COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will meet with reporters at 12:00 pm on Tuesday. This will be his first session with the media in a week. He will no doubt provide some updates on his team, as well as answer around 30 minutes of questions from the assembled masses. The upcoming Maryland game will also be a topic of the day. We will provide live updates once the festivities begin at noon. Refresh for the latest.
+ Asked if he is happy with the passing game this season, he said it’s all based on game plan. There is still stuff to work on in the run game and pass game. They just want to be balanced.
+ The team is playing well, but you still have to hold them accountable to what they put on film. You can’t reward bad behavior even if the play went well. That is the standard and they have to be held to it.
+ He’s enjoyed watching Joe Burrow on tv and on film watching what LSU is doing on offense.
+ One of his favorite things to do after a noon win is to go home, sit in the recliner, order food, and then watch football. On the way home from a game, they crank the radio really loud as well.
+ The defense knows how dangerous this Maryland running game is. They ran for 300 yards last year against the Buckeyes and the guys know that.
+ It’s great to see Keandre Jones play so well for Maryland. “We supported that as best we could.” Didn’t want to see him leave, but supported him in his decision.
+ It’s cool when somebody like Damon Arnette returns and then tells people months later that the best decision he ever made was coming back. It is great to see those results from that decision. “It’s all well deserved.”
+ You try to get guys ready to play as soon as possible. There is so much time put into guys that once they get into year two and year three, they have the right to get the first shot at things. As guys earn stripes, they get more opportunities, and that’s the way things should work.
+ Guys need to play in games. Practice isn’t enough to keep them sharp. Every game, they go into it preparing to play 60 minutes.
+ Day is favor in terms of playoff expansion. “I do believe that if you win your conference, you should get in.” But that’s not a conversation to have during the season.
+ It’s a daily thing to make sure players aren’t taking anybody lightly.
+ Maryland will give you a lot of different looks on defense. They are similar to last year a bit, but the scheme is new. They have good players and they play hard.
+ There is something to be said for being relevant in November and he congratulated the team for that, but the rankings won’t be any part of their focus.
+ It is important to enjoy the season, but depending on the calendar, there are different kinds of fun. You have to find ways to make a 6 a.m. workout in the winter fun. Same thing in the summer. “This time of year, fun is a little different. Fun is winning. Not silly, goofy fun.” The players love coming to the building every day and when that’s the case, you get the most out of them.
+ You’re into November now and crazy things can happen. They must continue to stay focused on the things that have gotten them to this point. This time of year, the only thing that works is going back to the things that have worked. That can get boring, but you have to remain focused on that. “If you don’t think they’re all big, try losing one.”
+ The first college football playoff poll is for the fans. “It doesn’t mean anything to us” because if they lose, they’re out anyway. He’s not even a little curious about where they are. “It does not matter to us.”
+ There are a lot of reasons why this defense with the same personnel is playing so much better than a year ago. Players are a year older, the scheme has changed, the offenses have changed. The defense needs to bring it every week now, however, because you’re only as good as your last week. “New challenge this week. They’re dangerous.”
+ Last year against Maryland was a wild game. That was a big game for Dwayne Haskins in terms of establishing himself as a runner. It was a back-and-forth game. He doesn’t remember what was going through his mind as the OSU defense was giving up seven touchdowns.
+ OSU will recruit around the country. The globe has gotten smaller, but traveling to Hawaii to recruit as OSU has done and is doing is something they have to consider before doing it. It’s costly in terms of finances and time for the coach. “Those are not things we come to lightly.”
+ You never know how tough a guy like Justin Fields is until you see it in a game. They have seen those signs this season from Justin Fields.
+ Former Maryland assistant Matt Barnes can give some insight on personnel, but scheme and everything else has changed, so there’s only so much help he can give in that regard.
This what day means.
I have long said the best playoff assuming just 4 is so simple:
each of the conference winners and other undefeated teams make the final group and the committee picks 4 from these 5-7 teams.
Period.
No major sports picks “best 4”. It’s impossible. All major sports use conference or pool elimination systems. Just think how this impacts the non conference games. A loss has no impact. We can have fun great non conference games and skip the boring mis matches.
I have long said the best playoff assuming just 4 is so simple:
each of the conference winners and other undefeated teams make the final group and the committee picks 4 from these 5-7 teams.
Period.
No major sports picks “best 4”. It’s impossible. All major sports use conference or pool elimination systems. Just think how this impacts the non conference games. A loss has no impact. We can have fun great non conference games and skip the boring mis matches.