going to happen may not always look that way."
- Day notes you see a lot of growth once a player has to physically play.
On the recruiting weekend
- "Any time you come on campus for a visit, it's a different experience."
- "To be here for a game and a game like this is a unique experience."
- Day notes this is a weekend that recruits want to see and be a part of.
Is there a bond between current players and former players?
- Day notes they had a day during camp where former players came to practice.
- Day wants the former players to feel like they're always welcome back.
- "The only reason we're here is because of them."
On Demario McCall
- "He's shown leadership."
- Day notes he's been a vocal leader to the entire team.
- "I've been very impressed with his leadership."
Kevin Wilson
On Jeremy Ruckert's catch
- "We were able to drag him against the grain there."
- "We had several things we wanted to get for him."
- Wilson notes that there were so few offensive plays because of the big plays.
- "We had a lot of things worked up to get to him in the scoring zone, but we only got in the red zone once."
- Wilson said there are plenty of plays designed for him, they just couldn't get to them.
On playing Minnesota
- "I thought that was going to be a buzz saw of a game."
- Wilson notes that there were just two guys playing their original position on offense.
- Wilson notes it was a young team, a new quarterback, in bad weather, at night on the road. It was a stressful environment.
- "I was proud of the way our kids battled through the stress. We did not act like a new team."
Ryan Day's Thursday Press Conference
- On Miyan Williams not running the right way on his touchdown run, Day says it’s “not a big deal,” but “not exactly the way we drew it up.”
- On playing against a talented Oregon defense: “We’re gonna have to play a field position game sometimes.” Day says this is “as athletic and fast a defense as we’ve played in a long time.”
- Day says the team has to play with emotion but not let the emotion play with you.
- Ryan Day says Palaie Gaoteote’s waiver was denied by the NCAA and he will not be eligible to play this season. He is still on the Ohio State roster and will continue to be.
- Day says the Buckeyes have played a couple different guys at center in the lead-up to this week, but says Luke Wypler has had a good week of practice. Day said Wypler is "ready to start."
- “We’ll continue to rotate guys,” Day says about the the Ohio State secondary. Day says he thinks the defense will be on the field for 70-80 plays.
- On TreVeyon Henderson: “He’s got to continue to build on it and grow.” Day says he wishes Henderson could have gotten more snaps last week.
- Day says J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer will both have an opportunity to play “significant roles” as true freshmen on the Buckeye defensive line.
- Day says taking care of the football and improving run-after-catch ability were big points of emphasis for Chris Olave returning for the season.
- Is Josh Proctor looking encouraging? “I try to stay away from all that. We’ll see as we get closer to the game.”
- Day has not named a backup quarterback yet to this point. “It’s still a work in progress. ...Hopefully guys start to separate.”
- On Gaoteote, Day says the team will look back into the issue to see if any kind of appeal can be put together.
- Day says as a young guy, the Buckeyes were looking to get Donovan Jackson on the field any way they could, which is why he made an appearance on the offensive line early in last week’s opener.
