This week's Ryan Day Radio Show didn't feature Ryan Day.
With the head coach dealing with an unexpected scheduling conflict on Thursday, Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and general manager Mark Pantoni joined Paul Keels and Jim Lachey to discuss the Buckeyes.
Patricia said he's "so happy" for his players' historic success through seven games because "they've worked really hard" all season. He also shared that his relationships with Ryan Day and Tim Walton played a significant role in his choosing to coach for Ohio State. His family did, too.
“It’s been unbelievable. This place is amazing. The fans are great, the stadium atmosphere, just all of it, the walk — my kids are in awe,” Patricia said. “They’ve seen some really cool things in sports, but this has been unbelievable for them.”
Pantoni said Julian Sayin was once "at the top" of Ohio State's recruiting board, so the Buckeyes were "disappointed" when Sayin committed to Alabama. Pantoni was thankful that Nick Saban had retired because it gave him another chance to land the five-star quarterback.
“Coach Saban, we owed him a thank you note for leaving,” Pantoni said with a laugh.
Matt Patricia
On his defense’s performance through seven games
- “They’ve played extremely well.”
- “I’m just so happy for those guys. They’ve worked really hard.”
- “They’ve had a lot of fun.”
- “They play fast. They play aggressive. It’s a great young group.”
- “It brings you a lot of joy to be out there to be out there with them and watch what they can do on gamedays. They work so hard during the course of the week. It’s great to see that work come to fruition on gamedays.”
On the relationship he has with his players
- “We have great guys here.”
- “The kids just have an unbelievable joy about the game.”
- “It just makes it fun to be a coach and be able to go out there and kind of help them, watch them improve, watch them grow both on and off the field.”
- “It’s been a great ride here for the past eight months, seeing them grow and develop. It’s been a lot of fun.”
On why he chose to coach for Ohio State
- “My relationship with Coach Day was probably first and foremost. Coach Walton and I coached together a long time ago.”
- Patricia said returning to college football was something he considered “for a long time.”
- Patricia said he wanted to teach and inspire young men and help them grow on and off the field.
- Patricia said his family also played a significant role in his decision to coach for Ohio State. “It’s been unbelievable. This place is amazing. The fans are great, the stadium atmosphere, just all of it, the walk — my kids are in awe, you know, they’ve seen some really cool things in sports, but this has been unbelievable for them.”
On Ohio State’s coaching staff
- “It’s a tremendous group. I think I walked into an ideal, wonderful situation.”
- “He does an unbelievable job with the defensive line. For years, we’ve always grabbed guys that he’s coached, no matter where he’s been. He’s been a huge resource for me. I think he’s done a great job with these young guys. For me to be able to lean on him, to be able to do some of the things we want to do at the front has been great. He’s been amazing.”
- Patricia said James Laurinaitis “does a great job with the backers” and said his work “has shown up on the field.”
- Patricia called Matt Guerrieri “really smart” and said he “understands the scheme.”
- Patricia said he trusts each of the coaches to do their job and help Ohio State’s defense succeed. “For me, it’s been awesome. It’s just a great group of guys.”
On Caden Curry
- “This guy is just a good football player.”
- “He just understands the game.”
- “He’s very savvy.”
- “Now we’re creating matchup issues. That’s really what we’ve been able to do with him.”
On Kayden McDonald
- Patricia said he had a conversation with McDonald about the critical role he would play in the middle of Ohio State’s defense.
- “He’s big and strong. He’s been able to embrace that role.”
- “It’s fun to watch him.”
On playing depth against Wisconsin, earlier in the season
- “It’s fun to watch our older guys react when the younger guys get out there.”
- Patricia said Aaron Scott Jr.’s tackle to end the Wisconsin game stands out to him as one of the moments the entire team celebrated.
- “It’s great. It’s great to see those guys on the field. As many game reps as we can give those guys, it only helps in the long run.”
- “Any rep we can get, it brings value later on when we really need those guys to get out there and play.”
On Ohio State’s defensive scheme, concepts and formations
- “I want us just to play fast and aggressive.”
- Patricia said he’ll run whatever formations and concepts his players feel comfortable with and succeed in.
- “We got to make sure it’s comfortable for our guys first.”
On Jaylen McClain
- “Caleb (Downs) obviously runs everything in the back end and is involved in the front, and he kind of is very multiple and all over the place. I think the great thing that Jaylen has done is just settle the position down at the other spot.”
- Patricia said McClain has been “very consistent snap in and snap out.”
- Patricia said McClain’s communication has also impressed him.
- “He tackles really well. He puts himself in good positions.”
- “It’s been great to see that chemistry really grow back there. I think that’s one of the biggest things when you have either linebackers or safeties that have to work better in conjunction in the middle of the field. The communication piece back and forth is really important, and he’s done a great job.”
- Patricia said he coached McClain and Riley Pettijohn’s dads earlier in his career. “It’s pretty cool.”
On Arvell Reese
- “I think Arvell just on the field is my favorite spot, you know, that’s where I like him is out there impacting and doing the things he can do.”
- “It’s been pretty cool to watch him be in those different positions and be productive.”
- “It’s been really good.”
On Payton Pierce
- “I think he’s really grown.”
- Patricia said Pierce has “built up some confidence” and “really sees the field well.”
- Patricia said the game is slowing down for Pierce. “That’s been a great thing to see from him.”
On Ohio State’s offense
- Patricia said he doesn’t get to watch Ohio State’s offense much during games, but he always looks forward to watching the film the following week.
- “Really exciting to watch the success that they’ve had and the way that Julian has grown through the offense and certainly the skill players.”
- “Those guys are great players.”
- Patricia said nothing surprises him with Ohio State’s offense after facing them all spring and training camp. “You’re not surprised when they make these plays. You’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, saw that one a month ago.’ … They’re a problem. I’m glad they’re on our side. Those guys are great players.”
Mark Pantoni
On recruiting Julian Sayin
- Pantoni said Ohio State had Sayin “at the top of the board for us out of high school.”
- Pantoni said the Buckeyes were “disappointed” when Sayin committed to Alabama over Ohio State.
- “Coach Saban, we owed him a thank you note for leaving. As soon as that happened, there was communication to let us know there would be interest there. Then we just had to have an internal conversation that felt good for the room at the time. … He’s obviously stepped right in and been a key part of this team this year.”
On home games impacting recruiting
- “They do — when FOX doesn’t handcuff us with these noon games, as we have another one next week,” Pantoni said with a laugh. “But no, next weekend we will have a lot of kids coming in, a lot of 27s and 28s to start building that relationship with.”
- Pantoni said “you deal with a lot of crisis management” before kickoff when you have recruits flying into Columbus for an Ohio State game.
On Arvell Reese
- “You saw the explosiveness from him on film and the ability to run and accelerate, but you just never knew with his frame what he would grow into. He’s kind of just a big, freaky athlete.”
- “He’s had an incredible year, so it’s been fun to watch.”
On NIL and revenue sharing
- Pantoni said NIL and revenue sharing have completely changed his job.
- Pantoni said agents try to contact him “nonstop” so they “can talk about money.”
- Pantoni said he’s handling financial discussions with current players and future players almost every day in the NIL era.
- “At the end of the day, that culture in the locker room is why we win.”
- “You got to be on your game.”
