COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke with reporters following the opening of fall camp for the Buckeyes. He provided updates on the team and gave some insights on how the first practice of camp went for the Buckeyes. Here are the highlights from what Day had to say.
+ Just good to get out there. Good practice today.
+ The number one thing is they have to be tough. “We’ve got to be a tough team.” Mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally. They spend a lot of time figuring out the right number of reps for guys.
+ Day feels as good as he’s felt in a couple of years in terms of the offensive line depth. There are 7 or 8 guys who can play. Now it’s learning assignments, then when the pads go on, finding out who can block. If enough guys deserve a chance to play, then they will rotate some guys and play more than five.
+ Defensively, this has to be the best tackling defense in the Big Ten. They have to run to the ball and be tough.
+ Champions Dinner was last night. Coach Mick talked with the team and then passed the team over to Day. The work the strength staff puts in deservers recognition.
+ This year is more of a typical preseason camp after having an atypical camp last year. Younger guys are trying to figure out what’s going on, older guys are solidifying themselves.
+ He and Urban Meyer talk a lot and about everything.
+ Damon Arnette and Jeff Okudah are hungry and the corners have built a relationship with Jeff Hafley. They have put a lot of time in mastering techniques. “They’re in a good place.”
+ He drew a lot from his experience during camp last year. This is the second-time he’s done something as a head coach, which helps. Last year, they had to manage it the best they could. This year, they were able to plan ahead and put a lot of thought to the process.
+ Gunnar Hoak was impressive today. It’s hard to know until you’re really out there playing, but he has picked up the offense quickly. He made good decisions. He was definitely a positive today. There is no plan on when to name a starter. They want to get three quarterbacks ready to play in a game, and that’s the focus right now. The first couple of weeks are competing.
+ Captains will be determined later in the camp. Players will vote and they’ll see how many guys have received a large number of votes. Day would like the captains split among offense and defense, and front and back ends.
+ JK Dobbins is very serious now. He worked hard in the summer. Lost 4% of his body fat. He’s got to make 3-yard runs into 5-yard runs. He’s got to run hard. The other guys in the room have to pick up the slack as well. He can’t do it all on his own.
+ Day will let his beard go for a week or so during camp.
+ Hard to tell after day one if the quarterbacks are ahead of where he’d like them to be. He’ll know more in a week or so. The good news is that both Gunnar Hoak and Justin Fields have played in games, just not in this offense.
+ Asked about being ranked 5th in the coaches poll, Day said it shows respect for the program, players, and coaches, “but truth be told, we haven’t done anything. We’ve got to prove it.”
+ Chase Young is a very likable young man. Guys like him, but Day sees more serious from him now. He needs to step up and be a leader. He understands that this is a huge year for him. Every team only has one year and one chance to be special and Young realizes that.
+ Being a captain is something you remember forever and it means a lot. He was a captain in college.
+ Everyone has to pick up the slack around the young quarterbacks. Offense, defense, and special teams. The plan to win has not changed. It’s defense, field position, no turnovers, and scoring touchdowns in the red zone.
+ “Gold guys” are treated differently than the Blue or Red guys. The levels come from work during the offseason and academics. The gold guys are trusted more. But you still have to go out and win the position. New guys are put in blue and if you’re in year two or three, you should not be in blue. There aren’t many of those guys.
+ After the first scrimmage, they’ll start looking at a pecking order at quarterback. They’ll check again after the following scrimmage a week later and see if there is a gap growing.
+ New facilities in the WHAC are huge for OSU. Guys can spend the entire day here. Playing, working, recovering, studying, watching movies. They want the players to stay here and spend as much time as they want.
+ Day’s eyes naturally go to the quarterback on the practice field. He wants to make sure the processes are right for the QBs and they’re making the right decisions.