Thursday Bullet Points: Ohio State is a ‘different team’, CJ Stroud played strong and Maryland is better than last week’s score

After beating Rutgers on the road last week, Ohio State was looking for another dominant performance this week, but this time in the ‘Shoe as Maryland travels to Columbus for a return home showdown at midday.

Ahead of Saturday’s game, Buckeye’s head coach Ryan Day presented his latest weekly media availability Thursday afternoon, joining his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan and briefly meeting with the media to offer some updates. finals.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson has joined the show for the final segment.

Here are some important points.

Ryan Day Radio Show

Ryan day

On team improvement

Day said Ohio State was a “very different team” from the start of the season.
“I think we took another step last week and we need to keep building.”
“It’s good early in the season when your team has a few scars.”

On the performance of CJ Stroud

Day praised Stroud’s tenacity.
“We’ve been talking tenacity all week.”
Day notes that he got the ball in and ran several times.
“He found the pace of the game pretty early on.
Day notes that he has some good pieces around him, and if he plays on offense, he will be good.

About Marcus Williamson

“What a great week of training he has had.”
Day said the week before that he was a little distracted, but he let it all go.
“He played with incredible energy on the pitch.”
“He probably played his best game as Buckeye.”

On the freshmen on the travel list

“These guys are all learning.”
“The future is extremely bright here.”
“We’re going to come out of the background of this very, very good.”

On the noise of the crowd

“They had a good crowd there.”
“They were bringing it early.”
Day said they were able to turn things around early and get the crowds out.

About Ronnie Hickman

“About a month ago, not many people knew Ronnie Hickman.”
Day notes that he is “someone who can be relied on to move forward.”

About Craig Young

“Craig has a really good skill set.”
Day notes that he is versatile and has played linebacker and safety and in some third-round hybrid sets.
“If he keeps pushing one day ahead of the other, everything will be fine for Craig.”
“His future is really bright.”

About Jeremy Ruckert

“It was good to have the ball in his hands.”
“He has become a very complete player.
Day notes that when you have a tight end like this, it opens things up for other players.

On the shuffling of the offensive line

“The chemistry of this offensive line unit has been special.”
“They have a very good demeanor about them.”
“Not a lot of ego in this room, and because of that they’re playing at a high level.”
“It’s good to see a lot of guys getting reps. ”

About Maryland

“Very athletic, very skilled.”
Day notes that Mike Locksley brought a lot of talent and “changed that list”.
“They have a lot of athleticism. They are fast.”
“A lot of skill.”

On Maryland after an unbalanced defeat

“I think every time you come out of a game like this you tighten up.”
“When you flip the ball like they did, things get out of hand very quickly.”
Day said that sometimes the scoreboard isn’t indicative of a team’s talent.
“It’s a team that’s going to come in hungry to play. They are dangerous.”

About TreVeyon Henderson

“You can see the big game ability.”
Day said they practiced it exactly like that in practice.
“I thought Tre had run hard again.”
“He’s doing a lot of great things in space.”
Day notes that it was good not having to play him in the second half, but “he was in good health”.
“He has top speed.”
Day said the guys think Ohio State can score anytime they want.

On the races after the capture

“I think we had a decent run after the capture, in the open field.”
“I think we are winning in this area.
“When we throw the ball into space at some of our guys, they have a chance to make a play.”

On the depth of the back

“I think Master (Teague) ran hard.”
“I thought Marcus (Crowley) was running violently.”

Lit if coming home changes anything

“Not really.”
“Every game is important and every game is important.”
But Day notes that it’s special to see former players returning, however.

On Jantzen Dunn’s injury

Day notes that Dunn’s injury is a “long-term injury”.
“He was really coming as a young man.”
Day said they would surround her with guys who have been through the same types of recovery to help her.

Kevin wilson

Watching his son Toby Wilson play on Saturday

“I was actually a little nervous,” Wilson said, fearing a few bad shots.
“He came here for him,” Wilson notes, saying he did not pressure him to come to Ohio state.
Wilson said Toby wanted to be a coach.
“I’m not trying to do him a favor. I treat him like the other guys.”

About Maryland

“I think this team is more talented than the Rutgers team.”
Wilson said there is a new defensive coordinator, so there still aren’t a ton of movies about them.
“They have good players.”

About Jeremy Ruckert

Wilson said you can’t force the ball on anyone.
“Sometimes that has to happen naturally.”
Wilson notes that Ruckert plays very well even when not receiving the ball.
“He’s become a complete blocker. He’s very selfless.”

About backups

On Rossi: “He’s really a backhand.”
“We really need Cade, Joe and Gee to keep the schedule on schedule.”
“They are on track to get there, but they are a few months away from where they need to be.”
“They must be ready to answer the call here very soon.”

Ryan Day Media Availability

Day said he wants CJ Stroud to continue building up his stamina, making good decisions and having great preparation this week. He’s not challenging Stroud to do something specifically different from last week.
Day said that while it’s important for Ohio State to build momentum in the off week and the second half of the season, he won’t tell the team about it until Saturday’s game; for now, he wants the team to focus solely on winning Saturday’s game.
The Buckeyes trust Emeka Egbuka as the kickoff returner and Day believes Egbuka is capable of making big plays in this title.
On the defensive line: “When you see the pressure you start to have, it’s exciting.
Day said he believes the key to getting Sevyn Banks to play his best is to train better. He agrees with Banks ‘assessment on Wednesday that we have yet to see Banks’ best football this year.
About Ronnie Hickman: “I think he’s starting to win as a player. I think he’s starting to establish his voice and his leadership… when he speaks, people listen.
Day said Matt Barnes is a “very good teacher, he understands schematic football, he connects with his players and he is well organized.”
When asked if the lack of home games had an impact on recruiting, Day hinted that Ohio State could host another night game this year: “I think we will also be hosting games. night here so I think there will be opportunities for the guys. to come visit them whenever they want… Hopefully there will be more opportunities as we head into mid-October and November.
Day is disappointed for Jantzen Dunn to be injured, but Day said: “I think he has a very bright future ahead of him.”