COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 5 Ohio State heads to No. 14 Iowa this weekend for one of its biggest challenges of the season, with the Buckeyes emphasizing physicality, execution and the importance of doing their jobs against a Hawkeyes team that has built its identity around playing physical football.
Ryan Day, quarterback Julian Sayin and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. met with reporters this week to preview the matchup, with the Buckeyes’ run game and run defense among the biggest areas of focus heading into Kinnick Stadium.
Ryan Day
+ On Legend Bey’s status, Day said his status will depend on how Bey does in practice this week. He is building trust, but Day said, “we definitely want to see him on the field.”
+ It was great to see Julian Sayin respond the way he did to being challenged to use his legs, but he has to keep growing. Day said Sayin does have some additional confidence coming out of Illinois.
+ On the running backs and whether they ran angry enough last week, Day said there were some good runs and, at times, the backs were contacted at three yards and broke for eight or nine, but they didn’t get any home runs. “It was a step in the right direction.”
+ Day said Jeremiah Smith’s mindset is what separates him from everyone else, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that he’s won the “genetic lottery.” Day said it’s his discipline first, and then skillset. The easy thing to do is to rely on talent, but Smith has not done that and has had that mindset since he came into the program.
+ On four games in with Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, Day said they are getting in a rhythm and it has been building each week. There’s a transition coming from the NFL and there are a lot of differences, but Smith has done a good job and is gaining momentum.
+ On the production of the defensive ends, Day said “we need production, for sure.” Everybody has to be disciplined and win their one-on-one battles, because all it takes is one player being off to give up an explosive play.
+ Kinnick Stadium is a difficult place to play, but this is a big opportunity for the team to go on the road against a top opponent and get a win. This could be a good momentum-building win for the team. The team has talked about how difficult it is to play at Kinnick Stadium.
+ The coaching staff has to balance giving the ball to Jeremiah Smith, working progressions regardless of where a player is, and identifying where, if a team doubles Smith, there’s an opportunity to exploit that somewhere else. All of those play into spreading the ball. “They [the Hawkeyes] feed off of teams that come in and try and get cute. We can’t get cute.”
+ Defensively, the focus is on executing at a high level. There has been good effort but not good enough execution. They did more pressures and man against Illinois, but there were too many explosive plays. “We have to do a better job coaching and the players have to do a better job being accountable to that.”
+ Day said he did take his coaching hat off to enjoy the end of Iowa’s last-second win at Michigan last week. But Day added that Iowa will have a lot of confidence coming into this week.
+ Jay Timmons’ status is day-to-day and they will see what they can get out of him this week.
+ Gabe VanSickle has been a “bright spot” for the offensive line. Phillip Daniels has also done good things. They are pushing each other and, based on how much Daniels is able to do this week, the coaches will just need to make the right decision there.
+ Nate Roberts has put the work in and it is showing up, but even as a freshman, his route-running ability forecast that they could see him doing it on the field. The challenge for Roberts is to sustain that through the season.
+ “We’re going to be running the ball against a team that historically does not allow teams to run the ball.” The physicality, focus and execution need to be there this week. “We need to be able to run the ball against an Iowa defense, and that is a major challenge.”
+ Ja’Kobi Jackson has a really good feel for the game and “instinct.” He fills the maturity role C.J. Donaldson had last year, bringing that leadership to the room, but Jackson has provided more than what they expected and saw on film.
Julian Sayin
+ On running the ball, Sayin said they wanted to improve that and keep growing in that even in the offseason.
+ Jeremiah Smith keeps growing and getting better every day. Sayin was his workout partner this offseason and it developed their chemistry even more.
+ On sharing the ball and his comfort level with other receivers, Sayin said the receiver and tight end rooms are improving each week, and seeing them make plays gives him more confidence as the quarterback to keep delivering the ball their way. Brock Boyd and Chris Henry Jr. have stacked games and are getting better each week.
+ On preparing for three of the next four games on the road, Sayin said Iowa has a great team and Kinnick will be a hostile environment, but they have veteran experience between Sayin and the offensive line who have played in games like that last year.
+ Sayin’s chemistry with Arthur Smith has grown a lot. Sayin said, “I love having him in my corner.” The coaching staff is a “dream” with Day, Billy Fessler and Smith.
+ On preparing for Iowa’s defense, Sayin said they play as a group who are fundamentally sound, well-coached and talented.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
+ On his message to the defense after last week, Jackson Jr. said allowing 200 rushing yards was “terrible” and “unacceptable.” Jackson Jr. said they will be ready for this week against Iowa and that starts with the defensive line. In his opinion, the issue is that players are trying to be heroes and make big plays, but are jumping out of their gaps and not doing their job to the best of their ability. “Do your job, you don’t have to play hero ball.” The coaching staff has addressed that too, and it was addressed last Sunday. Jackson Jr. told the team after the game that they have to be better. Iowa likes to run the ball and their priority needs to be stopping the run. The defensive line has a chip on their shoulder.
+ On Khary Wilder, Jackson Jr. said Wilder is a wild card and “see ball, get ball.” The packages that he’s in, the speed or three-man-front, he doesn’t have a specific job, just to get the quarterback. The same isn’t true in other packages.
+ “On Saturday, we have to play 60 minutes of football.”
