A top-10 showdown at the Shoe calls for a tighter schedule for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.
Rather than a Zoom press conference with the media on Thursday, Day met with reporters on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center indoor practice field on Wednesday ahead of Saturday's Big Ten East battle between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Penn State.
Here is a rundown of Day's 10-question session:
- On how Ohio State has prepared for the Penn State game: “Just like we have in the past against Penn State or any team we play. You continue the routine the way it is. You continue to prepare like you have. … (Penn State is a) very good team. There are challenges across the board. … You prepare for every scenario that comes up.”
- On Tyleik Williams: “For Tyleik, going into year three, you want to take on more of the lion’s share of the reps. He's had more of an impact this season than he has in the past. In a game like this, great players have to play that way.”
- Day said Ohio State’s delay of game penalties against Purdue does not point to a larger issue within the program in terms of clock management. The first penalty occurred when Xavier Johnson was at running back and the Buckeyes didn’t adjust protection correctly. The second penalty occurred when Ohio State was near its own 40-yard line, so the extra 5 yards allowed Jesse Mirco some extra room to punt the ball. “When there is a delay of game, I put that on myself, but those were the situations there.”
- Day on the status of Ohio State’s injured players, including TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Emeka Egbuka, Denzel Burke and Chip Trayanum: “Our guys are working hard to get back to the game. We are hopeful that is gonna happen.”
- If those players are unable to play on Saturday, Day said Ohio State has “a lot of weapons” that must be prepared to fill the void: “We are gonna need all these guys step up. They are all gonna have opportunities.”
- Day said kicker Jayden Fielding converted from 60 yards in practice on Thursday, which Day said shows how strong of a leg Fielding has.“It depends on the wind. I think he made one from 60 today. … It depends on the wind, but he has a strong leg.”
- Day said Ohio State wants to “dictate the pace of play” against Penn State and control the line of scrimmage. Day said Penn State has strong running backs, strong offensive linemen and strong tight ends that will be physical. “We know the challenge that’s ahead of us.”
- On Penn State’s defensive line: “They’re very disruptive up front and do a really good job. It’s all three levels that they have good players. We are always looking to be explosive.” Day added that it will be important for Ohio State to generate big plays offensively. “That’s an important part of our game. Notre Dame had a good defense… but Penn State has the best defense statistically that we’ve seen.”
- Day reiterated that Penn State is talented on the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary: “We’re excited. (They are) very, very talented in all three levels.”
