Quick Hits: Ryan Day Will Search for Answers in the Red Zone During Ohio State’s Off Week, Julian Sayin Praises Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate's “Two Great Catches”

How were all those numbers accurate to Ohio State's win over Ohio on Saturday? The No. 1 answer is the red zone. In six trips inside the 20-yard line, the Buckeyes scored just two touchdowns. That was Ryan Day's top talking point after a comfortable win that left room for growth for his team.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin took responsibility for some of the red zone difficulties – though the run game definitely shares some of it too – while shifting the compliments of his two fantastic deep-ball touchdowns to his receivers, saying Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate made “two great catches.”

After his big hit for a pass breakup, safety Jaylen McClain said that Ohio State is DBU, while tight end Max Klare said he “blacked out” with joy after scoring his first touchdown as a Buckeye. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the brightest star on Saturday, also met with the media and stated he knew his touchdown reception was coming his way and knew he had to go make a play.

A rundown of what everyone said at the Buckeyes' postgame:

Ryan Day

“When we got down into the red zone, we weren’t able to execute… I’m gonna watch the film and figure out if it was scheme, if it was coaching or if it was personnel. We got to do a better job when we get down in the red zone.”– Ryan Day on Ohio State’s lack of execution in the red zone

• Day said Ohio State “learned a lot of lessons tonight,” whether it was how to finish off drives in the red zone or how to take a sack. “These are all lessons that we’re gonna have to work through. The only way to do that is to play through them. There will be some lessons learned tonight.”
• Day said he is excited that Ohio State “didn’t panic” when times were tough. “I think that’s a sign of growth and maturity.”
• On Julian Sayin’s performance: “I thought he played well. A lot of good plays. But what you have to learn as a quarterback — I say it’s just like golf, like, you can have a great day, but if you hit two in the water, your round is ruined. It’s the same way here. A tipped ball in a two-minute drill could cost you a game. We got a chance to put them away up three scores, going to get our fourth score. In that moment, he knows he’s got to take the sack. … Take the sack, take your medicine and live to see another day. Lesson learned.”
• On Sayin, Day added: “He threw some good balls. Again, he had good timing. I thought his deep balls were excellent. The first one down the sideline to Jeremiah had a lot of air on it, which allowed him to go make a play. I thought both posts were well thrown. Had good rhythm.”

QB Julian Sayin

“Just keeping the energy high. All the guys on offense knew we were moving the ball consistently, we just had to execute. It starts with me, but we got to execute more in the red zone… we got to do better there. It’s all about execution and improving.”– Julian Sayin on Ohio State’s lack of execution in the red zone

• Sayin praised Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate for their efforts on his deep-ball touchdowns to both receivers. “Great plays by Carnell and Jeremiah. I think we work on those throws a lot in practice. Coach Day and Coach (Billy) Fessler are always telling our quarterbacks, ‘Throw it high, give it air so they can adjust.’ They made two great catches. I was excited to see them come down with it.”
• Sayin said he “felt the pressure” before throwing his second interception and said he needs to do better in those situations moving forward. “We talk about third-hand help when you’re getting pressured in the pocket, you know, protect the ball, put it on your body. I was too loose with it.”
• Sayin said he will learn from his mistakes against Ohio, explaining that it was good for him to “battle some adversity” in his third start for the Buckeyes. “Had the turnovers, and see how we respond as an offense and how I respond. I think it’s good to battle some adversity out there.”

WR Jeremiah Smith

“We got to finish jobs. I mean, we was driving down the field on them guys, we just couldn’t finish. That was really the main point coming in at halftime. We just got to finish our jobs. That’s what we did in the second half.”– Jeremiah Smith on Ohio State’s red zone performance against Ohio

• When asked what he’s learned the most through three weeks that he can take into the bye week, Smith said, “Can’t rush things. Just got to play as a team, as an offense, you know, just take it one play at a time.”
• On his 47-yard connection with Julian Sayin for a touchdown: “Before we got on the field, Coach Day called it. He was like, ‘We’re gonna call this play, and you got to go get it.’ I already knew the ball was coming to me.”
• When told he had a career-high nine receptions against Ohio, Smith shrugged it off. “Don’t mean nothing to me. Just got to go out there and play football, that’s all.”
• Smith praised Bo Jackson for his performance against Ohio: “Bo Jackson is that guy. You’re going to see more of that throughout the rest of the season.”

LB Sonny Styles

“We all believe in each other. We trust in each other. We’re gonna be alright.”– Sonny Styles on Ohio State's up-and-down performance against Ohio

• Styles said Ohio State has a lot to work on during the bye week. “We know this week isn’t a week to just chill. We’ve gotta be primed and ready to play a game against Washington in two weeks, so just ready to get ready for that.”
• Styles said his brother, Lorenzo, who exited the game with an injury in the second half, is “good” and will “be alright.” Sonny said that after Lorenzo allowed the long touchdown reception in the second half, he told his brother, “Next play.”
• On Arvell Reese’s performance against Ohio: “He played great. Arvell is awesome. He can do so many different things on the field. … It’s no surprise to me. I’ve seen him do it in training camp and throughout spring. Him making those plays in the game now, it’s no surprise at all.”

TE Max Klare

“I kind of blacked out. That’s probably one of the coolest touchdowns I’ve ever scored. Just looking up into the helmet stripe, too, it was pretty sweet.”– Max Klare on scoring his first touchdown as a Buckeye

• On Julian Sayin: “He has great poise. Even in the huddle, the way he plays is pretty awesome for a redshirt freshman. So I mean, it’s great to see that, and he’s just going to keep building on it, too. So it’s going to be fun to watch.”
• On the environment at Ohio Stadium for the first three games: “It’s been awesome. I mean, coming out to 100,000-plus fans every week, it’s pretty surreal.  It’s kind of what you dream of growing up, so it’s been sweet.”
• On Jeremiah Smith’s excellence: “You see it every day at practice. Honestly now I see it, it doesn’t really amaze me as much because you see it every day. But, yeah, he’s a special talent.”

S Jaylen McClain

“Yeah, for sure. I feel like the proof is with the draft picks we produce every year.”– Jaylen McClain on whether Ohio State is DBU

• On his big hit for a pass breakup: “That was real exciting. The way the play just played out, it came to me, I just had to make the play.”
• McClain said he was unaware the hit was reviewed for targeting.
• On Devin Sanchez: “I feel like he’s doing a good job, I feel like when his number’s called, he’s making plays, he’s showing the preparation that he does in practice every day.”
• On Bo Jackson: “He’s a good player, I feel like he’s flashing and making the plays that I expect him to make, because I see it every day in practice.”
• On Arvell Reese: “He brings an attitude. He’s a force to be reckoned with. He makes plays day in, day out, and I see it every day in practice, so it’s nothing new to me.”