Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Believes Iowa Will Be “As Big a Challenge As We've Had,” Says Ohio State Will “Get Some Guys Back” This Week

Here are some of the highlights from The Ryan Day Radio Show on 97.1 The Fan:

Ryan Day

On the off week

• "We wanted to get some rest but also wanted to work on some fundamental things."
• Day said Ohio State's fundamental work includes tightening up techniques in each unit at each position. "You can't get away from those Day 1 things."
• Day said it's good to change some things around for the team during the bye week, so they don't become complacent with the same activities day after day and week after week.

On getting healthy during the off week

• "I think it was good for us. We are gonna get some guys back, which is great."
• "There will always be those things. It's good for those guys to heal up (during the bye week)."
• Day said the best thing about the bye week is that his team was able to rest and recover from the first six games, and he believes the players will be fresh for the second half of the season.
• "We are starting to get closer to getting some guys back and getting to full strength... It's been good to see some guys step in, but there are some bigger challenges ahead of us." Day said his team will need "to be veteran" to win games in the second half of the season.

On the offensive line, Luke Wypler

• Day said Ohio State's offensive line has performed at a high level this season, and he's been proud of the continued development of those players, especially Luke Wypler.
• Day said the offensive line is the spear that leads the charge for the offense, but "it's everybody involved." Day added, "Whether it's the tight ends, running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks – everybody has to do their part."

On Mike Hall Jr., the defensive line, the front seven

•  Day said Mike Hall is "back at full strength" heading into the Iowa game. Hall played only seven snaps against Michigan State, but he still had 2.5 sacks.
• "The depth at the D-line has been a strength for us, for sure."
• Day said Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers have been excellent at the second level and have worked well in tandem with the defensive line.
• "This week is gonna be as big a challenge as we've had."
• "It all starts up front, certainly in the Big Ten. The linebackers really understand what is happening up front." Day said Eichenberg and Chambers have been able to play fast and downhill with the gaps the defensive linemen have created for them.

On the Iowa defense

• "Leverage is an advantage. That's a way that we describe leverage." Day explained that Iowa is very skilled and maximizes its leverage defensively, especially with the defensive line and the linebackers.
• Day said Iowa's players understand how they fit into the defense, which makes them talented. He claims that allows the Hawkeyes to be one of the best defenses in the nation statistically.

On who has stood out in practices over the last two weeks

• Day said JK Johnson had "a really good off week" and mentioned that he's been happy to see Sonny Styles continue to develop in practice and on the special teams unit in games.
• Day said the young wide receivers have flashed for Brian Hartline.

On Dallan Hayden

• "He practices. He practices every day. He's out there every day getting those reps."
• Day said Hayden has made mistakes, but that's common for a young running back. Day said those mistakes are not drastic, though, as a ball carrier's primary role is to take care of the football, and Hayden does that well in practice.

On Marvin Harrison Jr.

• Day compared Harrison to Kobe Bryant on the 2008 United States men's basketball national team called the "Redeem Team" because of how Harrison leads his teammates by how much work he puts in outside of practice and meetings.
• Day said the work Harrison put in during the offseason and continues to put in before and after practice this fall has been contagious for the Ohio State receivers, and he thinks it's even started to spread to different parts of the team.
• "When you have leaders like that, I think it gives you a chance."

On Iowa's offense

• "They play off of each other really well."
• "They try to control the game. They do a good job establishing the run."
• Day said that Iowa's No. 1 goal is to win the game. "They play complementary football as good as anybody."
• Day said the Hawkeyes will likely try to establish the run against Ohio State so they can control the clock and keep the Buckeye offense off the field for as long as possible.

On having balance offensively

• "You have to have balance. You have to balance. We know that... So far we've done a good job of that, but we have a long way to go."
• Day said the perfect offensive scheme "marries the pass game and the run game."
• Day said running the ball in situational opportunities will be important for Ohio State moving forward, especially on third down, in the red zone and at the goal line.

On Cade Stover, the tight end room

• "They've been a huge part of our offense. They take on a lot of responsibility."
• Day said Ohio State has used the tight end this season more frequently than they have in past years, "and they deserve it." Day added that the Buckeyes will continue to use the tight ends in the second half of the season and believes Stover, Mitch Rossi and Gee Scott Jr. can be weapons for the offense.

On attributes he looks for when recruiting a quarterback

• "We look at everything. We look at their size, where they are from, their high school program, their makeup."
• Day said he looks for quarterbacks "who are able to withstand adversity" and players that will be able to break through "when they hit a wall."
• "I think it's good for young people, especially in sports, to lose." Day said you can learn a lot about someone and their ability by looking at how they respond to failure.
• Day said he "loves" quarterbacks who played multiple sports growing up and at the high school level.

On the offense, time of possession

• In the first six matchups, Day said "we've controlled the game."
• Day said it's a good thing when there is more film of the offense than the defense because it means that the offense has controlled the clock and put the team at an advantage.

On Jaxon Smith-Njigba's return, if that could be a problem

• "That wouldn't be a problem."
• Day said Ohio State's receivers have stepped up in Smith-Njigba's absence, but they will gladly welcome him back. "We have a lot of guys that have done a really good job – major contributors – that are some of the best receivers in the country."
• Day said the receiver room rolls about six players onto the field throughout the game, which makes the Ohio State offense more versatile. He expects that to continue whenever Smith-Njigba returns from his injury.

Brian Hartline

On Marvin Harrison Jr., watching crazy catches in practice

• “We are blessed to see it every day.”
• Hartline said he is amazed with how athletic some of Ohio State’s receivers are and the kinds of plays they are able to make in practice and in games.

On what impresses him about C.J. Stroud

• “His leadership. His command on Saturday and his calm on the sidelines is far above where it was Week 1 or Week 2 of last year.”
• “The confidence is always there.”
• Hartline said Stroud’s confidence spreads to the entire team and helps the offense – and even the defense – perform at a high level each week.

On Xavier Johnson, the depth in the receiver room

• “It’s always the small things that add up. The way that Xavier prepares… he does a great job, and the way he goes about his business says a lot about him.”
• Hartline said Ohio State’s depth in the receiver room is special. He said “it’s harder and harder to maintain” in today’s college football, but the Buckeyes are blessed to have as much talent as they do.

On Kyle McCord, Devin Brown

• “Kyle has really progressed. I think he’s learning from C.J.”
• Hartline said McCord and Brown have had the mindset of learning from Stroud as much as possible this season. He added that those quarterbacks have learned that they don’t have the same play style as Stroud, and that’s OK, but there are still things to pick up on.
• “Devin is a year behind Kyle, but he’s doing a really good job… it’s been impressive to see him communicate and grow over the last nine months.”

Ryan Day’s Thursday Press Conference

• On Sonny Styles: “To say that he’s overachieved has been an understatement. … He’s earned the respect of everyone here.” Day says “he’ll continue to have the opportunity to get on the field and play.
• Day says “some guys” will be on a “pitch count” in Saturday’s game, although not necessarily specific to JSN.
• Day expects both TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams to be back at full strength for Iowa.
• “Playing in the red zone sometimes can be frustrating” because of the lack of space. “We spend a lot of time in the red zone” in preparation.
• “If we want to go reach our goals, what’s going to make us different than everybody in the country? A lot of time that’s time. You have to sacrifice a lot of things.”
• On Hall’s emergence: “I was very impressed with him last year, just the way he went about his business on the scout team. … Even when he got into games, I was impressed with MIke.” Day says he’s “matured a lot” since last year.
• Day says Kourt Williams has a “long-term injury” and he’s “not sure when he’ll be back.”
• “When Marvin and Emeka both got here, there was just a different feel with those two guys. … It says a lot for young guys who were that mature as freshmen. … Not surprised at all.”