Day: ‘Ugly’ win over Irish what Ohio St. needed

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Whereas many outdoors this system have been ready to see No. 2 Ohio State unveil one more potent offense in opposition to an overmatched opponent, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day was ready for this — the sport when the passes weren’t crusing by means of the air with precision and ease to future NFL draft picks, when the offense needed to grind it out with the operating recreation, and the protection made the distinction.

Day bought the ugly 21-10 win in opposition to No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday night time, and regardless of the sluggish offense, he bought one thing else he was on the lookout for.

“That was one thing we spent lots of time within the offseason saying, ‘We have now to have the ability to win ugly on offense, now we have to cease the run on protection,’” Day stated. “All of them rely the identical. And it’s important to determine primarily based on who you are going in opposition to, how do you need to win that recreation? When you have got that versatility, man, it’ll repay down the highway.”

Ohio State’s offense, which was No. 1 within the nation final yr in offensive effectivity, underwhelmed in comparison with the lofty preseason expectations that pegged the Buckeyes as a robust favourite to complete within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. With main receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba sidelined from an harm he suffered within the first quarter, Ohio State struggled early in opposition to a gritty Notre Dame protection.

The Irish, led by in style first-year head coach Marcus Freeman, a former Ohio State linebacker, got here into Ohio Stadium and earlier than an introduced crowd of 106,594 gave the Buckeyes all they may deal with till late within the fourth quarter. Ohio State, which received video games final season by a mean margin of 29.1 factors, was held scoreless within the second quarter and trailed 10-7 on the half.

It wasn’t till lower than 5 minutes remaining within the fourth quarter that Ohio State solidified the win — thanks largely to a 14-play, 95-yard drive that took 7:06 off the clock and gave the Buckeyes the 21-10 lead.

“We have been struggling early on, simply attempting to get a connection, attempting to construct that rhythm, however in the direction of the top, we began to get it, began clicking extra,” stated quarterback C.J. Stroud, who accomplished 24-of-34 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. “It is type of bizarre being on the market once more to be trustworthy, seeing the followers, coping with all the outdoors noise, simply attempting to lock in.”

Within the fourth quarter, Stroud accomplished 9-of-10 passes for 107 yards and a landing. Whereas it wasn’t precisely a splashy Heisman efficiency, he reminded everybody of his playmaking skills.

Ohio State entered this season because the No. 2 staff after shedding to rival Michigan and ending No. 6 largely due to the offensive firepower getting back from a staff that led the nation in scoring and yards per play final yr. The Buckeyes have a number of Heisman hopefuls, together with Stroud and operating again TreVeyon Henderson, however when Smith-Njigba was injured within the first quarter the Buckeyes have been off-kilter early. Final yr, Ohio State averaged 27.2 factors within the first half, probably the most of any staff within the FBS. They’d seven Saturday night time.

“Early video games are a bit bit clunky,” Day stated, “and shedding Jaxon threw us off a bit bit.”

The protection, which was the difficulty spot for Ohio State final yr, was the spotlight on Saturday night time. It was a robust debut for first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was employed from Oklahoma State. The Irish completed with 253 yards and punted on their final six possessions.

“We have been referred to as mushy all final yr and we needed to sit there and simply eat,” Ohio State defensive again Lathan Ransom stated.

Day stated the toughness was one thing your entire staff was seeking to show.

“We needed to be often called one thing different than simply proficient,” he stated.

Notre Dame’s recreation plan was to carry onto the ball, management the clock and maintain the Buckeyes’ offense off the sphere. They have been ready to try this within the first quarter, however completed with solely 3-of-13 third down conversions.

Day stated he may see extra groups attempting to try this this fall, however he isn’t involved concerning the passing recreation transferring ahead. Finally, there have been different, lesser-known gamers who emerged for Ohio State on Saturday night time, like former walk-on Xavier Johnson, whose 24-yard landing seize put Ohio State up 14-10 late within the third quarter.

“I really like these guys,” Johnson stated, “so with my legs empty, with all that, none of that mattered. It was all for the staff and the glory of God. … I used to be in place to do what I used to be coached to do.”

In the long run all of them have been — even when it wasn’t fairly.

“It has been an enormous emphasis to win this fashion,” Day stated. “And it begins with protection. You may play actually good sturdy protection like we performed tonight, and we will run the soccer — we all know we’ll throw the ball, we all know that — but when we need to go the place we should be and attain our targets, we’d like to have the ability to do these two issues.”