Press Bullets: Kerry Coombs, Shaun Wade, Ohio State Defense Preparing for Alabama’s Offensive Challenge

And now the Buckeyes will face an even bigger test on Monday night, against Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and two more Heisman finalists in Alabama fullback Mac Jones (who finished third) and Najee Harris (who fifth was).

How will the Buckeyes handle that powerful unit? Will they have to prepare for the return of receiver Jaylen Waddle?

Kerry Coombs, Shaun Wade, Jonathon Cooper, Haskell Garrett, Justin Hilliard, Pete Werner and Marcus Williamson took the podium on Wednesday to answer the questions and more. A brief summary of what they discussed:

Kerry Coombs

• Coombs calls this season ‘the most rewarding year’ because of the players’ willingness and ability to adapt to the adversity that has happened and an eagerness to ‘do whatever it takes’ to have a successful season.

• On the challenge of Alabama’s offense: “It’s a major offense. It’s a complete offense. They have five All-Americans, a Heisman Trophy winner and a runner-up.”

• He says the Tide not only have good players, but also an excellent plan, and they “always have an answer.”

• Details such as hand placement on the inside of offensive lineouts and filling in gaps are essential to Ohio State’s defensive line, Coombs said.

• On Lathan Ransom’s increased role: “He just kept improving every day … These are the type of kids who suffer from the structure of the way summer goes and the shortened season.” He says Ransom is doing well in practice and he has continued to improve and develop: “We are excited for his future.”

• Coombs believes the Buckeyes ‘offense had a completely different feel than the passing game’ once Ryan Day took over. Said Day is ‘very, very creative in what he does with the passing game’ and that the feeling was palpable that it started to change with the arrival.

• Coombs praised Day’s leadership of this team: ‘He’s a players coach … He talks to the players all the time. It’s one of his greatest gifts. ‘

• Day gives the coaching team suggestions on what to read and watch that has nothing to do with football, and more on how to treat the young players in their team.

• Coombs was on the Buckeyes’ Sugar Bowl win over Alabama at the end of the 2014 season. He says the Tide’s evolution of their passing attack “is extraordinary.”

• Coombs believes the three-game Ohio State championship in the 2015 national championships helped bolster Urban Meyer’s recruiting and helped the program rise: “At least the three-game game was for me a game changer here. ”

• On a possible return of Jaylen Waddle: “I think you absolutely have to prepare as if he’s going to return … He’s a special player. My hat is for him. If he can recover and play, those are the kind of stories I think ideal for college football. ‘

• Coombs: “You can not be afraid to play a game. That’s probably the worst thing you can do.”

• On teaching cornerback techniques on deep balls: “It’s an art to play the deep ball. … It’s really one of the skills that gets better by doing it. The best way to do it is to put more representatives into practice. ” However, Coombs says it is a difficult balance to get players to play against deep balls while not working too much in practice.

• About DeVonta Smith: “He’s really very gifted as a tracker. He’s physically incredible … He catches short balls and makes great plays. Of course he catches deep balls as well as everyone we’ve encountered. … I appreciate good players. “He’s a good player. I enjoy watching him play.”

Shaun Wade

• Wade referred to Jaheim Singletary’s recent five-star cornerback from Ohio State, each of whom came from Jacksonville as a highly regarded defensive back. He says ‘it’s crazy’ how similar their situations are.

• Wade became acquainted with Mac Jones after playing 7-on-7 in Jacksonville during high school. Say they called Jones ‘Money Maker Mac’.

• He believes John Metchie can be compared to Jaylen Waddle and calls Metchie “a good player with a great future.”

• Asked which Alabama receiver he would most like to act against, Wade said, “you already know who I want to act against.” He confirmed that the receiver he wants to play with is DeVonta Smith.

• Wade says Chris Olave is ‘one of the biggest receivers in college football’ and that Olave and Smith have some similarities in length and skill. He said he helped Olave prepare to face the Heisman Trophy winner.

• Wade says Josh Proctor “is going to play a big role for us on Monday night.” He says Proctor is a safe ball and he “looks forward to seeing how he makes plays … He just has to be Josh.”

• Wade says all he cares about is ‘winning this national championship’.

Jonathon Cooper

• Cooper on the struggle of a season filled with adversity: “Of course we did not keep quiet about how difficult it was … But the message as a team is that we have another one. After this there is nothing left. That is why you’re coming to Ohio State. ‘

• Cooper says he returned for a fifth season after an injury last year ‘for my teammates’ to ‘show the world what I can do’ and ‘to win a national championship’.

• Alabama’s offensive line, which won the Joe Moore Award for best offensive line in the country, will be the biggest challenge of the Buckeyes’ season: ‘We have to get out and attack them’ like with any other team. He says the challenge of facing them “is no different than standing up to our guys in practice.”

• Cooper says’ it’s special ‘after growing up in Ohio and watching guys like Troy Smith excel and get a chance to play a national title:’ I’ll get a chance to think about it later, but now my focus on beating Alabama … This is where all my focus and energy is. ‘

• He believes the state of Ohio has a deep defensive line: “It’s not just one man. Across the board we have excellent players we can rely on.”

• Having that depth is the key to defeating an offensive line like Alabama’s, he says.

• Trevor Lawrence took the ball out quickly, and Cooper says the defensive line should play the same way with Mac Jones and “do everything you can to make sure the quarterback is not comfortable there.”

Haskell Garrett

• As Cooper and Pete Werner discussed, Garrett believes the Buckeyes’ “iron grinding iron” approach will help the defensive line against Alabama’s offensive line. Playing against guys like Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers, Garrett says, is an important tool.

• Garrett says Taron Vincent ” did an excellent job ” in the defensive attack, and he was under the impression that Vincent fought back in the post-season from injuries.

• Garrett recalls seeing Najee Harris at The Opening in high school. He praised Harris’ speed, versatility and physicality. The Buckeyes have a big challenge ahead of us’ with the talent between the two teams now being ‘equalized’.

• Alabama’s offensive line is ‘the best of the best’. Garrett enjoys the chance to play against them, because ‘you want to play your best … There’s nothing that motivates you more than to play against a big offensive line.’

• Garrett believes the game “will be won in the trenches. No doubt … If you can not move offensive and defensive lines, in my opinion you do not have a chance.” He says offensive and defensive lineouts are ‘unsung heroes’.

• Larry Johnson brings something different to the table each year and gives a ‘different taste’ based on the staff below the defensive lines.

• Johnson: “He’s not about the rah-rah. He touches your soul … I trust him with anything. Once you believe in him and everything he tells you and teaches you, it will make your game perform. It’s proof that once you trust him, the sky is the limit. ‘

Justin Hilliard

• Hilliard: “It’s no secret that Najee Harris is one of the best backs in college football. … As long as we have 11 guys running to football, we’ll be fine.”

• After going through so many injuries and so much adversity, Hilliard says it makes it so much sweeter.

• This is Hilliard’s last game as a Buckeye and the last game for many other seniors. He says they are pouring their heart out in preparation for the game.

• The team’s leadership and ‘next mentality’ was even more impressive this season and even more important to have the mentality with the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19.

• Because he did not consider a return for a seventh year, Hilliard says he should no longer give to the state of Ohio after six years of work. He confirms that he “completely” intends to make it his last game with the Buckeyes and pursue an NFL career.

• Hilliard believes that Day brought ‘the atmosphere of love and the atmosphere of brotherhood’ to the state of Ohio even stronger than Urban Meyer.

Pete Werner

• Werner praised Hilliard for everything he has overcome to get to the point where he plays the best football of his career. He says Hilliard is a good friend who welcomed him into the program and that his success is ‘incredible’.

• Werner says Najee Harris and Travis Etienne “compare pretty closely.” He says Harris is a more physical back, but ‘as long as we do the same things we did for Etienne, we’ll do well to stop him.’

• The growth of linebackers in Ohio State was an important piece for the Buckeyes’ defense: “The coaches put a lot more on the lineout table by the end of the season because they know we are capable.”

• Alabama has a great plan to get (Harris) the ball. ‘It can sometimes look cloudy, but then you see how he gets seven or eight meters if he had to get zero. Call Harris a ‘big threat’ ‘.

• Emil Ekiyor Jr., the opening referee of Alabama, is a former teammate of Werner at Cathedral High School (Indiana). He says the two have already talked about their upcoming match and ‘we are ready to follow each other.’

• “It’s nothing else” against Alabama’s offense. Werner says Ohio State defense likes to compare the Buckeyes’ own offensive line to the Crimson Tide’s, and if they act against their teammates in practice, they can prepare for the challenge.

Marcus Williamson

• Despite being a “‘strange year’ ‘, Williamson believes the Buckeyes’ secondary series has evolved through the season.

• Williamson calls Sevyn Banks “a wonderful athlete” and that Banks has reached a new level of comfort with his body and technique: “Sevyn can make plays and help us bring home a ring. ‘

• About the preparation for the recipients of Alabama: ‘It’s extensive preparation for these guys. Of course, DeVonta only won the Heisman, and everywhere they are good players. … Getting the movie and preparing for what we think they’re going to do was fun too. ‘

• Williamson says he plans to return next season and take advantage of the extra rule for the year the NCAA is eligible for this year: ‘I still enjoy being a Buckeye, man. This year was crazy. I know we’ve had a shortened season and we’ve lost games, … but I’m just excited to have our unit meet the standards we’re up to … I’m not ready to leave yet. We have not finished business yet. ‘

• He says this secondary “enjoys the opportunity” to act against Alabama and prove against the explosion receivers of the Tide.

• Williamson calls Ransom’s growth and performance this season ‘remarkable’.