With Urban Meyer suspended for the first three games of the season, Ryan Day and Greg Schiano filled in on Meyer's weekly coaches show on 97.1 The Fan to discuss all things Buckeye football with Paul Keels and Jim Lachey.
The show didn't take any calls, but both Day and Schiano spoke at length about the team, giving positional updates, talking breakout freshmen and how they plan to address new NCAA rules.
Day made brief introduction, talking about the events of the past two weeks. He admits it hasn't been easy, but said "it's made our team stronger."
Ohio State has two new additions on the defensive staff, and Day spoke a little about how they've done leading up to their first season in Columbus.
Day said he had familiarity with Alex Grinch from his time at New Hampshire. He said he knew what to expect, but that Grinch has been a welcomed addition.
"He really does a great job," Day said. holds his guys accountable and what he did at Washington State speaks to how good he is."
On new cornerbacks and special teams coach Taver Johnson, Day said "he's a veteran guy and has the respect of the players."
Day said the role of the cornerbacks and special teams coach is to bring energy. Kerry Coombs obviously did that, but he said Taver is energetic himself.
Coffee with the Coach Question from Tim in East Liverpool: What advice would you give for a first-time starter to keep their emotions in check?
"We have quite a few first time starters," Day said. "One of them is the starting quarterback."
"Just focus on your effort," Day said. "You control how hard you play, there's a lot of Things you can't control."
"Don't ride the emotional rollercoaster," Day said. "Play one play at a time and don't let one play affect the next."
Ryan Day on the Offense
On the offensive line:
- "It's a veteran group."
- On Isaiah Prince: "From where he was to where he is now, not only as a leader but as a player is some of hte most progress I've ever seen."
- Dwayne Haskins is "going to lean on those guys as time goes on."
On Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins:
- First time Ohio State has ever returned two 1,000 yard rushers
- It's a big deal to have guys like that in the program.
- It will help Dwayne Haskins.
- They pull for one another. "they know they need each other."
- They understand they're both going to split a ton of carries.
On Master Teague and Brian Snead:
- "Master is a big downhill back."
- Brian is "a bit more shifty."
- Both will play this year.
On two-back sets:
- We'll see how the season goes.
- "We have 8-10 wide receivers who can play as well."
Dwayne Haskins:
- "He looks like an NFL quarterback."
- He's going to make mistakes.
- He has no career starts.
- Replacing one of the most accomplished players in college football.
On the tight ends:
- Deeper than they were last year, but less experienced.
- Luke Farrell is the starter.
- Rashod Berry will also play.
- Jeremy Ruckert is going to play early.
- Jake Hausmann has been injured, but is expected to play too.
On Tate Martell:
- "The plan is to get him out on the field and play."
- "We're not going to put him in for packages or anything like that, we're just going to put him in the offense and let him go."
On the receivers:
- There will be a rotation.
- H-position "we're almost four-deep."
- "We're planning on playing depth, and playing tempo."
- The receivers are playing unselfish. They know there will be a rotation.
On the specialists:
- For the most part, the specialists have to work on their own. "You have to almost self-police yourself."
- "They seem like professionals."
On the new redshirt rule:
- "Like you said, it's not a decision we make right now."
- "Our goal is to play as many guys as we can."
- "I don't think a lot of those conversations will happen until later in the season now."
Standout freshmen:
- The two running backs
- Chris Olave
- Jaelen Gill
- Matthew Baldwin, though he's still "a week or two away."
- Tyreke Smith
- Taron Vincent
- Tyler Friday
- Teradja Mitchell
- K'Vaughan Pope
- Dallas Gant
On strength coach Mickey Marotti:
- I probably could talk about him for six hours.
- "He's the heart and soul of our program. He spends the most time with out guys."
- "He knows the pulse of the whole team."
- "He is the glue of the whole program."
Greg Schiano on the Defense
On the defensive line:
- "There's going to be a good mix of guys we're used to seeing and some new guys."
- He says Tyler Friday, Tommy Togiai, Haskell Garrett and Tyreke Smith will all play.
- "The more we can roll our guys through, the better we'll be in the fourth quarter."
- Said he thinks they're going to give Nick Bosa a few extra snaps this year.
On the linebackers:
- It's a deep group, but not a very experience one.
- Tuf Borland is the leader of the group.
- Malik Harrison is "just a gigantic man" who's only gotten better.
- Baron Browning is "one of the most highly recruited guys we've had around here."
- Dante Booker is available and "getting healthy."
- They're going to try to regularly rotate linebackers.
On the scout punt block team:
- Calls them the "dream team."
- We try to get our fastest players and try to make it as hard on the punt team as possible.
On the new fair catch rule:
- "We don't know what to expect."
- He said he expected more fair catches in the first couple of games.
- Ohio State will have to be prepared for anything.
On the safeties:
- Jordan Fuller is the leader.
- Jahsen Wint and Isaiah Pryor are both competing for the top spot opposite of him.
- Amir Riep and Brenden White are coming along too.
- "What you're going to see is you're going to see all of them play."
On turnovers and defensive touchdowns
- "We do put a lot of emphasis on what we call takeaways."
- He said it's not just the actual interception or a turnover, but an entire defense disrupting the play.
- There are a whole bunch of opportunities we teach them to look for.
On Nick Bosa:
- "He's worked incredibly hard with coach Johnson to really hone his skills."
- "He's even better than he was last year – which is hard to imagine. He's a dominant football player."
- "He's a rare talent."
- They have to give him enough opportunities to go and make plays.
