Big Ten play has arrived for Ryan Day and company.
With the Buckeyes' conference schedule set to open on the road against Michigan State this Saturday, Ohio State's head coach, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and quarterback Will Howard met with the media on Tuesday.
Day said that defensive tackle Tyleik Williams remains day-to-day after missing the Marshall game with an injury, while kicker Jayden Fielding also "tweaked" something that led to his three kickoffs out of bounds. Austin Siereveld and Tegra Tshabola will continue rotating at right guard as Ohio State's offensive line keeps taking strides.
Knowles followed up on some thoughts Day offered about the team's defensive tackle depth while also addressing the Buckeyes' linebacker play, though no players stood out enough on defense to win Player of the Game. Howard wrapped things up with a discussion on his leadership, rushing and downfield passing.
Ryan Day
- Tegra Tshabola and Austin Siereveld are still in lock-step at right guard. "I think both of those guys will play."
- Jayden Fielding tweaked something against Marshall during his three out-of-bounds kickoffs. He of course had a discussion with the coaching staff after the game. "He felt a little something somewhere early on."
- On the feeling of going on the road for the first time this season: "We try to keep it as close to our normal routine as possible. ... This is new. You're going on the road in a conference environment ... they're playing good football. ... Good challenge for us, we're looking forward to it."
- Day doesn't feel there has to be a lack of chemistry rotating offensive linemen "as long as whoever's not in the game is focused in."
- On Devin Brown's performance in against Marshall: "The third-down conversion was good. He did miss a couple throws. ... The development has to keep coming in practice."
- Brown is still the team's second quarterback, Day said, but guys are still competing "across the board."
- On Carnell Tate: "His accountability is tremendous. His blocking, his routes. ... He's carving out his own legacy here. ... He's extremely talented running routes and catching balls, you can see all that, but he's becoming a complete football player."
- On Michigan State: "Everything's gotta ramp up. Now we're into game four and we've got to keep upgrading this week. ... On defense, they're playing really, really hard. You can tell they're well-coached."
- Day said that Ohio State would like to try to get to more vertical passes but the Buckeyes want to stay balanced in their scheme and run the football. "The key is, when they take away something, can you get to the next thing."
- On the tight ends: "The running, the blocking, it can really create mismatches for us." Day added that the Buckeyes have been able to mix and match personnel groupings at the position thanks to the different skill sets in the room.
- Day says running backs coach Carlos Locklyn essentially ran his own interview when getting hired.
- On Josh Simmons: "Josh has played much more physical. He's finishing to the ball more. ... He's putting more time in. ... We're counting on him to be the left tackle that we need to go reach our goals. It's early, but you're seeing progress there."
- Tyleik Williams is still day-to-day.
- On the defensive tackle depth: "When you watch the film, there was good play, but there needs to be more consistent play. ... This is an opportunity to build depth in that room. ... Good challenge for those guys."
- Day feels that just because defensive ends aren't getting sacks doesn't mean they aren't playing well. "I think what's important for everybody to understand ... if the offense decides they don't want to give up sacks, they can. ... We've got to stop the run ... you have to defend what the other team is trying to do. That's the bottom line. ... The ball came out quick, the quarterback did not hang onto it."
- Ohio State's T-formation was something of an homage to Woody Hayes, Day said.
- Day is hopeful that the 3-technique depth can grow with experience the way Siereveld has. "It was a mixed bag. ... The fourth-down stop was a really good play by Tywone Malone. ... But then there's also some clips of film that, we've got to be better. ... We'll see where that goes this week."
- Day said the heat wasn't a factor in evaluating his team.
- Each of the Buckeyes' transfer portal acquisitions has been a great culture fit, Day said. "These guys, they just like being around this team. And for me, that's the number one thing."
- On whether he feels good about where the run game is: "I don't feel good about anything. ... I think we're building confidence in it though."
Jim Knowles
- On the linebacker play: "Overall, in general, pleased. They know the system, they can operate, they make checks. ... Just get better at tackling. It's a science that you never practice live. Even when you make the tackle, is it 3 (yards) or is it 5? ... So I think it's just tackling and having to get more physical tackles."
- On the defensive tackles: "I thought Tywone showed up, definitely. Kind of flashed a couple of times in terms of being athletic and running to the ball."
- Knowles said there's a chance Malone starts in place of Williams if Williams can't play on Saturday.
- On why there wasn't a Defensive Player of the Game: "You gotta speak the truth. While we had some champions, we had no one that we thought really showed a Silver Bullet of the Game performance."
- On Arvell Reese: "Arvell is on a structured course to greatness. ... Don't want to throw a monkey wrench in there."
- On when the "lightbulb" came on for Reese: "Preseason. A flashing light, a blinking light, so we're just trying to get that thing to stay on consistently."
- On blitzing: "You definitely want to stay multiple in those aspects. ... When you're creating new things every week, that's not as good as already having the toolbox."
- Either Cody Simon or Sonny Styles can wear the green dot for in-helmet communication when needed, Knowles said.
- Knowles isn't worried that Caleb Downs hasn't had a "signature play" yet. "The slight nuances that we do week-to-week, he picks up like that."
- On "Our expectation has to be perfection and domination all the time. ... You get off the field that first 3rd-and-3 ... you may not see those two touchdowns."
- Knowles said he's fine with guys flashing out of their roles "I'm cool with that."
Will Howard
- Tate also impressed Howard with his blocking. "There were some blocks that he made on plays that turned 10-yard gains into 25-yard gains."
- Howard feels the deep passing game will be important, but the team had short passes go for big plays against Marshall. "We didn't really need to push the ball down the field. ... Obviously we want to push the ball down the field. ... I think we do have the ability to do it and I think I need to show that."
- On Caleb Downs: "Caleb's a heck of a player. He plays so hard downhill and fills the hole so quick. ... You think you might have a guy out-leveraged and Caleb comes down and makes a really good play."
- Howard is going to stay confident in taking shots when his receivers are singled up in coverage. "I got the matchup, I'm gonna put it on the spot and trust that he's going to be there."
- On the transfers acclimating well to Ohio State's culture: "I think that's a credit to the people in this building. ... They all took us in and accepted us as one of their own from the very start. That is something that I'll forever be eternally grateful for. ... We all came in with the right attitude."
- On his leadership style: "I'm an encourager, I'm a positive guy. ... The way that I look at things, we're out here playing a kids' game, we're having fun. ... Pick your brothers up when they're down, celebrate when they make a big play."
- On his running game and the RPO game: "I don't think I've put on tape that I can run much and I think I'm excited to do that. ... I think there's a lot more opportunities for me to show that and defenses to respect that. ... The older I've gotten, the more I've seen these pictures. ... I'm the run-game coordinator at the end of the day."
- Howard is "really excited" to play his first Big Ten football game this Saturday.
- Howard complimented his front five, especially in the ground game. "Our O-line has really stepped up to the challenge the past two weeks."
- On what might be unique about playing in the Big Ten: "Every conference has their stereotypes. ... Definitely in the Big Ten, the dudes are big. Inside, up front. ... I think consistently in the Big Ten, you've got some size, especially at the linebacker position. ... At the end of the day, it's football. I'm not looking at it any different."
