Thursday Bullet Points: Ohio State's Continued Improvement, Converting on Third Down, and an Update on C.J. Stroud

After its most complete performance of the season, Ohio State will look to keep the momentum going against Rutgers this week.

Ahead of Saturday's game, Buckeye head coach Ryan 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 running backs coach Tony Alford for the final portion of the show.

Here are some of the highlights.

Ryan Day Radio Show

Ryan Day

On the performance against Akron

"Overall, I thought we took some strides."
Day notes that with more reps, players are feeling more comfortable.
"On defense, we were a little more aggressive."
Day notes that Ohio State "found a pass rush."

On the offense averaging 8.7 yards per play

"I think it's the overall execution."
"When you start playing against better competition, every inch matters."
Day notes that Ohio State has to do better on third down and in the red zone

On TreVeyon Henderson

"He's had some big games so far."
Day praises the offensive line.
"He's turning good plays into great plays."

On not everyone getting touches on offense

"I think that's part of being unselfish."
Day explained that you have to take what the defense gives you.
"We have good players all over the field."
"Sometimes it's just the way the game plays out."
"At the end of the day, if we're scoring points, everyone's going to get theirs."

On C.J. Stroud

"I thought C.J.'s had a good week of work, so looking forward to getting him back on the field."
"I think stepping away has been good, too."
Day notes that Stroud has had the chance to rest, but also see practice from afar, which he says helps.
Day also notes that Kyle McCord and Jack Miller got some valuable playing time.

On Harry Miller

Day says Harry Miller is now available
Day says Ohio State plans to "ease him back into it."

On converting on third down

Day notes that one of the keys to converting on third down is success on first down.
"So much of it on third-down conversion is where you're at."
Day notes that third-and-short, they should hit 80 percent of the time. Third-and-medium, they should hit about 50 percent. Day said even if you're the best in the country in third and long, you probably still only hit about 18 percent.

On the defensive line

"Winning the line of scrimmage and getting off blocks."
"Defeating a one-on-one block is critical."
Day said they did change up some things schematically, saying "we changed up a few of the looks."
Day praised the defensive tackles "we had some guys show up."

On the young and inexperienced players

"When guys are competing in practice, it shows up in the game."
"Going into the fifth game, we're a different team than we were four weeks ago."
"We're making progress."

On Rutgers' trick plays

"They did it last year, obviously."
Day notes that Ohio State hit them back with a fake punt last year.
"We have to be ready and be alert."

On Rutgers

"It's a good team that's played a decent amount of football."
"They played last season in the same system, so they have a little bit of a rhythm going."
Day said they have a strong running game and mix in a quarterback run.
"Overall, they're a strong team."
Day said Greg Schiano has done a really good job getting his team to buy in.
Day said he's "very impressed" with how they played in the second half against Michigan.
"They're not going to give you anything."

On coaching against a head coach you know

"If you coach long enough, you're going to coach against someone you know."
Day said the scheme and personnel are different at this point.
Day said he has "a ton of respect" for Greg Schiano.
"Once the game starts, it gets real."

On the tight ends

"I think all those guys have different skill sets."
"He's been doing a really good job blocking for us now. He's starting to grow in that roll," Day said of Gee Scott Jr.

On balancing family and work time

"I would not say it's normal whatsoever, but I try to find any time that I can."
"We're obviously staying up late at night, watching the film, and making sure everything stays organized."

On social media criticism

"It's part of being in this type of situation. When you come to Ohio State, you're going to be exposed to a lot of stuff, good or bad."
"If you listen to that stuff, you value that opinion more than your own."
"When you come here, that's something you're going to have to deal with."

On Urban Meyer coaching in Jacksonville

"I know he's building something special down there."
"I'll be watching tonight and pulling for him."

Tony Alford

On Master Teague

"He's done a great job."
"He's gotten better. He's improved in his vision."
"He comes to work every single day. Doesn't complain."
"He's a grown man," Alford said. "He takes care of his business."

On TreVeyon Henderson

"He's very serious. He's very serious about this game and very serious about his trade."
"He wants to be great. He wants to be elite."
"He's always trying to gain an edge and figure out 'how do I get better?'"
"He's not a flamboyant guy. He doesn't talk much, he doesn't say much."

On which player is the fastest

"I'll say Miyan, then everybody will be happy because we know that's a lie."
Alford said he think Evan Pryor might be the fastest one.
Alford notes that "those guys can all pick them up and put them down pretty good."

On picking up pass blocks

"They gotta get better."
Alford said that when five-star running backs come out of high school, they never know how to block.
"They're getting better. Just have to keep working at it."

On the offensive balance

Alford said you'll have to ask Ryan Day about the balance because he calls the plays.
Alford said they don't talk about the balance in the running backs room.
"Really, it's just when your number's called, you perform."

Ryan Day's Thursday Press Conference

On his comfort level with the backup QBs: “I think it goes a long way that these guys have been in games now, so that’s good.” Day says they will still have to play more to get a “body of work.”
On Steele Chambers: “I think everyone in the program felt like he could be a good linebacker.” Day says “what a great decision by him. We’re very fortunate that this has worked out.” “There’s been some things out of him that I think have been special.”
Day says TreVeyon Henderson has to take care of the ball. Day credits the offensive line with some of Henderson’s success. “I think he’s better now than he was four weeks ago.”
On having several players from New Jersey and New York: “Greg’s doing a good job of recruiting in that area. It’s always special when we go back to our homes, where we’re from.” Day says it’s an important recruiting area for the Buckeyes.
On Paul Rhoads: “I think he brings a great approach for our coaches … brings some experience to the table in that room.”
On using the shovel pass/jet sweep: “You try to find a way to get him into a rhythm.”
On TreVeyon Henderson’s interest in stocks, Day says the freshman RB has invested in Tesla, and was impressed by an interaction he had with him regarding financial management.
Day says halfway through Tuesday, C.J. Stroud “knocked the rust off” in practice.
On the breakout freshmen, Day says “it’s exciting to know the future is really bright. … There’s obviously some mentoring that’s going on across the board for some of these guys, and that’s great.”
“Establishing the run is critical.” Day says the Buckeyes will put an emphasis on that moving forward to “take a little pressure off” of Stroud. Day says the Buckeyes didn’t do that enough against Oregon.