Ryan Day says Ohio State’s cornerbacks need to do a better job of finishing plays and improving in that area will “be a huge emphasis this week.”
As dominant as Ohio State has been in the first half of the 2022 season, there aren’t a ton of glaring areas of concern that the Buckeyes need to address during their bye week.
Cameron Brown has also had his share of struggles, including a 50-yard touchdown catch he gave up to Toledo’s Thomas Zsiros and a rough game this past weekend against Michigan State, when he gave up two catches of 20-plus yards to Spartans receiver Jayden Reed and drew three penalty flags. As Day pointed out, it’s not as if Ohio State’s cornerbacks have been getting beaten badly. On most of the big passing plays that have been made against the Buckeyes, Ohio State’s cornerbacks have been in close coverage to the receiver who ultimately made the play.
“I think when you go back to some of the plays that haven't gone in our favor, you have to look back to the start of the play,” Knowles said. “It's not just that split second at the top of the route.
They still have to be careful not to overwork the cornerbacks in practice this week, considering Burke and Brown have both dealt with injuries already this season and Jordan Hancock – who was expected to be one of the Buckeyes’ top three cornerbacks before he was injured in preseason camp – hasn’t played yet this season as he continues to recover from his injury. But they believe it is crucial to take the opportunity of a bye week to work with the cornerbacks on improving their fundamentals.