Everything’s been smooth sailing for the Ohio State football team through the first seven weeks of the season, but Ryan Day knows the Buckeyes can’t take their foot off the gas now.
During his appearance on the Ohio State Sports Network’s Buckeye Roundtable show on Monday night, Ryan Day was asked about a weekend full of upsets in college football that included losses for four top-10 teams (No. 2 Miami, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 7 Texas Tech and No. 10 LSU). Day said that served as a good reminder to his team that the Buckeyes can't afford to have a letdown even though they’re 7-0 for the season, knowing that even one loss could knock them out of the Big Ten Championship Game.
“We're all in the hotel (before the Wisconsin game) and we're watching those Friday night games and it just gets everybody's attention,” Day said. “It's good to make sure that we understand that we got to bring it on a week-to-week basis and we know every week an opportunity to get to Indianapolis is on the line.
“Our guys, they're not professionals. They're still 18- to 22-year-olds, and they have to learn the ability to bring it every week. And if we stay consistent with our preparation, it gives us a chance to do that. And we know it's a long season. So every week we got to recharge and bring it on Saturdays.”
During his seven-minute interview on Monday night, Day also talked about the team’s schedule for the bye week and the success Julian Sayin, Carnell Tate and Ohio State’s defense had vs. Wisconsin.
- Day said just about every player on the team was watching the Friday night games the night before the Wisconsin game. “Doing bed check and going around, just about every room was watching those games and into it. I think our guys love the game, love football.”
- Day said the majority of Ohio State’s coaches were on the road recruiting Monday and will be again Friday. The team will practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, then the players will get Friday and Saturday off before getting back to work Sunday.
- Day said Julian Sayin has a “natural instinct” to be able to see the field and feel the pass rush. “I’d like to tell you that that’s coaching, but it’s not. It’s just an innate feel, it’s a natural instinct that he has.” He said Sayin “made a couple plays off-schedule that I thought were tremendous,” and thinks Sayin is improving every week because of his footwork and his reads downfield.
- Day believes becoming more physical in all facets of the game has been a huge factor in Carnell Tate’s emergence as one of college football’s elite receivers this season. “You’re seeing Carnell’s game take off because I just think the overall physicality of his game has taken the next step.”
- Day was happy to see the starters celebrating with the backups when the defense preserved a shutout on Wisconsin’s final drive. He said celebrating teammates’ success is a part of the culture he’s sought to build at Ohio State.
