Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day spoke with the media ahead of the Buckeyes showdown with Penn State.
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00:00 during the week is to prepare the best we can, it's like a test,
00:03 then you find out how you do on Saturday.
00:05 >> Yeah, you know you gotta be on your P's and Q's on Saturday more so
00:08 than regular or is it?
00:10 >> I mean, certainly when you play really good teams, like we have in the past,
00:14 you gotta, every play counts, every play matters.
00:18 The margin of error, as you know, is very tough.
00:20 >> One question, everyone.
00:22 Tony Gurdon and Buckeye Huddle.
00:23 >> Ryan, I don't know how much you can share.
00:24 Your conversations with Ty Leak over the offseason, what were those like?
00:28 And did you see a light go on for him at some point?
00:30 >> Well, I think for Ty Leak going into year three, like a lot of our guys,
00:34 we wanna start taking on him more of a client share of the reps who's done that.
00:40 And he's had more of an impact this season than he has in the past.
00:45 But again, in games like this, this is where really good players and
00:49 great players have to play that way.
00:51 >> Bill Landis, rivals to podcast.
00:54 The folks we do have other players, Cody Simon and Xavier, are here as well.
00:58 Was there any commonality last week?
00:59 [INAUDIBLE]
01:04 >> No, no.
01:06 One of them, we had Xavier in there at tailback.
01:09 He was running a protection that he really wasn't that familiar with because
01:14 we were in a tough spot.
01:16 And we were having a hard time identifying protection.
01:18 And so we put Xavier in there, and that's what that was.
01:21 And the second one was a punt that right around the 40-yard line,
01:25 we weren't exactly sure on the look.
01:26 And anytime we say, hey, listen, we'll take a five-yard penalty there,
01:29 especially in a proof situation.
01:31 So when there's a delay game, I'd put it on myself.
01:35 But those are the situations I- >> Nathan Barrett, Cleveland.com.
01:38 >> Ryan, last time you were here,
01:40 Howard had a matchup and took Martin away.
01:43 So I think that guy can't go on the same.
01:46 What does that mean for Kyle as far as how he needs to be processing the job?
01:50 >> Well, our guys are working hard to get back to the game, and
01:55 we're hopeful that that's gonna happen.
01:56 But we have a lot of weapons, and that's one of the things that we talk about in
02:00 the preseason is how we're gonna spread the ball around.
02:03 Well, we're in a game now, and whether it's tight end, running back, or
02:06 receiver, we're gonna need all these guys to step up.
02:08 They're all gonna have opportunities, but that's where depth comes in, and
02:12 that's why we have to have weapons across the field.
02:14 >> Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch.
02:16 >> Ryan, at close to 40, where do you think you're gonna play?
02:21 >> That just depends on the wind.
02:22 I think he made one from 60 today.
02:25 It was a pretty strong wind behind him.
02:28 So it just depends on the wind, but he's got a strong wind.
02:32 >> Andy Baxstrom, Letterman Rope.
02:33 >> Ryan, with Penn State ranking near the top of their country,
02:35 time possession, is there an urgency to kind of dictate the pace of play?
02:39 Is there a way to get them to play too?
02:41 >> Yeah, we always wanna dictate the pace of play for sure.
02:44 But they've done a great job of that.
02:45 So yeah, I mean, winning first down is critically important on both sides of
02:49 the ball, whether it's staying on schedule to stay in third manageable situations,
02:56 or on the other side of the ball to force the other team into a third long situation.
03:01 But yeah, that comes with winning first down and stopping a run.
03:06 And that's what they're gonna do.
03:07 They're gonna try to establish that.
03:09 And they did a nice job of that this year.
03:10 They have a big, strong offensive line, good running backs, good tight ends.
03:13 So we know the challenge that's ahead of us.
03:16 And yeah, this is something that we gotta do a good job of.
03:18 >> Kevin, Tate Robinson, the athletic.
03:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:30 >> Yeah, yeah, it all works together, like you're saying.
03:44 But yeah, I mean, they're very disruptive up front and do a really good job.
03:47 So we gotta have a plan for that and a way to attack.
03:51 But it's all three levels, they have good players.
03:55 So it's not like we can just focus on one area.
03:59 But we're always looking to be explosive, that's an important part of our game.
04:03 So we know this, Notre Dame had a really good defense, they did.
04:08 And a little different style of defense here, but statistically,
04:12 this is the best defense in the country right now.
04:14 So we got a really good challenge ahead of us, they're well coached.
04:17 They've got a good plan, they're playing sound right now.
04:19 And so we gotta be on our game.
04:21 >> Clay Hall, WSYS.
04:24 >> Ryan, is this as good a defense that you've faced since you've been here?