Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Expects Buckeyes to Be At Full Strength Week 1, Jim Knowles Says “I Don't Have That Many Concerns” On Defense

With the new campaign rapidly approaching, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles held a press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Monday to address the development of the scarlet and gray roster heading into the home stretch of fall camp.

For everything Day and Knowles said Monday, check out the bullet-point breakdown below.

Ryan Day

• On Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, Day says they've had "really good camps." Day says "they really put it in last year" and have "carried that over this year." Day says they've been "very impressive" and are "gonna have great seasons."
• On the Buckeye defense, Day says "they're playing with confidence, they're playing with great energy." Day says Knowles has recognized that he has different talent here than he had at Oklahoma State and has tailored the Ohio State defense differently because of that.
• "It's great to have Tanner (McCalister) come in because we didn't have a lot of depth at nickel. Now we have him and Cam (Martinez) there."
• Day says the Buckeyes try to make practice harder than actual games sometimes.
• Day says quarterback play means "constantly failing," but the best quarterbacks to play the game learn from their mistakes and persevere through adversity. "Until you're in the fire with somebody, you never really know."
• Asked about Ohio State's cornerback health, Day says "I feel like we're gonna be at full strength going into that game." Day says "the goal is to have everybody there by next week."
• Day says the Buckeyes' young corners are "real close" to being game ready at this point.
• On not wanting to rotate a bunch of guys on defense like they did in the season opener last year: "We have a better feel for where everybody's at."
• Day says the Big Ten's new media deal is "really exciting" although he's "not talking much about that" because he's in the middle of fall camp.
• "Dallan has really come on." Day says Hayden has been very impressive and says "if he continues to grow, we're gonna put him in the game."
• Day says Ohio State had one day where Chip Trayanum played running back for the Buckeyes given Evan Pryor's injury, and that the Buckeyes could use him in a dual role if needed this season. Day says that's more of an emergency situation, though.
• Day hopes Kam Babb will be back on the field in a couple weeks after an injury setback. Day says he doesn't expect it to cost him the whole season.
• "Julian Fleming's had a very good camp, had a very good summer. Really impressed with him." Day says Mitch Rossi has stood out as well.
• Day says he's hoping Taron Vincent will take the next step this season on the defensive line.
• On Kyle McCord's development, Day says "he's made strides." Day says the Buckeyes need him to keep developing, though. Day says he was "really close to being a champion in the last scrimmage."
• Day says Marcus Freeman has a "great history of being a defensive coordinator" and expects Notre Dame to 
• Day says OSU talked to James Laurinaitis about having a role on the Buckeye staff prior to him joining the Notre Dame program. "Great respect for him."
• Day says toughness, discipline and skill were the three things Ohio State wanted to accomplish during camp, and that the team has checked all of those boxes to this point.
• On McCord, Day says "he has to be ready to play Week 1," although he won't officially name him Stroud's backup.
• "Most of the people who have left this program have gone on to be successful."
• Day says he likes where the offensive line, tight ends and running backs are at right now, and that "the proof will be in the pudding" as far as the Buckeye run game when the season opener takes place.
• On C.J. Stroud, Day says "he can take a lot on. He can." 

Jim Knowles

• On Sawyer and Tuimoloau, Knowles says "you should expect to see them in a lot of different places" on the field this season.
• Knowles says the Buckeyes "have our top guys back now" on defense and "it can change the game because of coverage."
• Knowles says he's installed 75% of his defensive scheme at Ohio State and that he feels comfortable with where the Buckeyes are at. Knowles says he'll have to start getting specific and "pairing things back" as he tailors things to Notre Dame.
• Asked about his biggest concern on defense, Knowles says "I don't have that many concerns now that the corners are coming back."
• Knowles says JK Johnson has really stepped up since the last time he was asked about him and has been much more competitive.
• Knowles says it's "above my paygrade" to know if Jordan Hancock will be available for the season opener against Notre Dame.
• "I think we have enough experience, plus the offense we go against every day certainly tests us. We try to treat practice like a game, and I'm on them every day." Knowles says the experience has the Buckeyes excited about the first game.
• Knowles says he doesn't sleep well going into the season opener, but "I never sleep well, so that doesn't really matter."
• Knowles says he's fine with Larry Johnson rotating a lot of guys up front, but feels like it's "more important" that a core group stays in the game to "see everything" on the back end.
• Knowles says Lathan Ransom "sees the forest through the trees" and can diagnose the play "extremely fast." "You can't ask for more from a safety than that. He's had a tremendous camp. ... He just stands out on the field and how he operates."
• Knowles says the Buckeyes will still rotate some guys on the back end, just not nearly as much as Johnson will up front with the defensive line.
• "Everything else at Ohio State is top five, then why shouldn't the defense be?"
• "We are further than I thought we would be. I mean, absolutely." Knowles says "we have been able to be competitive" against one of the best offenses and offensive coaches in the country in practice.
• On Tommy Eichenberg: "He's ahead of anyone I've had in terms of the pace with which he's picked things up."
• Knowles believes the Buckeyes have "a little more depth" on the back end than he did at Oklahoma State and could rotate more, but that it will still skew heavily toward the top group.
• Kourt Williams has a "real chance" to be a "true combo guy" as a defensive back/linebacker hybrid, Knowles says.
• Knowles says the Jack position still hasn't quite become the full-fledged "Leo" just yet. Knowles says it's a work in progress and that it might take the whole season to see if one player can handle "any call that I make" at that spot.
• "Ronnie (Hickman) is a physical dude, Lathan is a physical dude."
• On Stroud, Knowles says he's "superior, top of the line" at QB. Knowles says he was around Eli Manning at Ole Miss, and that Stroud has some similarities in terms of picking things up. "He's really the best I've been around in terms of how he handles (my scheme)." Knowles says "I'm glad he's on my side and that I don't have to play him."
• "We are so deep and so talented up front that you could really name any of them (as standouts)." Knowles says "you're gonna see a lot of guys play and you're gonna see a lot of guys make plays."
• On Notre Dame playing his defensive scheme last season, Knowles says Ohio State was "able to gather some knowledge from that," although he doesn't necessarily view it as "an advantage."