Ohio State’s Coaches Makes Bold Honest Statement About Penn State before the teams’ top-5 clash
Penn State is gearing up for its most significant regular-season game this Saturday against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes, known for having one of the top coaching staffs in the nation, held a media session on Tuesday discussing their preparation for the Nittany Lions. Here’s what they shared:
Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day
On preparing for QBs Drew Allar and Beau Pribula
“Yes, we’ll prepare as if both players are healthy and ready. They each bring different strengths but are both effective in their roles. We’ll base our preparation on what we’ve observed in the film. It’s important to know who’s in the game. We anticipated needing to prepare for both quarterbacks since they each have their unique skills. They can both run and throw well, and while they have different styles, they’re both talented.”
On OSU QB Will Howard’s excitement for the game and the team’s focus
“He grew up in Pennsylvania, so this game holds special significance for him. This matchup has been on our radar, and we recognize what’s at stake. We expect a week of high energy in practice, and we aim to go into that challenging environment and achieve what eluded us two weeks ago. Now, we have another chance to finish strong and win in the fourth quarter. We know it will take a full four quarters to succeed in this atmosphere, which can be tough. Our players have experienced this before, and now it’s time to secure this victory and achieve a top-five win. The focus from our team and the coaching staff is entirely on winning this game.”
Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly
on the disruptive nature of Penn State DE Abdul Carter:
“He’s incredibly explosive for his size. Having played linebacker before, he’s now moved to the front, similar to Micah Parsons in how he can disrupt the game as a pass rusher. I understand why they made that switch. His athleticism is something you don’t typically see in defensive linemen, and even trying to replicate that in practice is tough. If you find someone that fast, they likely don’t match his size. It’s that combination of size and speed, along with his quickness off the snap, that makes him a challenge. We need to keep track of where he is. He’s mostly played on one side, but during the Wisconsin game, they shifted him to the other side, so he can be deployed anywhere. We need to remain alert to his positioning.”
Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles
on Penn State Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki:
“It’s a significant change. There are numerous formations and shifts happening constantly. All this motion creates stress for the defense, which is very different from what we usually face. Plus, the introduction of a quarterback run game alters the dynamics a lot.”
On preparing for quarterbacks Allar and Pribula, along with tight end Tyler Warren:
“It’s a considerable challenge. With all the formations and motions, having a quarterback who can run complicates the game plan. You almost have to view it as two separate entities. The tight end is another factor; his versatility keeps you guessing about his position and role, so we must always be mindful of where he is.”