The Big Ten Championship Game takes place Saturday night, which means Friday afternoon was the opposing coaches press conference. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day went first and answered a number of questions about his team. Up next came Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst and he provided a number of updates on his team and answered some more questions about Ohio State. Here are the highlights.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day
+ Day is confident that Justin Fields will be able to run the offense as he’s done it all year long.
+ It would mean a lot to win the Big Ten Championship, but now is no time to reflect because they want to make sure they’re accelerating through the finish line.
+ Jonathon Cooper will travel but won’t dress. You have to take the emotion out of the decision. The best thing for him is to have an entire senior year as a healthy defensive end.
+ Garrett Wilson needs to take care of the ball, but he’ll be the punt returner again on Saturday. They see what he does in practice.
+ Wilson is practicing much better than he did early in the season. It’s a process and it takes time. Chris Olave was a great example of that last year. Now he has to carry that progress into this game. The Michigan game is behind them.
+ Everything from the medical staff about Justin Fields is that he’s 100% a go. He’s had a great week of practice.
+ It’s a team effort stopping Wisconsin’s running game. It starts with the defensive line, then everybody behind them has to pursue and wrap up.
+ Greg Mattison has brought great experience to the coaching staff. He’s also been through it all before and knows what it takes to win and knows how to be part of the chemistry. He has a lot of answers when the bullets are flying.
+ Shaun Wade brings a level of calmness in the secondary. He can identify things and is versatile against the run and pass.
+ JK Dobbins’ home runs has been a combination of the offensive line blocking and Dobbins running with an edge. He’s been that way all season. He’s running harder and “the big plays take care of themselves.” If you keep your pads down and trust your line and your reads, you’ll have a good night.
+ Josh Myers, for a first-time starter, has been excellent. He’s been as good as Day has been around at that age. His pad level, strength, protection, and athleticism have all been really good.
+ If Day was Dobbins, he’d ask what else do I need to do to be recognized as the best back in the country. He doesn’t know if it bothers Dobbins, but it bothers Day that there is a lack of recognition for Dobbins.
+ You can tell this Ohio State team has not been worn down this season. They are fresh on both sides of the ball.
+ It’s hard to find an inch on this Wisconsin defense, so you have to change up looks and try different things. Everybody on the Ohio State team knows the challenge Wisconsin provides.
+ Day expects the Buckeyes to play fast tomorrow night.
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst
+ It is impressive what Ohio State has done, but you better not spend any energy worrying about them and put all of your focusing on being the best Wisconsin.
+ Chryst likes the fact that this team has taken on the personality of their leaders. “I think they love playing the game. I think they truly care about each other.” They play with a spirit that is infectious.
+ Chryst and his whole family have known Greg Mattison for a long time. Utmost respect for him as a coach, but more importantly as a person. Never worked together, but have gone up against him. He doesn’t say this about a lot of guys, but Mattison is truly a great coach who cares about the game.
+ Receiver AJ Taylor is out for the season. He’s meant so much to the team and the program. He will be missed.
+ The jet sweep has been improving the running game for the Badgers over the last month. It can’t all just be Jonathan Taylor.
+ It is special to be representing Wisconsin. It means a lot for him because he’s a Wisconsin guy. The place is meaningful but it’s the people that make it.
+ To beat Ohio State you have to take advantage of every opportunity you are given. You have to make the plays that are there to be made.
+ Ohio State’s defense is impressive because they have talent, but they’re playing all together. They’re all connected and they adjust quickly. It’s a well-coached group that looks like they know exactly what they’re doing. They do some things schematically but it doesn’t slow them down. “It’s a defense that’s playing really well and we know that first hand.”
+ It is really hard to win the Big Ten outright once, let alone three times as Ohio State is attempting to do right now. “They don’t just hand this out.”
+ Justin Fields’ care with the ball is what makes him good. “They play the right way.”
+ “From where I sit, I’m awfully impressed [with Ryan Day]. It’s really impressive what they’re doing.” They are talented, but they are well-coached. “Its impressive and it’s not easy to do.”
I watched both pressers. It seemed like Day was asked questions about Ohio State, and then Chryst was asked questions about Ohio State. It was kinda funny. Although Chryst got a good one in when he said “They don’t just hand this out” referring to the B1G Stagg Championship trophy.