Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Calls Ohio State's Matchup With Maryland a "Big Challenge" As the Terrapins Come to Columbus "With a Lot of Confidence"

The Ohio State head coach said Maryland will come to Columbus with "a lot of confidence," as the Terrapins possess a 5-0 record in 2023 and have won seven consecutive contests since their 43-30 loss to the Buckeyes in Week 12 of the 2022 regular season.

Day also commented on Ohio State's performance after four weeks and how the program handled its off week, while Perry Eliano provided an update on the Buckeyes' safety room, which has been led by Lathan Ransom, Josh Proctor and Sonny Styles in 2023.

Here is a recap of The Ryan Day Radio Show and Day's brief press conference with the media on Thursday:

Ryan Day

On Maryland

• Day on the Terps' defense: "I think they do a good job of mixing up the fronts. You see multiple fronts. ... Really good in the back end, really good cornerbacks and safeties. The linebackers are more veteran."
• Day on Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa: "One of the more experienced guys in the country and in the Big Ten. He played really well against us last year. These guys have a lot of confidence coming in. They're gonna be a good challenge for us."
• Day on the running backs and pass-catchers that surround Tagovailoa: "They have a lot of weapons. ... A big challenge and a really good quarterback."

On Ohio State building off its win over Notre Dame

• "We have to get better."
• "We have to learn from the past, but we can't focus on it. What matters is this game and this week."
• "You have to learn. You have to put that to bed. You have to move forward."

On Ohio State's captains keeping the team focused on Maryland

• "That goes to the veteran part of our team... They know what it's about."
• "You don't think (Maryland) is a big game? Try losing it."
• "This is an undefeated team coming in here with a lot of confidence."

On Ohio State's cornerbacks

• "We've seen them as time has gone on get better."
• "They have to take the next step."
• "This is a really good (Maryland team). We have to execute better. We have to get our hands on balls."

On Marvin Harrison Jr.

• "We want to have balance across the board. We want to be able to run the ball. We want to have balance across all of our positions."
• "Anybody you have receivers as talented as we do, and Marvin is one of them for sure, that makes it tough for defenses schematically."
• Day said Ohio State has worked hard to move Harrison around the field this season to make defenses have to communicate and be schematically sound.

On Ohio State's matchup with Maryland in 2022

• "I went back and watched that game. There were a lot of things we could have done better in that game."
• Day said the game came down to the final moments because Ohio State failed to consistently execute on both sides of the ball. He said the Buckeyes will need to be more disciplined against Maryland this season.

On Ohio State's running back room

• Day on Miyan Williams, who has had "a good week of practice" for Ohio State: "I look forward to getting Miyan going here this week." Day said he wants to see Williams contribute along with TreVeyon Henderson and Chip Trayanum out of the running back room.
• Day said all of Ohio State's running backs offer the Buckeyes different skill sets offensively.

On Caden Curry playing fullback vs. Notre Dame

• "He's a football player. He can do a lot of things for us."
• Day said Ohio State will continue to look for ways to use Curry in the fullback role because of how the defensive end "explodes" to the line of scrimmage and can block defenders.

On Matt Jones

• "He's seen a lot of football. He's seen a lot of plays."
• "(He's) able to anticipate as opposed to react."
• Day said Jones does a good job to "keep everybody on the same page" on the offensive line.

On Ohio State's first-down efficiency on offense, defense

• "On first down, we want to get 4 yards or more on offense. On defense, we want to hold them to 4 yards or less. ... We want our efficiency to be high."
• "We weren't as efficient as we would have liked to be against Notre Dame."
• Day said Ohio State's efficiency will need to improve as the season continues if the Buckeyes want to accomplish their goals.

On Ohio State's third-down efficiency against Notre Dame

• "The third downs were well done in that game."
• "We spent a lot of time in practice talking about the situations."
• "If we win (third downs) more than we lose, we are gonna win the game."
• "We talked all offseason about being tougher and being competitive in those situations."

On Ohio State having an early bye week 

• "It's a long season. Even after four weeks, we've been through a lot."
• "We have a long run here. We have an eight-week, nine-week season here where we are gonna have to play our best football."
• Day said Ohio State is "gonna need everyone" to play its best football for the rest of the regular season.

On Ohio State's future schedules

• "I'm definitely (still) thinking about Maryland."
• "It's exciting to see some of those teams on the schedule. It's gonna be a different footprint."

On Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers

• "It makes you think about a couple of seasons ago when we had no experience. These guys have a lot of experience now."
• Day said Eichenberg and Chambers have been leaders of the Ohio State defense this season.
• "Although these guys have played a lot, they know they can get better."
• "Our linebackers, they're playing well. They're showing up and making a lot of plays."

On Ohio State's running backs and tight ends as pass-catchers

• "Cade has made a bigger impact this season."
• "We know that teams are gonna put a lot of attention (on Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka), so we are looking for ways to get other guys involved."
• "It's something that we're looking hard at."

On Xavier Johnson's performance vs. Notre Dame

• "Big return. Big catch."
• "He's become a clutch player for us. He's versatile."
• Day said Johnson has been one of Ohio State's leaders this season as a captain and Block O winner.

On TreVeyon Henderson

• "You can see what he does in the open field."
• "He's a home-run hitter."
• On Marvin Harrison Jr.'s block that helped Henderson score a touchdown vs. Notre Dame: "Those are the blocks we need in the run game."

Perry Eliano

On Ohio State's defensive backs getting hands on passes

• "The biggest thing for us was stressing ball disruption."
• Eliano said it's "not good for the Buckeyes" when an offense gets behind Ohio State's defensive backs. "That's why Coach Walton and I really stressed that with the back room."
• "If we make plays in practice, those plays will happen in the game."

On Maryland's offense, Taulia Tagovailoa

• "It all starts with the quarterback. He is really, really good. He can make any throw on the field, so we have to defend the whole field."
• "He can extend plays."
• Eliano said Maryland's offense "starts with" Tagovailoa and how well he distributes the ball.
• "It will be a good challenge for us."

On Lathan Ransom

• "He's a young man who wants to be the best he can be every single day."
• "He's extremely coachable."
• "He is a leader."
• He is hungry and wants to do well. ... I have been pleased with him to this point. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do."

On Kyle McCord

• "He is a competitor."
• "He loves to compete."
• "I look forward to him continuing to do great things for us."

Ryan Day Lighting Round

• Miyan Williams’ lack of playing time hasn’t been because of bad practice habits, Day said. “I think he’s looked good this week, so looking forward to seeing him run.”
• On whether he was surprised to see Josh Proctor return for a sixth year: “We sat down and had a long conversation about the positives of going out, the positives of coming back. ... He wanted a full year of preparing for this last season and putting his best foot forward ... if we’re going to reach our goals this season, we’re going to need Josh to be a big part of our defense.”
• Williams is “healthy” and “full go,” Day said.
• While the Buckeyes want to keep everyone healthy, they aren’t focused on resting players at the expense of securing wins. “We’ve got to continue to play depth, because it’s a long season. ... The only thing that matters is playing this week and beating Maryland.”
• Caden Curry’s appearance at fullback had to do with what coaches saw in practice and on special teams, Day said, and he also anticipates the defensive end’s role expanding on defense. “He’s got a lot of power, he’s a very good football player. ... He’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s got good quickness.”
• On Marvin Harrison Jr.’s ankle: “He looks good. He’s had a really good week of practice and looks ready to roll.”
• While he likes Kyle McCord’s understanding of the game, Day also feels it’s important for him not to “overthink” in certain situations. “I think Kyle is very cerebral. ... You’ve just got to find the rhythm of the game, and like he said, trust your eyes, trust your feet.”
• More on Proctor: “I don’t think I’m speaking out of school, when Josh first got here, there were a lot of areas he needed to mature in. ... When you overcome adversity, I think you learn a lot about yourself. I think he’s done that. ... You’ve seen how hard he plays on the field, and all those things and the investment in him is starting to pay off.”
• On his confidence in the safeties, and Lathan Ransom in particular: “I think there’s more confidence being built, because you’re starting to see it on the field. ... When those guys are prepared, their bodies, their minds and their spirits, to go play in a game, then they have their best chance to be successful. ... If everyone has confidence in everybody else to do their job, that’s when you get a really confident defense. And that’s what we’re trying to build.”