Jim Knowles Updates: Buckeye Defense Trending Well

COLUMBUS — Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles met with the media on Tuesday to answer questions about his defense, their performance on Saturday at Penn State, and more. The highlights of everything that was said can be found below.

Where did you get those dance moves? “Big hit in the ’80s.”
The re-engineered defense: You’re happy for the players and all the work they’ve put in. This has to be the standard and the expectation. So it builds confidence not just in the players and the team.
“We need to keep finding ways to bring more pressure.” It was evident in the Oregon game, and they’ve made a push to do it and that’s who they want to be.
What was the process like for Knowles of “re-engineering” the defense: It was about going back to the basics and the alignment. Things got a little out of whack in that game. It all goes back to the basics. You can go a little out of whack trying to be perfect and match people up. They realized it’s more important to just have your guys with their feet planted and ready to play.
What does Caleb Downs do best? He sees the play before it happens. That’s what the best players do.
On Cody Simon not being named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award: He’s our leader so it would be nice to see him get some recognition because he does a lot for us.
On resembling more of what he’s done at Oklahoma State the past two weeks: “I think there’s a lot of truth in that.” That’s the part about getting back to basics and what works and what gives your guys a chance to succeed.
On getting back to basics: It starts with your structure and how you line up and match up.
“I feel comfortable with” the defense now and what has happened this season to get them where they are. “It’s my job to have the answers. I know systematically what the answers are.”
Jack Sawyer is a competitive dude who wants to make plays. You just tell him to keep swinging and doing what you’re doing. The production will come. Last year he produced well over the last half of the season. He expects that to happen this year as well.
On Nick Saban’s comments about the four-man rush being antiquated following the Oregon game: Didn’t see it, but Saban generally knows what he’s talking about. “He knows what he’s talking about. You can’t argue with his success.”
On Davison Igbinosun, did the gloves in practice work? Looks like it, but he’s still fighting all the time in the game.
On the goal line stand, the preparation and discipline: “That’s 100%, what you practice shows up in a game. That’s the benefit of two veteran safeties.” Their reaction was spot on and they jumped the right guys and took the play away.
Kayden McDonald is a game wrecker. When you put him in those situations over the center and his job is to just knock that guy back, he does well. He’s earning more playing time. “I think he’s capable, you just don’t want to throw 50 plays on him.”