COLUMBUS — Even though the Buckeyes are on a bye week, that didn’t stop Ohio State coordinators Greg Schiano and Ryan Day from spending some time Wednesday afternoon with reporters. Day talked about the areas the Buckeyes were working on this week and answered a dozen other questions as well. Here are the highlights of what he had to say.
Ryan Day
+ Asked if he was pleased with the effort of the offensive line, Day said they have had some really good plays and other plays they wish they could have back. They are assessing those kinds of plays right now and they have to correctly assess whether it is scheme, personnel, or execution. Good coaches can correctly assess those distinctions. “If you make a mistake in that area, then all of a sudden you’re trying to fix something that doesn’t need to be fixed.”
+ J.K. Dobbins is a great kid. Day can’t say enough about him and Mike Weber. They would both like more carries, “but a lot of that has to do with the way we’re made up this year and our personnel.” They are going to continue to try to find ways for the RBs to make an impact.
+ The RPOs have been excellent, which is part of the running game. Trying to find the right runs that they can hang their hats on, that’s still a work in progress.
+ There are areas where they can do a better job executing and areas where they can do better in scheming. “A little bit here, a little bit there.”
+ They need to execute better in the red zone. They missed some passes that they’ve hit this year. But also when they need three yards, they need to be able to pound for those three yards.
+ Part of identifying problems in the red zone is looking at personnel changes. Sometimes when you do make changes, it slows down the game. But if it works, you have to look at it. They have gone back and looked at the 2015 issues in the red zone with Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett.
+ Branden Bowen is not ready to play yet but will be practicing this week. The bye weeks allow for good practice reps for guys who don’t play a lot. They are not talking about any line changes right now, but this week of practice gives guys opportunities to make an impression.
+ On the RPO, if you’re throwing the ball for a gain of six, that’s actually a positive run call. They consider that part of the running game, and the speed sweeps with Parris Campbell as well. The stats can be a little misleading with the overall running game.
+ Asked if maybe he should call more run plays to allow the offensive line to “tee off” on a defensive line, Day says on every play the offensive line should have that mentality. They are looking at the offensive line’s mentality this season on all plays during this off week.
+ If they asked Dwayne Haskins to run more, he would be willing. “We don’t think that’s his specialty.” “But at the end of the day you’ve got to do your job.”
+ Ben Victor has to step up and mature into a role as the starter. But other guys can move over like Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, and Johnnie Dixon. Jaylen Harris will need to step up as well.
+ Victor has shown the ability to step up, but he needs to show consistency if he wants to start the rest of the season.
+ Why have defenses been able to stop the run against such a dangerous pass game, are you pulling your hair out? No, they are not pulling their hair out because they have one of the best offenses in the nation. However, if they can get the running game going, then they’ll be where they want to be.
+ His overall mood about the offense? “Just frustrated that we’ve done so many good things but didn’t have quite have a lot to show for it the other night.” They have to play better situationally, i.e. in the red zone and in short yardage.
Best offenses in The Nation that scored 3pts and only looked great against teams that couldn’t beat a Div III school…. Meyer gave Day and his West Coast soft offense too much control, Kevin should be running the offense while Day Watches and learns how to score on quality opp
I’m watching any changes to the offense because Ryan Day opened the season looking like Superman as the interim HC and OC. After the last several games I have to wonder if it was merely smoke and mirrors and the REAL man behind the curtain driving that success was Kevin Wilson.
Everyone and their baby sister KNEW that when Urban returned, RPO was going to return and foul what we thought we were seeing. So we’ve got to take that into account. But that also put Ryan more hands on game planning and making some of the game day decisions. I watch the play calling and we’re seeing way too much RPO being called. Ryan talks about changes….so we have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The same can’t be said about the other side of the ball though. They don’t have Urban going over there and packaging a damned thing. That’s ALL on Schiano and the assistants.
I can’t wait to see the changes when we play Nebraska in two weeks. What time is the game anyway?
Noon.
TOTALLY AGREE BOB
Whatever happened to Demario McCall? I know he’s technically a running back, but he’s looked good catching passes quite often, when given the opportunity. Is he in someone’s doghouse, or what? With Mack out, having another option would be good and with his speed, it seems McCall could be the guy.
I totally agree on McCall. He would provide a huge spark of they find a smart way to use him. Maybe I answered my own question by saying smart though.
that’s a good question–where has McCall disappeared to??? OZone staff–know anything about this?
He has been sentenced to a Siberian Gulag, having committed no crime.
No wonder he hasn’t been playing.