Presser Bullets: Jim Knowles Says Buckeye Defense is "Built For" Tennessee's Up-Tempo Offense, Feels Full Confidence in Ohio State Cornerbacks

Not only is 1,400-yard rusher Dylan Sampson the focal point of the Volunteers' offense, but forecasted temperatures around 20 degrees will emphasize the ground game more. That was the first focus of Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles as he met with the Buckeyes' media on Tuesday.

One of the things that makes Tennessee's running game so effective is its use of tempo, catching defenses out of position. But Knowles said his defense has been "built for" such pace since his first days as a coordinator at Duke. He also expressed confidence in Ohio State's cornerbacks and defense as a whole entering the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Following Knowles' time, a quartet of defensive players including linebackers Sonny Styles and Cody Simon and safeties Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom met with the media to give their own thoughts on Sampson and Tennessee's tempo. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka also shared his excitement for one final home game in the Shoe.

Jim Knowles

• Knowles said Tennessee's tempo and spacing fuel its running game. "They spread you out sideline to sideline."
• On whether the defense can carry the team through the College Football Playoff: "I'm confident in our players, I'm confident in the way they perform in crucial moments. ... We can win the game on defense, that's everything I've been working on since I got here. If it comes to the defense winning, that's what we've got to do."
• Knowles has no doubts about Ohio State cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun. "Great confidence. Both of them, Jermaine (Mathews) also. ... Those guys are on an island all the time. ... There are ups and downs in any season, any career. But those guys are great players. ... They're resilient, they're gonna bounceback and have a great game."
• On the lack of defensive line rotation and whether the defensive line got gassed: "You have to trust your coaches. Coach Johnson's been doing this a long time, there's no one you'd rather have make those decisions. ... Those decisions happen at the moment. ... I think everyone in this room and all our fans know that Coach J is going to make the best decision for our program."
• Despite the way Ohio State's defense performed in the Michigan loss, Knowles doesn't feel they did enough. "If it takes 3-0, it's 3-0. ... We have to strive for perfection. ... You're not going to walk away from a game in this sport and say, 'Well, we did our job.'"
• On Lathan Ransom: "Awesome young man, great leader. Just one of those guys, that's why you get into coaching, to be part of that kind of career. ... He is finishing strong, he really is. And our players have the utmost respect for him."
• On Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava: "Got a really strong arm. ... He's got a cannon. Then I think he's faster than everybody thinks. He's fast and he makes a lot of plays with his feet also."
• While the run-heavy RPO and up-tempo game of Tennessee makes the Vols unique, Knowles feels the balance they have on offense makes them especially dangerous. "There's a difference, but they do it as well as anybody because when you're doing it right, it can be a run or a pass."
• On the difficulty of preparing for an up-tempo team: "It doesn't make it harder. It makes it different. But I think we're ahead of the game that way. This defense is built for tempo. Credit to Coach (David) Cutcliffe at Duke. ... That's how we set it up, our calls and everything. It's been that way since back then at Duke."
• Knowles said "no comment" when asked if the Jack position or other experimental elements could be involved in the game plan for Tennessee.
• Knowles said he and the defense didn't feel "frustration" at the offense after the Michigan game, but rather wanted to pick their teammates up amid the public's ire after the defense itself was subjected to it earlier in the season after the team's loss to Oregon. "We're only going to talk about, 'What did we do well? What can we do better?' ... Go pick up one of your offensive buddies then. Remember how that felt. Go lift up somebody else."
• Knowles said there was a coverage bust on Jack Sawyer's interception against Michigan, adding to the fantastic play. "That was an amazing. ... I don't know how many people understand how amazing that play was."

Sonny Styles

• Defending the up-tempo offense is about getting calls in quickly, getting aligned and going, Styles said. "I think Coach Knowles is going to set us up for success and make sure everyone is locked into what we're doing."
• On the difficulty of defending the run game with the spacing of Tennessee's offense: "Sometimes it kind of stretches the linebackers outside of the box ... so you're coming in from a wider angle to make the play. ... I think you've just gotta be sharp with your eyes."
• On the running ability of Iamaleava: "It takes all 11, it starts with the rush lanes. ... It sucks for a defense when you feel like you've got everyone covered, then he gets out of the pocket and runs 20 yards."
• Styles said he hasn't thought about his decision for the NFL draft yet.
• On the "frustration" of the offense's poor performance against Michigan: "I think the defense, we're frustrated that we should have played well enough to win the game. ... I don't think there should be any pointing fingers at the offense. ... We feel like we should be able to win any game."
• On Volunteer running back Dylan Sampson: "You see a lot of patience from him. ... Has some pretty good breakaway speed, but I think the biggest thing is patience. ... He waits for the right time to find the right crease."

Cody Simon

• On the preparation for the up-tempo offense: "Probably the biggest thing is urgency. ... We're doing our best to prepare for that."
• Simon said Ohio State is focused on righting the wrongs of the Michigan game in the CFP. "Sometimes you can't accomplish all your goals, but we've got a chance to accomplish the biggest goal possible right now."
• On Sawyer's interception; "He made, probably, one of the craziest plays I've ever seen. It was unfortunate we couldn't celebrate more because of the end of that game."
• There are disadvantages for offenses using no-huddle too, Simon said. "There's definitely pros and cons of going tempo. They're gonna try to get us all out of whack."
• There are a lot of things that Ohio State is trying in practice to work on tempo, Simon said, including turning their backs to the offense pre-snap to turn around and diagnose quickly.
• On Sampson: "I think he's a smart runner. He's patient, but he's got a great feel for his blocks. ... We're up for that challenge."
• On the cold weather: "The atmosphere is what's going to make the game awesome. ... We're all gonna be up for it. We've been practicing outside, so it's not the worst thing in the world. We'll be alright."
• Ohio State's seniors are thankful for a second shot at a final home game. "To have another one in front of the fans, we couldn't be more grateful."

Caleb Downs

• On the similarities between last year's Tennessee team and this year: "They have the same type of offensive objectives. ... They do a great job of putting people in positions where you can only do one thing, creating one-on-ones."
• Downs said there were a lot of open conversations between players after the Michigan loss. "We had to have that as a team, to be able to talk to each other and communicate what everyone was thinking."
• On Ohio State's preparedness for the up-tempo: "They play like 80 plays a game, so being able to do that and go at a high level is going to be a big thing."
• On his leadership after the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes: "I was just the person I was the whole season. I wouldn't say I did anything more, anything less. ... Everybody had to step up in terms of getting the team where it needed to go."
• On how his expectations of his time at Ohio State met up with reality: "I feel like I've made the plays that came to me. ... The expectation was to come in here and try to contribute to the team and to push the team to win games at a high level. ... I feel like I've done a good job and the team has done a good job progressing through the year and getting better."
• Downs said Tennessee's wide splits affect how defenses operate. "I feel like it makes the game a one-on-one game. It makes the game between the DBs and the wide receivers a different game."
• On how Knowles' quick play calls help the defense: "The ability to see the formation, to see the keys before the play. ... The ability to play your job and not really think during the game is a big thing."

Emeka Egbuka

• Perfection is impossible, but Egbuka wants Ohio State playing to a higher standard. "I don't think you'll ever see a complete game from the Buckeyes, but we can get a close product and that's what we shoot for."
• As with many of Ohio State's players and coaches, Egbuka has processed the Michigan loss and has turned his full attention to Tennessee. "We're not too focused on anything that happened. ... Obviously we're aware of the problems and we're focused on fixing the issues. ... We're working on those kinks and getting all the impurities out from last week and focused on Tennessee."
• Egbuka said he's "excited" for one final home game. "God has given us an opportunity to go out there and play one more time in front of the home fans."
• On the similarities between the 2022 playoff team and this year: "I was laser-focused then, I'm laser-focused now too. ... We have an opportunity to do something special this year."
• On Will Howard: "We have full trust in him. He's put together great practices this week."
• On former Ohio State turned Tennessee safety Andre Turrentine's comments saying Arkansas and South Carolina were louder stadiums than the Shoe: "Knowing Buckeye Nation, I don't think I have to do too much motivation. We're going to come out on Saturday and it's going to be a really loud environment."

Lathan Ransom

• On the sense of urgency entering the CFP "The biggest game and most important game for us was this last game ... but we're going
• While he said Ohio State's full focus is on Tennessee and beating them first, there would be a lot of meaning in returning to the Rose Bowl to face Oregon. "That's where I broke my leg, so there's gonna be a lot of emotions when I go back there." 
• Ransom feels Ohio State will be prepared for Tennessee's tempo. "Coach Knowles has done a great job preparing us for tempo in practice, running from drill to drill, stuff like that."
• On Sampson: "He's a great running back, great contact balance, you've really gotta run your feet when you're tackling him."