Ohio State's completed seven practices this fall and five have been open for the media to view.
The Buckeyes' defense had a strong outing, but Day said that the challenge can still build "confidence" for their offense when they win reps.
With the quarterback competition still ongoing, Day said that Will Howard hasn't "won" the starting job yet but has "taken command" of Ohio State's offensive huddle and made significant improvements since the spring.
Jelani Thurman has started taking steps at tight end with two touchdown catches in Thursday's practice, but Day said he needs to develop "consistency" in his third season.
- Howard hasn't "won" the starting quarterback job yet but the team will "evaluate" where things stand after its scrimmage on Saturday. "We've been mixing it up a little bit but you're starting to see Will and Devin get the lion's share of the first-team reps. ... I will say that he's taken command of the huddle."
- On what he's liked about Howard: "You've noticed a total command of the offense. He's put in some work over the summer."
- On Jelani Thurman: "Jelani has the talent ... but he needs to be consistent. It's all the no-talent issues. ... He made some plays, but then there were some plays that need to be made. ... I like how competitive he is, I like his approach."
- Day said that the addition of guardian caps to Ohio State's helmets came after a conversation with the university's neuroscience department, as the data has shown it reduces impacts to the head. "If it can protect our players and it's safe, we'll do that."
- Day said he saw a different intensity from his offensive linemen this summer, three of which were named Iron Buckeyes. He confirmed there's a bit of a "funky virus" going around the room, which has made the week difficult to evaluate.
- On the secondary: "I just love being around Lathan. ... He goes so hard, he cares so much. There's no messing around. ... He's poised to have a great season. ... You feel Jermaine Mathews out there, Malik Hartford is doing some stuff out there. ... There's a different swagger about this defense."
- More on the tight ends: "They're both gonna play. ... There's gonna be plenty of snaps to go around. ... We're looking for them to be able to do multiple things, (but) I don't know if every guy in that room has the same skillset."
- Day said the elite nature of Ohio State's secondary doesn't make it difficult to evaluate the offense. "It builds confidence when you can do it. ... If you can do it in practice against our defense, you can do it in a game."
- On Brandon Inniss: "Super competitive. ... You feel 11 when he's out there, just the way he plays. ... He's jawing back and forth with guys, he loves competition. ... He's a strong runner. ... We're gonna count on him to be a core contributor."
- The offensive line illness will hopefully not hinder the process of identifying starters at the position, Day said. "If we can flush this out pretty soon, then I think it will just be a bump in the road."
- On what stood out on film about Will Howard: "Poise in the pocket that is hard to teach, size to see over the line ... and the ability to pull the ball down and run."
- On what the defense has shown being in year three under Jim Knowles: "When Jim's calling the defense, they start to understand why. ... When guys can get that, they can start anticipating as opposed to reacting."
- There's no clarity in the right guard competition, Day said.
