Senior DE Troy Davis

On moving forward from Akron to Ohio State...

"We just need to correct the things that we messed up on in the Akron game and focus on this weekend [by] getting better at the things we didn't do well."

On how to counter the athleticism of Ohio State QB Braxton Miller...

"He's a good quarterback and he can beat you two ways. He can throw the ball and he's a mobile quarterback as well. We just need to be prepared for whatever he can bring to the table."

On playing in a "big game" atmosphere...

"You live for the games - the ones with big stadiums, the away games. Everyone loves playing at home but you got to be able to play away too. It's 90,000 but we've played in stadiums just as close. It's going to be a great game. We're not going to let the atmosphere get to us." 

Senior OG Theo Goins

On sustaining blocks...

"It was a good game for the offensive line. We got our running backs yards and got a couple of big pass plays, but we got to work on the small things. We need to go back to technique like footwork. That's one thing we stress all the time. So, we got back to that this week. We brushed up on some things that we might've missed in the Akron game to go strong into the Ohio State game."

On Ohio State's defense...

"They're a good defense. We just got to step up our efforts and do what we have to do to try and win the game." 

On the physical preparation for Ohio State...

"Well, every game for the offensive line is physical. It's always physical in the trenches. There's not one play where you're not hitting somebody so it's definitely physical for us. We want to try and out-physical these guys. You know, we're in the weight room just like they were but we believe we've been working harder. So, we just got to use that in our advantage and go up and try to win the game."

On playing in front of a big crowd...

"We've played in big games before so we're not letting that stress us. It's football. You get kind of used to that environment even when you're at home. 45,000 people screaming is still loud, it's just loud noise. If someone has jitters, we'll get it off the first couple of snaps and just go from there." 

Head Coach George O'Leary

On gaining attention from a game with Ohio State...

"I like playing non-conference games against tradition schools like Ohio State. They have a great, long history of winning and great tradition as far as the program is concerned. We look to every game with an opportunity to win it and that's what I told our players at the beginning of the season. We expect to play 14 games this year. We got to perform to get that done. I think, with Ohio State, that they're a very good football team and they recruit extremely well. You have Urban [Meyer] taking over for Jim Tressel, who's no slouch in recruiting and he brought a lot of good players to that program. Again, watching them, I think, they're a very solid defense. I think they have good athletes, good line of scrimmage play and good coverage skills. I think offensively, obviously, they have great athleticism at quarterback with No. 5 [Braxton Miller]. We'll have our hands full on both sides of the ball. Again, as I told our kids it's a great challenge. You go up to every game with an opportunity to win and that's exactly what we look at. It's the second game of the season. We have to do things that we have to do, and I don't worry as much about Ohio State doing the right things as much as we do the right things within our schemes of offense and defense. But let's see where that game is in the fourth quarter and I think that's what you go to look at. We're going to have to tackle better. We're going to have to sustain blocks better. We're going to have to make some chunk plays out there. Again, I'm going to count on our seniors to handle the crowd and the noise and all that stuff. We don't travel with a lot of freshmen so everybody out on the travel squad has pretty much been in big stadiums. That's why you play Division I football is to play in games like this. That's the challenge I propose to the team as far as practice is concerned and as far as the game is concerned."

On replicating QB Miller's mobility in the offense...

"We moved someone else into that spot; Drico Johnson is [our] No. 5. He's about 6-foot-2, 215 lbs. and an athlete that can do things. He's done a really good job for us but I don't think he can replicate No. 5. I think he's an exceptional quarterback that, basically, is everything they talk about at Ohio State. He's a very good player that has a great surrounding cast around him - it's just not him. He has great athleticism at wide receiver. He has a big running back and you can't always tackle those fellas. We're going to have our work cut out especially with the no huddle and fast tempo stuff they're doing. We'll line up and let's check it out. I'm looking forward to it. I always look forward to big games like this and I think the team will too. You'll have to stable some of it but I'm more concerned of us doing the right thing than I am with Ohio State and with what they do. We're practicing to get better at what we do."

On the players not fearing Ohio State...

"I think they're eager to play good competition. I think most competitors would like that. I always say you respect everybody and fear no one, and I think that's the motto I've always had with the team. You give respect because they certainly deserve it. They've had a long history of winning, winning championships up there, a great fan base. Everything you want for a program they have. We're still trying to strive for that and I think we have the opportunity to go out and show what we can do. That's the challenge I put up for the kids."

On what to expect from head coach Urban Meyer...

"I think they're always fairly-well drilled. I don't think he's playing with chopped liver, I think he's playing with great athletes out there. I think he utilizes them very well and he gets his good athletes the ball in space and lets them do the work. They'll be solid on special teams. I think he does a lot of things you need to do to win football games very well as far as what I've seen. He's got a great touch in getting guys that can make plays."

On RB Latavius Murray's gameday status...

"I think he's week to week. He didn't practice today, in fact, he was just in a helmet. That'll be a week-to-week deal but if they don't practice Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't include them in the game plan. I don't expect him to play this week."

On turnovers...

"That's the thing we didn't do last year. [Takeaways] were rare. We always call them takeaways on defense and turnovers on offense. Last year, I thought we were too sloppy ball security wise on offense as far as protecting that ball."

On QB Blake Bortles' demeanor...

"He's had two days of practice. Blake is a pretty poised guy and in some sense that's great and in some other sense it's bad. He doesn't get rattled a lot. I think he commands control of the huddle and he commands control of the field. He understands the game plan and the thing I like about Blake right now is that he'll take what the defense gives but he's sure not afraid to take a shot down the field. ... We're basically a 60-40 team - 60 percent run, 40 percent pass. But that's basically the philosophy that we're going to control the line of scrimmage and see if we can run it and go after people. But if not, we have the ability to throw. I feel more comfortable this year with the drop-back game than I have in any year, last year or the year before. The reason is that Bortles has good arm strength, he can see down field. I think we have some receivers, we play with six of them that can go out and get the ball."

On trying not to do too much against Ohio State...

"I think it comes down to responsibility and accountability. You have a job to do so just do your job and don't worry about the guy next to you. I think that's when you start getting yourself in trouble and let the coaches coach and let the players play. I have two coaches on the field and that's the quarterback and the MIKE linebacker. They take charge on the field. You know, we're young at MIKE with sophomore [Terrance Plummer] there but Blake has to take charge. He's the quarterback on the field, and let the coaches make corrections on the sideline. You just worry about your responsibility and you getting your job done."