Ohio State left its win over Iowa with momentum, but Tuesday’s press conference made clear the Buckeyes still have some clean-up to do.
Ryan Day didn’t hide his frustration with special teams, even while pointing to progress elsewhere. He said the transfer portal class is “starting to build confidence,” called the running game “solid” from an efficiency standpoint, and said he wants it to be “more explosive.” He also felt the defensive line did a better job with its hands and setting the edge against Iowa than it did against Illinois.
But special teams was the loudest concern.
“I don't think I can sit here and say that we've improved with special teams right now. We need to play better.”
Day also said Jaylen McClain is “seeing things clearer” after back-to-back impact plays, including four pass breakups against Illinois and an interception against Iowa. On Devin Sanchez’s two pass interference penalties, Day said, “He’s competitive.
He has to have a little more composure at the top of the route, for sure. ... We like the fact that he's aggressive, but we can’t get called for penalties like that.”
Khary Wilder’s absence against Iowa came up as well, and Day put the responsibility on everyone involved to be ready. “Nobody just gets on the field because they have talent, but it's the coach's job and the player's job to make sure they're doing all the things that they need to do to earn opportunities to play.”
He added, in response to a follow-up about accountability for freshmen, “if you compromise your culture, your values, and requirements it takes to be a player in this program, then we're going to lose our culture, and that cannot happen.”
Day said Julian Sayin is making progress across the board, though he still needs to keep working on his processing after throwing to Jeremiah Smith in triple coverage. And on Smith, Day delivered the kind of line only a receiver like that can inspire:
“If it’s one-on-one, he's open. If he's double-covered, he’s sort of open.
If he’s triple-covered, he’s covered, so that means somebody's got to be open somewhere else. I say that half-kidding.”
He also said Phillip Daniels is back practicing but remains limited, and he has not decided whether Daniels will return to the starting lineup or whether Ohio State will keep Gabe VanSickle at right guard and Austin Siereveld at right tackle. Kyle Parker is back this week after being sidelined with an injury.
Day was also asked whether a team can win a national championship with a workhorse receiver like Smith. His answer: “I think so,” but only if it’s not just about Smith.
And when asked if he has ever had to game plan for a player like Smith, he pointed to DeVonta Smith in Alabama’s 2020 matchup against Ohio State. “It was probably that 2020 game against DeVonta Smith.
He was just unbelievable that year. Heisman Trophy winner. ...
He had a hell of a game against us, that's for sure.”
Luke Montgomery was just as high on Jeremiah Smith. “He’s the best player in the country.
I don’t know why people think he’s one of the best - no, he is the best. There shouldn’t be any question about that.”
Montgomery said he does not have an NIL deal with Dr. Pepper, though he admitted he’s jealous that Julian Sayin does.
He also praised Jake Cook: “He’s a lot better than I was my second year. ... He’s a really, really good football player.
He works his butt off.”
For Montgomery, the biggest thing for young offensive linemen is getting repeated reps and understanding the scheme. He said he doesn’t put much stock in PFF grades or advanced analytics because most people don’t know linemen’s responsibilities, adding, “I call PFF pfft.”
He described the feeling of wearing down Iowa with Ohio State’s nine-minute drive in the fourth quarter as “gut-wrenching” for a defense. He also said Sayin has taken another step.
“I didn't expect him to be even better than he was last year, but he's definitely done better, which is hard because he was really good last year. He's been fun, and he's bringing a lot of energy too.
I think he has even more energy than he did the year before.”
On the run game, Montgomery said the backs are “finding their identity right now, and they're getting a lot better. So are we as an offensive line.
I think we're all just starting to mesh a little bit more together.” He added that his own play was solid, while noting, “We're always gonna want some plays back.”
He also called Maryland’s defensive line the best Ohio State has faced this season. As for pass protection, Montgomery said it has been “decent,” but “a whole lot better” is still available, especially with improved communication. The four false starts from the group don’t worry him much, either, because he believes they do a strong job of staying level-headed.
Christian Alliegro said the defense and linebacker room have fully meshed with all the transfer portal additions, and he described Ja'Kobi Jackson as a “bowling pin” because of how hard he is to bring down.
Alliegro also said Ohio State took Iowa choosing to receive the opening kickoff as disrespect. The Buckeyes wanted to set the tone, and they did, with Alliegro recovering a fumble forced by Kenyatta Jackson Jr. on the second play of the game.
He said the defense wanted more physicality against Iowa after feeling like that was missing against Illinois. Over the course of the season, he said, the group has improved its communication and gotten better at making small adjustments that have helped the overall production.
After his helmet came off twice at Iowa, Alliegro said he’ll be getting a new one from the equipment staff after Tuesday’s press conference.
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