Ohio State spring practice has resumed.
After a week off for spring break, the Buckeyes returned to the practice field on Tuesday morning for their third practice of the spring. It was their first practice since the departure of Tony Alford, who left Ohio State last week to become the new running backs coach at Michigan.
While searching for Alford's replacement, Ryan Day has assumed temporary oversight of the Buckeyes' running back room. On Tuesday he met with the media to discuss important attributes for the new running back coach to have, how in-helmet communication and special teams coordination is working with the team and where Ohio State is at at various positions.
- Day was made aware of Alford's departure last week. He said that Ohio State isn't in a situation where it needs to rush the process there, but he likes the list of candidates that have emerged for the Buckeyes already. "The focus is about trying to find the right person, I think it's the best running back room in the country right now."
- Ohio State's quarterbacks rolled between teams on Tuesday. Day said there will be more reps to split in longer, more physical practices to come.
- On the competition along the right side of the offensive line: "It's hard to evaluate anything until you get the pads on ... we're gonna evaluate that right side really hard, really close. ... Josh Fryar had one of the best offseasons of anybody in the building."
- Tegra Tshabola is more of a tackle than a guard, but both Josh Fryar and Luke Montgomery can both play guard and tackle, Day said.
- Day isn't too worried about Michigan getting any advanced intel on Ohio State's offense from Alford's departure. "That was two practices in the spring and a lot of what we did is stuff we've done in the past." He added that in-helmet communication with quarterbacks will allow more play-calling flexibility.
- Sonny Styles has taken reps at Sam linebacker against 12 personnel packages, Day said.
- Ohio State is allowed three devices in helmets per practice, Day said. Which players have those devices will be rotated through each practice. "We'll use a bunch of different ways to use it, we'll use wrist bands, we'll use signals, we'll huddle."
- Day, who has never coached running backs, is running the room in place of Alford. "It's been awesome. ... It's great for them to see things through the eyes of a quarterback."
- When making a new hire, it's important to evaluate a new coach's "expertise" Day said. The most important side will be development, though recruiting as always remains a factor. "The recruiting part is very important ... would we like somebody that has recruited at a high level here, yeah ... we're gonna take as much time we need and get the right guy."
- Advice for Jake Diebler as a fellow former assistant promoted to be a head coach at Ohio State: "You have to trust who you are. You have to learn from your experiences. ... Enhancing the things that are going well but fixing the things you need to fix is important. ... Every year I learned more and more."
- Road bumps like Alford's departure are to be expected at a place like Ohio State, Day said. "Each year a new challenge comes, but that's the job. ... That's just part of the job, is adapting."
- On relying on veterans in the running back room: "Tre said it the best, you rely on each other. ... Ultimately, that's what the power of the unit is all about. Those guys in that room, they're strong."
- With some bumps and bruises at defensive tackle, it's important for the second group of players to step up this spring, Day said. "It's one of the focuses I would say, spotlight is right there seeing who those guys are that are going to step up."
- On whether Kayden McDonald and Hero Kanu are ready for an opportunity on the interior: "They're definitely talented enough. ... We'll know because we have a good offensive line and they're gonna challenge each other every day."
- When first hiring an offensive coordinator, Day said he had an "A-list" of options with three names that included both Bill O'Brien and Chip Kelly.
- On where Ohio State's tight end room is: "I think Gee Scott's had a really good offseason. I think Jelani, Will, Bennett, those guys are gonna have to step up this offseason. ... We need those guys, all of them. I'm excited about Gee's play so far ... I think he's poised to have a really good room."
- Day had high praise for Brandon Inniss while discussing where the development of Ohio State's wide receivers is at. "I think you're seeing a different player. (Inniss') body has changed completely from where it was last season. ... Just a fierce competitor. ... Carnell has had a really good offseason, I think the sky is the limit for Carnell."
- On whether Alford's departure feels like a betrayal: "Everybody has to make decisions for them and for their family, so we try not to focus on that."
- On Jack Sawyer: "Those kind of things (helping bring draft-eligible teammates back) have a chance to leave a legacy ... he was one of the guys who helped recruit this class."
- On Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: "We believe in Kenyatta and when Kenyatta's believing in himself and he's positive, boy, he can be one of the best players on that field. ... I think Kenyatta's continually learned to open up and garner things from different people throughout the building."
- While Day oversees special teams, the duties have been divided up among his assistants. Matt Guerrieri and James Laurinaitis will run the kickoff and punt units while Brian Hartline and Keenan Bailey handle punt return and kick return.
- Day got the idea to assign different special teams units to position coaches from Jim Tressel.
- On his confidence in the offensive coaching staff: "I think it has the potential to be the best offensive coaching staff in the country. ... I think if we make the right hire here, we can do that."
- Day said that Seth McLaughlin's snaps have been great so far, and the competition between he and Carson Hinzman is ongoing. "You don't know about offensive linemen until pads are on. You just don't."
- Will Howard and Devin Brown will serve as pro day quarterbacks.
