After a blowout win over Iowa last weekend, Ohio State will face Penn State on Saturday in Happy Valley. Ryan Day took to the airwaves to preview the Buckeyes' matchup with the Nittany Lions.
Here are some highlights from The Ryan Day Radio Show on 97.1 The Fan:
Ryan Day
On the Iowa game, the defense's performance
- "I thought we responded well. We need to have a fast start on the road this week, for sure."
- Day said the defense has "They have a good rhythm going... You're seeing the guys play with decisiveness and confidence, playing downhill. We're gonna need that this week going on the road."
- Day said Ohio State's defense made it hard for Iowa to move the ball offensively, and he was encouraged by how many turnovers the unit forced against the Hawkeyes.
On Tommy Eichenberg
- "We have several leaders on our defense, but he's certainly stepped ahead."
- "The pick-six on Saturday was huge, but he's been around the ball all season."
- Day said Eichenberg doesn't speak much in practice or games outside of relaying play calls. However, when he does speak, Day says "people listen" because they trust him as a leader.
- Day said Eichenberg, Steele Chambers, Cody Simon and the other linebackers will be challenged again this week by Penn State's offense, which will run a more up-tempo offense with more plays than Iowa ran.
On the receiver room, Julian Fleming
- "I think we really got in a rhythm there in the second half."
- Day complimented Fleming for his long touchdown catch in the fourth quarter because Fleming couldn't see the football for most of his route. Fleming shared on Wednesday that Brian Hartline teaches the receivers to "catch the sun," which is what he did to haul in the pass from C.J. Stroud.
- "He's been physical, and he's a deep threat, as you can see."
- Day said Jaxon Smith-Njigba was able to "get his feet underneath him" against Iowa. "When he was in there, he was able to do some good things."
On the offensive line, how the unit has prepared for Penn State
- Day said the experience of the unit has been a strength this season. "It's not the first time for everything. When something happens in the game, here is how we try to make the adjustment. We don't panic."
- Day said there was a miscommunication between Donovan Jackson and Paris Johnson Jr. on the play where Stroud fumbled the football on a sack from an unblocked defensive lineman. Iowa recovered the football for a defensive touchdown.
- Day said the running backs did an excellent job blocking opposing rushers to protect Stroud against Iowa. "We're gonna need to be good at that again heading into State College."
On Noah Ruggles
- "We're gonna need him."
- Day said Ohio State is approaching a part of their schedule where every point matters in a game, so having Ruggles' consistency will go a long way in helping the Buckeyes win games in the future.
- Day said he wants to score touchdowns but the ultimate priority of an offensive drive is to score points.
On Penn State
- Day said when Ohio State maps out its schedule every season and draws its path to the Big Ten Championship, the coaches circle Penn State as the game the Buckeyes must win. “I think that when you look at the schedule each year and you try to map out your road to Indianapolis, beating Penn State is a big part of it.”
- "Really good players, a good scheme and good coaching. It will be a good environment."
- "it took us a while to crack the rock last year, and it will be the same thing this year."
On Penn State's quarterbacks
- Day said Sean Clifford and Drew Allar have done a good job leading the Penn State offense this season. He sees strength in both quarterbacks and says Ohio State's defense will need to be ready for what each of those players brings to the table on Saturday should the Nittany Lions use both.
- Day said Ohio State is familiar with Allar as a five-star quarterback out of Medina, Ohio. "He's very talented. He's a good player. Bright future ahead of him."
On Lathan Ransom
- "Lathan deserves to get recognized like that."
- Day said Ransom was rewarded because of his talent, but he also believes the overall strength of the Ohio State defense played a role in his recognition. As the unit improves each week, Day expects more weekly or yearly accolades for the Buckeyes on that side of the ball.
- Day said Ohio State's current defensive scheme allows Ransom to shine. Day believes what Jim Knowles asks Ransom to do maximizes his skill set and has created the best version of the safety for the Buckeyes.
On Kyle McCord, Devin Brown
- "Kyle has grown this year. He's gotten better, and so has Devin."
- While McCord hasn't thrown the ball much when he earns backup reps in blowouts, Day said, "He's improving each week. He's getting better."
- During the off week, Day said Stroud took a day off from practice, which allowed McCord to take some snaps with the No. 1 offense. Day said McCord performed well in that role and made some impressive throws while showing strong command and understanding of the playbook.
On C.J. Stroud, his production
- "It goes hand in hand with his preparation."
- Day said Stroud "has had a really good week of practice" leading up to the Penn State game, and he expects Stroud to perform at a high level on Saturday against the Nittany Lions.
- Day said Stroud "deserves it all" in regard to the recognition he's receiving for his high level of play this season and over the last two years as Ohio State's quarterback. Day said "it's not easy" to be the quarterback for the Buckeyes but says Stroud handles it well and stays grounded.
- "I'm most proud of his leadership and the way he is with our players... That's what is most important."
On the Penn State game in 2020
- Day said it was strange to coach in Happy Valley without fans two years ago. He said Penn State pumped in crowd noise that made it difficult to hear coaches that were standing only a few feet from him.
- Day said the crowd noise was still present with Penn State on offense, but he joked that it "maybe wasn't as loud" and disruptive.
On playing at Penn State in Beaver Stadium
- "Great tradition. I think you feel it when you're there."
- "Certainly there have been some great Ohio State and Penn State games there over the years."
- Day said playing at Beaver Stadium is always a challenge for the Buckeyes, so the message to the team this week has been to expect a hostile environment in Happy Valley this weekend even with a noon game and no White Out.
Larry Johnson
On returning to Penn State
- "It's always good to go back home, but this is home now. Saturday I will be in enemy territory."
- Johnson left Penn State – where he coached from 1996-2013 – for Ohio State in 2014. Johnson said he is thankful to be a Buckeye. "I'm so happy to be here at Ohio State... It will be a business trip on Saturday."
- Johnson said his family has strong ties to Penn State. Two of his sons played football for the university and his daughter played softball.
On the defensive line, Mike Hall Jr.
- "This unit loves each other. I like the way they're playing right now."
- "We knew Michael Hall would be special. It was only a matter of learning how to play football."
- "He still has some growth to do, but we are excited about what he's doing on the inside. His first step is special."
On the Penn State offensive line
- "They're very strong... It will be a good challenge for us."
- Johnson said Penn State's offensive line holds their blocks well at the line of scrimmage and that it's not often one of them is pushed off their line. He said the Rushmen will need to be explosive and have a quick first step to beat Penn State off the line to get into the backfield on pass and run plays.
On coaching with Jim Knowles
- "It's been good. It's been fun."
- Johnson said Knowles is "not afraid to change" and listens to his staff's suggestions when they believe an adjustment in a certain area will help the Buckeyes. "I think that's great."
- Johnson said Knowles is an intelligent coach who has offered a lot to the Ohio State coaching staff in a short time. He reiterated that this season has been "a lot of fun" for the defensive coaches as they've learned to gel together under Knowles.
Ryan Day’s Thursday Press Conference
- On the Penn State offense: “We’re competing every day in practice and I think that’s important, and how we compete against each other in practice really reflects how we play on Saturday.” Day says the Buckeyes are “not gonna change just because we’re playing a really good offense.
- Day says Ohio State has had a “good week of prep” in the lead-up to Penn State.
- Day says the Buckeyes always know where Penn State is at on the schedule because of the caliber of the program. “There’s been some huge games here, and that’s one of the reasons you come to Ohio State is to play games like this.”
- On JSN: “I”m not gonna do any injury updates today. … I’m gonna leave it up to the doctors."
- Day says “there’s been improvement” on kickoffs between this year and last. “We’re still looking to get better.”
- Day says Kyle McCord “got some work with ones” during the Buckeye bye week as he gave a day off to C.J. Stroud. “As the backup quarterback, you don’t get as many reps, so you gotta go through mental reps in your mind.”
- On the true freshman wide receivers: “They’re getting better every week. You’re seeing a couple guys getting involved on special teams, Kojo a little bit. … It’d be nice to see some of those guys come on. They’re working at it.”
- On Donovan Jackson giving up a strip sack last week: “That one was fixed, and so we certainly aren’t happy about it, we try to identify why it happened. … They’re gonna have good plays and bad plays.”
- “I think guys who play multiple sports, really it's a big deal. You see that with Jack (Sawyer) and with J.T. (Tuimoloau) as well.” Day says J.T. is “really coming on.”
- On the PSU secondary: “They do a great job of getting their hands on you. … They’re very talented, and so the challenge is on to buy ourselves more protection so that our guys can get open.”
- On Julian Fleming: “He’s been healthy and he’s really taken care of his body. … He helps us in the run game and then you can see him as a deep threat as well.” Day says sometimes even when Fleming is covered, he’s still open because of his size and strength. “I know going back to Penn State’s gonna be important to him.”
- Day thinks Jackson is “gonna be a star” on the Ohio State offensive line.
