It's officially Week 5 for Ohio State as it looks to pick up a high-quality win over Big Ten foe Iowa in Iowa City, also taking part in ESPN's College GameDay for the second time this season.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media on Tuesday for his weekly game-week presser to preview the Buckeyes' matchup with the Hawkeyes and give his final takeaways from the win against Illinois. The Ohio State head coach discussed numerous topics ahead of the Buckeyes' Week 5 game.
Here's a look at some of the standout notes and quotes he had.
Ryan Day Pleased With Progress & Response From Running Backs
Ryan Day challenged the Ohio State running backs ahead of the Big Ten opener against Illinois -- the ask? Run hard and run angry. They did, and it was a much more consistent rushing attack than in previous
weeks. It was a combined 151 yards and a 4.7-yard-per-carry average -- a profound change and a much-needed improvement. There were still only four carries of 10+ yards, but the physical style of running was on full display from start to finish.
“There were some definitely better runs,” Day said. “... There was a couple times where contact's made at the three, and we’re finishing at eight and nine. That’s what we’re looking for. Didn’t really break a big one like we want to, but we’re gonna have to do that this week. And I think it was a step in the right direction for sure, but especially from the week previous. But it’s gotta continue to get better.”
Availability Of Two Young And Dynamic Athletes In Question
Two big-time playmakers for Ohio State this year have question marks heading into this week's matchup with Iowa -- a very important matchup with a lot on the line. Jay Timmons and Legend Bey were expected to be important pieces to their team's success this season, and both have seen their roles go in different directions. Timmons has emerged as one of the top defensive players while Bey has struggled with his consistency. The question is: will they both be on the field this upcoming weekend? Timmons suffered a lower body injury during Saturday's game against Illinois and did not return following the midway point. He was chasing Illini quarterback Katin Houser around the pocket when the injury occurred. On the season, he has nine tackles, four pass breakups and one tackle for loss.
“We’ll see how the week goes with Jay, see how today goes," Day said. "And then see what we can get out of him on Saturday."
As for Bey, the dynamic playmaker suffered an ankle injury against Kent State but appeared good to go ahead of Saturday. However, he didn't see the field. It appears there's more than just an injury with Bey, and building trust is still a key point of emphasis for the young running back. Bey has just 10 offensive touches this season and has totaled 74 yards.
“Well, it’ll kind of be based on how the practice goes this week and how he does,” Day said. “We all know his ability level; just gotta continue to work to build trust. But we definitely would like to see him on the field.”
Defensive Line Turns In Mixed Bag Of Results
It was a mixed bag of results for Ohio State along the defensive line and with the pass rush against the Illini. On one side, Ohio State finished with three sacks -- matching its season total through the first three weeks. That's the positive. On the flip side, there were only five additional tackles for loss and two more QB pressures. The Buckeyes still aren't doing a great job consistently getting into the backfield, and until it can do so, won't take the next step as a defense.
“Yeah, I mean, we need production, for sure,” Day said. “ ... Because it’s one thing to have talent, it’s one thing to flash. But when you’re playing team defense and one guy’s not where he’s supposed to be -- I’m not talking about any player in particular -- but I think it does matter, and I think we all need to recognize that.
“All it takes is one guy to be out of a gap, and it can turn into an explosive play. So we all have to be disciplined in what we do. We don’t just go out there and make plays. We have to play within the defensive scheme. But we have to dominate our one-on-ones. And so that takes discipline. And I think that, going back just because we brought it up, I mean, we have talent, but we need discipline and skill. Skill to play the position, discipline to do our job at a high level, everything that comes with it. So that’s why we practice. And so there’ll be plenty of opportunities for all those guys to come in and build trust. Because as coaches, we don’t have any time to not play guys that we think are gonna produce on the field, but also play within the scheme.”
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: 3 key takeaways from Ohio State coach Ryan Day ahead of Iowa matchup
