Head Coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
COLUMBUS – Ohio State football coach Ryan Day spent more time than usual in the defensive coaches’ meetings last week during a bye week and a major topic of discussion in those meetings was the Buckeyes’ pass rush.
OSU did not have a sack in a 32-31 loss to Oregon in its most recent game and did not apply pressure to the Ducks’ quarterback Dillon Gabriel with any consistency.
“I’m not happy with anything right now but certainly we want to get more pressure on the quarterback, there’s no question,” Day said on Tuesday at his weekly press conference to preview OSU’s game against Nebraska on Saturday.
“I was definitely in there (defensive meetings) more than I have been in the past. Ultimately, it’s my job to make sure all three phases of the game are the way they’re supposed to be,” he said.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban described Ohio State’s four-man pass rush as antiquated last week and Day’s qualified agreement with that description might indicate how distressed he is about his team’s lack of pressure on quarterbacks.
“When it doesn’t work it (Saban’s description) is accurate and it isn’t working. When you have the results we have now it’s certainly not working and that has to change,” Day said.
“It was a long week for all of us. We spent a lot of hours in here (the Woody Hayes Athletic Center) talking about it. You sit on it, you chew on it and eventually, you move on.
“Our goal is to put the four best rushers in the game. Might we consider some different fronts and maybe changing it up? I feel like we have plenty of defensive linemen and we have the right guys on the field. But we have to make sure we are changing it up and it isn’t just a four-man rush all the time,” he said.
Day also alluded to the internet chatter that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson aren’t on the same page about how to best use the defensive line.
“I’ve watched closely and I think both are on the same page. There can be conversation in the (meeting) room but when you leave the room everyone is on the same page. That’s happening, I’m seeing it.
“You have to evaluate it, you have to be honest and you have to make sure you’re talking the truth in those moments. I think that has happened in the last week.”
Some other thoughts from Day:
• INJURY REPORT: Starting left tackle Josh Simmons will miss the rest of the season, as expected, after suffering a knee injury against Oregon and starting tight end Will Kacmarek will be out “for a while” Day said.
Kacmarek suffered what appeared to be an arm injury early in the Oregon game. Running back Quinshon Judkins reportedly had a medical procedure done on his hand last week but it did not affect him against Oregon, Day said.
When Day was asked about reports starting safety Lathan Ransom was injured in practice last week, he said, “There are no other updates on injuries right now.”
Day called Simmons’ injury “a big loss” and said, “He really had made a lot of progress and was playing very, very well.”
Zen Michalski, a senior, replaced Simmons after his injury and will get his first start for Ohio State this Saturday.
“I thought he stepped up and did a nice job in the Oregon game,” Day said. “He was ready. Was it perfect? No. But he did some good things and he’s got some good guys next to him in Donovan (Jackson) and Seth (McLaughlin).
“Now Zen has to take the next step. It’s one thing to be in a situation where you’re coming in to finish a game. Now he’s going to be the starter.”
• FINAL PLAY AT OREGON: Both Day and quarterback Will Howard said they thought Howard went into his slide on OSU’s final play at Oregon with one second left on the clock and the officials should have granted Ohio State a timeout.
Day sent a copy of the video of the play to the Big Ten office but the Big Ten did not agree with Ohio State.
“We sent it in. They said there was no time left,” Day said.
Howard said, “Believe me I’ve played it (the final play) over in my head a million different times what I could have done.”
• STICKING WITH BURKE: Day said there was some discussion during the Oregon game about substituting Jermaine Mathews for Denzel Burke at cornerback after Burke uncharacteristically struggled against the Ducks but that idea ultimately was rejected.
“It was definitely part of the conversation. You have to decide what gives you the best chance to win in the moment. We believe in Denzel. He’s a great player. He did have a couple plays that weren’t good. He’d tell you that. He will rebound and play well this week,” Day said.
