After two days to digest his team's loss at Oregon on Saturday, Ryan Day addressed the public for the first time since directly after that defeat on 97.1 The Fan's Buckeye Roundtable.
As a coach is wont to do after a one-point loss, Day's relived every swing of the game “8,000 times” as he reflects on what went wrong for the Buckeyes. However, while the team adjusts schematics and works on fundamentals in the bye week, it still wants to get rest for its starters as Ohio State prepares for the second half of its season.
Day also updated the injury status of offensive tackle Josh Simmons and tight end Will Kacmarek, reiterating that Simmons is likely out for the season while revealing that Kacmarek is also likely to miss time. Day said Quinshon Judkins is fine after rumors last week that he suffered a hand injury.
A quick recap of everything Day had to say:
- On if there are plays earlier in the game he wishes he had back: “Well yeah, the first fumble early on in the game hurt us and the onside kick there was actually something we had practiced this week.”
- Asked if he was pleased with the way the team competed, Day replied: “I think that part was good. ... Guys continued to compete, they played really, really hard. ... They had a good look in their eye the entire night. ... We're gonna have more of those environments as we move forward.”
- On Oregon's 12 men on the field penalty: “I guess they could put 20 guys on the field if they wanted to, I guess you would spike it so you save that time, then you can get five more yards. ... But there was still an opportunity there. ... You think back on a lot of things, trust me I've gone through every play 1,000 times in my head.”
- Asked about the health of Will Kacmarek, Quinshon Judkins and Josh Simmons, Day said he expects Kacmarek to miss some action and Simmons to miss the rest of the season but that Judkins is good to go moving forward. "Will is probably going to be a little while. Quinshon is fine. ... Josh was probably a season-ending injury."
- With Simmons likely done for the year, Day said it will be important for the rest of the offensive line room to step up. "Give Zen credit, he got put in a tough spot in a tough environment ... I thought, overall (he) competed. ... Guys are going to have to step up."
- On the plan for Ohio State's bye week: "We're gonna look back on some different things that we need to adjust schematically ... but it'll be an opportunity for the starters to still get some fundamental work but also get some rest."
- Team leadership is crucial in a week like this, Day said. "Every time you take a loss here at Ohio State, you've got to really stick together. We talked about that after the game, making sure that's the case. ... It's all in front of us, but we need to make the adjustments."
- Ohio State still controls its own destiny, but it's up to the team to the Buckeyes to make the necessary adjustments to get where it wants to go. "Coaches, players, everybody in the building's gotta own it. ... The team that continues to grow, that continues to learn from these types of games ... is going to be the ones who are strongest at the end."
