Mar. 7—COLUMBUS — With most of his starters back on defense and some high-profile newcomers on offense, Ohio State football coach Ryan Day has much to do this spring.
He hopes stepping back from coaching the quarterbacks and coordinating the offense will help him keep a more broad focus on the Buckeyes, something he reiterated Tuesday when the first practice of the spring was complete.
Here are three takeaways from Day’s first press conference of the spring:
1. The new guys “flashed” to the coach.
On offense, Ohio State added Quinshon Judkins, an All-SEC running back, Seth McLaughlin, a two-year starter at center from Alabama, Will Howard, a second-team All-Big 12 quarterback from Kansas State, and Jeremiah Smith, the top-rated receiver and recruit overall from the class of 2024.
On defense, seven starters return, but former Alabama safety Caleb Downs gives the Buckeyes another first-team All-SEC player to bolster a secondary already boasting lots of experience.
Even on a roster as stacked annually as Ohio State, they did not exactly blend in Tuesday.
“You can see the talent in all of those guys,” Day said.
2. The Buckeyes are focusing on “no-talent issues.”
With few starting spots available this spring, Day can have his team concentrate on more than just using their God-given ability.
“You look at the guys and you see the potential and it gets you really excited, but then as much talent as we have, it’s going to be the no-talent issues that actually help us reach our goals,” Day said. “So that’s been the focus now.
“So once we get on the field, that’s what we focus on. It isn’t seeing Jeremiah run a go ball. That’s great, but it’s the discipline of knowing what to do. It’s the focus. It’s running to the ball. It’s effort. It’s energy. It’s all the things that take no talent, so that’s going to be the focus.”
3. The goal…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-football-3-takeaways-194300922.html
Author : Dayton Daily News, Ohio
Publish date : 2024-03-07 19:43:00
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