Jim Knowles reflects on 3rd-down dominance vs. Penn State: 'That's hard to beat'
Jim Knowles has been around elite defenses for most of his long-time tenure as an assistant coach. However, even Knowles is not used to the type of performance his unit produced against Penn State.
Facing the Nittany Lions, Knowles’ defense held Penn State to 12 points and 240 total yards offense. The biggest piece of that performance included a 1-for-16 outing on 3rd-down conversions.
During his Tuesday press conference, Knowles was asked if he’s ever been a part of something like that. He pointed to “some good days” but also admitted he doesn’t recall any that impressive.
“I remember some good days. But that’s hard to beat,” said Knowles. “Yeah, I can’t specifically recall that kind of production.”
Through 7 games this season, Knowles’ defense is averaging 10 points allowed per game. The Buckeyes have been especially impressive in their 2 games vs. ranked opponents, giving up a total of 26 points in wins over Notre Dame and Penn State.
Knowles was also asked about the impact of head coach Ryan Day leading the program. The DC has all the respect in the world for Day, pointing to a great intensity and a complete program under the head coach.
“Coach Day just preaches consistency. He breaks down the week for our players, what we’re doing every day so they understand it,” Knowles explained. “He’s got a great intensity to him that can motivate the players without bringing them down. It’s just a complete program.”
