With lessons learned from its win over Maryland, Ohio State turns the page to a road test against Purdue next week.
With the “Spoilermakers” on tap for Saturday, Ryan Day spoke to the challenges a trip to West Lafayette presents during his weekly appearance on 97.1 the Fan’s Buckeye Roundtable show on Monday.
Day also touched on Ohio State's difficulties running the football against Maryland and the continued improvement of the Buckeyes' defense.
- On whether poise can be learned or if players have to be wired that way: "I think that comes with experience. This group of players have now seen a bunch of football ... they know that it takes four quarters. ... I thought we settled down and then found our rhythm."
- On Ohio State's 2nd-and-33 conversion prior to scoring a touchdown in the third quarter: "I look over and they're playing press man-to-man on Marvin Harrison, and we're just going to throw it as far as we can to Marvin Harrison. ... It was a great throw, great catch."
- On the Ohio State secondary’s play against Maryland: "Both safeties played well. ... Taulia is a very talented quarterback ... I thought our guys responded to it well. Bigger challenges ahead."
- Day continues to feel a difference defensively in the team's second year with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. "You can see it, especially with the linebackers and Tommy (Eichenberg), has a certain command for what's going on out there. ... It's one thing for Jim to call something and get us into the right call, it's another when the players can look for it."
- On the Buckeyes' botched punt against the Terrapins: "I just about fainted when I saw that. ... The ball slipped. The ball can never slip again."
- On whether Chip Trayanum's contributions can open up the running game: "It's everybody. It's the O-line, it's the tight ends, it's the receivers, it's the running backs. ... We need to be more in sync and efficient. We've identified some things to try and improve in that area. I will say that Maryland had some guys in the box ... that really opened up the passing game."
- As he referenced postgame Saturday, TreVeyon Henderson could have played against Maryland but was held out for precautionary reasons. "The comment was made that there could be a setback, and at that point I knew it was the right decision to hold Trey."
- On the atmosphere in Ohio Stadium against Maryland: "There were definitely points in that game where the momentum was swinging and you could feel the crowd. ... That helps. Every little bit helps."
- On the road trip to Purdue: "There's a lot of strange things that have happened there. ... We're certainly not content around here, I can tell you that. We're hungry."
