Buckeyes Spoke To The Media Before They Hit The Road
10/9/2024 11:55:00 AM | Football
On Brandon Inniss moving up in Day’s mind how he can count on him:
“It's confidence and how do you build confidence? You do it. Every day is an opportunity to build confidence in the coaches and your teammates and then yourself. I think when you make a play like that in a conference game, it does all three of those things. So it's great to see him make that play but when you see him do it in practice every day no one was surprised when he made that catch. He's very competitive and tough. It's good to have him in there and good to have another guy that we can count on.”
On Coach Day's meaning of “Edgy” in regards to the game:
“This game means a lot to all of us and everybody wants to be right. You're gonna have everybody's best, we're gonna be competitive, we're going to grind in practice and that's the way it should be. Nothing about practice should be casual at all. There's been a lot of purpose and good competitiveness. Guys are pushing each other, which is what you want.”
On this weeks practices:
“Good spirited. It’s about us, we always say that. Even when you’re playing an excellent opponent like we are playing, its still about us. We want to know our opponent as well, but it’s about the standard we set. We’ve had a good two days right here and the guys have been edgy, which is what you want. The coaches have been edgy and that’s good.”
On playing in his home area:
"It’s huge. Every game that we go into is a big game. We try to treat every single week like the national championship, but this is one of those where we know we're gonna get their best shot. I'm excited to go back home and be able to play in somewhat of a home crowd and in front of family."
On the last time they played Oregon:
"I think a lot of our motivation and our focus is right now. I don't think we've emphasized what happened a few years ago. Our focus is on who we've been this entire year, all of the work that we've put in to get to where we are and we are ready to go showcase it."
On "getting better or getting worse" speech:
"I was speaking in reflection. It was actually in a biblical setting just how you go day by day and nothing changes, but you look back and nothing is the same. You can take that in a lot of ways. If you want to look at it through a football lens, it's just another Tuesday. It's always just another Wednesday. We’re going to practice week in and week out and nothing really looks different. It almost starts to feel like you don't feel the same. Oftentimes, when I'm saying interviews, I always talk about this idea of a drop in the bucket. When you put a drop in the bucket, you don't really notice a difference. When you put enough drops in the bucket and you continue to do it, you'll look back over time and you'll have a full bucket. It's that kind of mindset that we're coming into practices. You might not see yourself necessarily getting better. It's like working out, you don't go in the mirror after a workout and see yourself getting stronger, but you have the faith and the trust that you continue to put days in, you'll look back and nothing will be the same. You'll be a better team for better or for worse. If you're not putting the work in, you will look back and you won't be where you want to be. I'm confident that this team has put the work in. We show up week in and week out, we put drops in the bucket."
On how much they relish an opportunity like this to show the nation the improvement they’ve made on the O-line:
“I think we relish it a lot. It’s not just another game because every game is important. If we’re playing Marshall, Akron, Oregon, or Penn state, I think every game’s crucial to take the next step to improve overall as the offensive line.”
On where experience shows up in a week like this:
“Everywhere, even just sitting down in the locker room talking about what we’re gonna do on Saturday, how we’re gonna block, all that stuff. We’re constantly thinking about football and how we can get better at the game that’s coming, which I think is in the top three biggest games of the season.”
On playing in big games like this week:
"It definitely means a lot. I definitely dream of moments like this, coming to Ohio State and playing games like this. I'm ready. I’m really excited to show what the Buckeyes have been doing. It’s our first matchup game. I'm ready to go."
On impression of Oregon receivers:
"It’s going to be a great matchup. This is something I always wish for. I go against the best receivers every day in practice but to be able to go against good on good, it's really exciting for me. I'm a big competitor, so it's going to be really fun. They have a good group of guys over there."
On the differences of facing a lefty:
"It's going to be my first time actually playing a lefty, so it might be a little different field. He’s a good quarterback, accurate good throws and we're ready to challenge him. We’re going to be the first great set of DB's that he's going to see. I’m really excited for this matchup on Saturday."
On how this week's offense is different from last week:
"It’s definitely more dynamic of an offense. It’s a bigger focus change for us, but all of our goals are the same. We want to attack teams, play aggressive and play to our style."
On playing alongside Sonny:
“I think Sonny has been playing well the entire time no matter what people have been saying. He’s another quarterback on the defense. What you guys saw is the Sonny I know. He played aggressively and that's when he's had his best games. When he can come downhill and make some plays. I'm just really proud he's playing well and better days are coming for him too.”
On the last game played against Oregon:
“I don't think I can remember back to that time. I don't think we were prepared mentally or physically. We made a lot of mistakes. We watched the film from that game. It’s a different team now, a different everything. We have a different mindset and we're ready to attack and play our game.”
On changing the approach for safety facing Oregon offense:
"Every game poses new threats and new challenges that we see. They get the ball fast and get on the perimeter. It's new things we're going to see and we're excited for the challenge."
On the emphasis for this week:
"We have to win on the perimeter, make over tackles, and have to communicate. Those are the biggest three things that we have to do."
On relationship with Caleb:
"He came in so focused, ready to learn the defense, and ready to play. That is my brother out there. I love playing with Caleb. We're always on the same page. We are always pushing each other, always competing and always trying to make each other better."
On showing the depth of the receiver room:
“We have a lot of great guys in the room and we push each other day in and day out. We have the most depth in the country in my opinion.”
On how important Will Howard is with his experience in big games like this:
“It’s very important, young guys can get flustered sometimes back there. "Having a veteran like Will makes everybody comfortable, the coaches and players as well, so it’s good.”
