Just like that, half of Ohio State’s season is over. As the Buckeyes rapidly approach the second half of the year, Ryan Day has his team focused on where it can improve as they enter the home stretch.
In a press conference on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center’s indoor practice field, Day was asked where his team can improve.
“Everywhere,” Day joked.
He continued: “I think for us in a day and age when it’s all about what’s new, what’s flashy, what’s exciting, what’s the new thing. It’s the mundane, daily tasks that we have to embrace. … It’s this combined effort from everybody in the building to get better.”
Day also shared that Eddrick Houston and Lorenzo Styles Jr. are "ready to go" for the Wisconsin game, called Caleb Downs "the man that makes it happen" for the Ohio State defense and said the Buckeyes are looking for Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham to step up the second half of the season.
- On Carson Hinzman: “A great example of somebody that, when Luke Wypler went to the NFL that year, he got thrust into a role maybe a year earlier than we would have expected.” Day said Hinzman’s development two years ago prepared him for the team’s CFP run last season and this season. “He’s become an excellent football player.”
- “Everywhere. I think for us in a day and age when it’s all about what’s new, what’s flashy, what’s exciting, what’s the new thing. It’s the mundane, daily tasks that we have to embrace on a daily basis.” Day said some of those mundane things are “great effort,” “individual drills” and “technique.” “It’s this combined effort from everybody in the building to get better.”
- Day said Ohio State’s running backs have to improve at making people miss, breaking tackles and fighting for extra yards after first contact.
- Day said Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham have to step up behind Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss as the season continues. “They’re there. They’re right there, right on the doorstep. We need them. Carnell and Jeremiah and Brandon need those guys to step up in a big way.” Day said Porter has “shown up” on special teams, “which is a great sign.” He said Graham “has been practicing better.”
- On Wisconsin: “Luke Fickell is a very good coach. He knows winning football. His team plays hard. They play sound football. I know the season hasn’t gone the way they expected it to go, but at the same time, put the film on.” Day called every Big Ten road game “a challenge in this league.”
- Day said Wisconsin’s players have “their back against wall,” so they will “come out with their hair on fire” versus the Buckeyes.
- Day said Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. “bring me up every day” because of the “juice” they have for every practice and game.
- Day called Caleb Downs “the man that makes it all happen.” Day said Ohio State owes a lot of its defensive success to Downs, who is reliable and “can lead and can communicate.” Day called Downs “the best defensive player in the country.”
- When asked if an Ohio State running back breaking off a long touchdown run could bring plenty of positives for the Buckeyes’ run game. “That would be nice, for sure,” Day said with a laugh. “It would be nice to hit a long run.”
- Day said both Eddrick Houston and Lorenzo Styles Jr. have had a good week of practice and are “ready to go” for the Wisconsin game.
