The first road test for a team is going to weigh on the mind of a coach, especially when it starts conference play.
It's an especially raucous environment expected in Husky Stadium, and Ohio State is preparing accordingly. Ryan Day is planning for his team to use a silent cadence on offense in dealing with the crowd noise.
Washington's offense will provide a great challenge for the Silver Bullets, with Day pointing to running back Jonah Coleman, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and wide receiver Denzel Boston as pieces that make the Huskies "very, very talented."
A full rundown of what Day had to say in his weekly press conference:
- On how he's preparing Julian Sayin for his first road test: "I think just making no assumptions when you're on the road. All the little things. ... It's almost like going back to the beginning, going back to basics. Any time you go on the road, everything's a little more difficult."
- Day said maintaining the consistency of his program through great roster turnover comes through recruiting and development. "It's also the job of the players to be able to step into those environments early on. ... For this group, it'll be our first time on the road. This is the next challenge."
- On Eddrick Houston: "We're looking for consistency in everybody. ... I think, that's where you first look, a guy can flash, the question is, can he consistently do it? ... We are looking for depth at every position and we need as many guys that can play as possible. ... The ability is obviously there."
- On Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr.: "A quarterback who can move with the quickness and the acceleration that he moves with is difficult. ... Not only that, he's very accurate with the football, makes great decision. ... It's a great challenge for our defense. I think he's an excellent quarterback."
- Day said he's "expecting a great environment" in Husky Stadium.
- Ohio State will need all three of its top running backs this season, Day said, and the distribution of carries will vary based on the game plan. "It's a long season, so we're looking at it that way. ... There's no question that Bo (Jackson) did flash last game, so we're going to keep building on that."
- On the schedule for the week: "We'll leave Thursday of this week. We're going to keep everything else the same. ... We think that that's the best way to go."
- On Washington's heavy use of man coverage defensively: "We'll have to prepare for everything. ... We have to focus on what we're doing and do our part. ... But I'm sure there will be a mix."
- Day said he never could have been prepared to be Ohio State's head coach, but like any new change, it was important to learn as much as possible. "You're never ready to buy your first house, you're never ready to have your first kid. ... I just always took a lot of notes to know when it was my turn to become a head coach, how I wanted it to look. ... Every year you learn more and more about yourself, about your team, about your staff. ... Just never quite too sure if you're ready, but you've just gotta go learn and grow."
- Day said there's nothing "sports-science-wise" to suggest that traveling the day before the Oregon game last season negatively impacted the team, but they're still working to create the best plan possible to go to the West Coast. "I thought we were ready and we were playing fast. ... But we're always trying to learn and we're always trying to get better."
- Ohio State plans to use a silent cadence against Washington, but Day is confident in the experience of center Carson Hinzman. "When you're inexperienced, it's a big challenge. Carson's now been in it before. ... These are not young guys (on the offensive line) in this environment. ... We have to use it as a weapon. We can't let it be something that hinders us in any way."
- More on the running backs: "This is a much different opponent and a bigger challenge. So we've gotta continue to see all those guys step up."
- Washington's length at cornerback will be a particular challenge for Ohio State's wide receivers, Day said.
- On the defense of Washington DC and former Purdue head coach Ryan Walters: "They do a great job of getting everybody in one-on-one situations. ... Everybody has to win their one-on-ones, their style of defense that's played."
- On the Huskies' offense overall: "They have been very, very efficient on offense and really haven't made any mistakes. We all know what we need to do to discourage that. ... Quarterback makes quick decisions, running back gets downhill and he's built low to the ground and very powerful. ... Very, very talented."
