While you were getting ready for Christmas and whatever shenanigans and celebrations you’ll be a part of tonight and tomorrow, the Fiesta Bowl set up a little media event for select Ohio State and Clemson players and coaches.
Normally we bring you some coaches and player comments postgame, but since the fine folks in the desert made this magic happen, we’ve got everything all the players and coaches that were present said.
We’ve already looked at what the Clemson offensive and defensive members said about facing Ohio State, and now we’re bringing you what the select Buckeye players and coaches said.
So, here we go, with the comments of offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, as well as QB Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins.
Next … Quotes from Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields
Q. For the people that watched — obviously the way you finished the rivalry game and then being limited the next week, people that didn’t know you could throw, the way you could throw, does it mean anything to you to show that, you don’t have the full mobility to show what kind of passer you can be.
JUSTIN FIELDS: I’m not out there to prove anything to them. I’m out there to win games. I’m not worried about those people.
Q. The inside blitzes against, say, Wisconsin have provided some issues for you guys. How important is that this week to get that shored up?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think the coaching staff and the players have been working really hard to fix all of our mistakes that we made in the past. So we’re just working as hard as we can just being as clean as possible during practice.
Q. What’s it like for you now? First year starting, you’ve made it this far and given where you were last year, what’s this like for you?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Just coming here is a blessing and just really the opportunity to play in the Fiesta Bowl, it is just great. I just want me and my teammates to get a win.
Q. What’s impressed you most about Clemson’s defense?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think they do a lot of good things on defense. They have great players and great scheme. They’re just an overall great team.
Q. How does it compare to your defense like in practice, what you see? Are there similarities? Are there differences?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think both defenses have good defenses, great coaches. There are a lot of similarities.
Q. Trevor [Lawrence] was talking about when you first met. Can you remember back to that and anything about that?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think we first met at a camp, at a quarterback workout. I’m not really sure. I’ve known Trevor for a while now. He’s a great quarterback, great guy, great person. I’m excited to go up against him. I think it was our ninth-grade year that we met. He’s been a highly talked about guy pretty much his whole career. Everybody knows Trevor’s a great quarterback.
Q. The coincidence of you both playing in this game.
JUSTIN FIELDS: For us, it’s not surprising. We’ve been growing up together a lot. We know how talented we both are. I don’t think it’s surprising for us.
Q. Justin, Ron Veal said that you and Trevor worked out a couple of times together right before you headed off to college. What do you remember about those workouts? Were they competitive at all?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Not really. We just get out there, getting better. I think we work out with guys that are on your level or even kind of in that essence, you’re not really competing but at the same time you are. That’s the way I was going about it. I just think that it makes me throw better and try harder.
Q. What do you like about Trevor’s [Lawrence] game? He said he thinks the two of you are kind of similar.
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think Trevor is more of a dual-threat guy than people give him credit for. I don’t think people give him enough credit for his running game. Of course, he’s a strong arm, great accuracy. I think what people forget about Trevor is his legs. I think he’s kind of a long guy. That’s what I would say about Trevor.
Q. I feel like you guys have similar demeanors, mentalities, both seem to not get caught up in anything.
JUSTIN FIELDS: Trevor [Lawrence] is not a loud guy and neither am I. Kind of our personalities are the same in terms of our leadership and in terms of just kind of going about our business. I think we’re about all business on the field really. I think we do have similarities in that.
Q. I know a lot of quarterbacks, probably every quarterback wants to have success immediately. Obviously your path was a little bit of a different road to get to where you are now. What did you think watching Trevor [Lawrence], a guy you were kind of connected with in high school, see him win a national championship as a freshman?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I was happy for him. I think he deserved it. I know how hard he works. I’ve seen him — seeing him do that out there was great to see. Just really the kind of guy that he is. I don’t think many people know he’s a great guy. He’s humble. I definitely like that about him. Seeing that success that he had last year was just great to see.
Q. Is it motivating at all, knowing — you want to play right away, you want to get on that stage?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Not really. I’m not really worried about. I think players have different dreams. Just because he’s having success right now doesn’t really make me jealous or envy of him. I think people have different paths. It just depends on how you get to that path. As I said before, I was just happy to see him win a championship.
Q. In the last year since it became known you were leaving Georgia, how you have changed as a person? How has this experience changed you in the last year?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think I’ve matured as a person. Going in life and kind of facing life obstacles has not — not really making a big deal of it. Putting it in God’s hands and just going about it as best as I can. I think I’ve matured mostly as a person. I’m definitely glad I went through it.
Q. Next year, you’re going to be the veteran in this program and in the quarterback room and there will be two young guys, two freshman quarterbacks who will be on campus with you. Are you ready to assume that sort of leadership role for those guys and help guide them?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, most definitely. I feel that I am the leader of offense. I don’t think that will be a big hassle. Just teaching those guys as they come in and try to learn the offense, I think it will be a big help to both of those guys.
Q. Have you had a chance to speak to C.J. [Stroud]? I know you guys trained.
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, I talked to C.J. a good bit. Last time I talked to him, I congratulated him on the commitment. So I think we’ll have a pretty great relationship at Ohio State.
Q. What’s the one lesson you’re going to try to instill in them the minute they get on campus, him and Jack [Miller]?
JUSTIN FIELDS: The thing is with them, I know what it is going to do with the two quarterback positions. I would just say no matter what happens, don’t get down. Just keep working. Just go out there and play your game.
Q. Justin, one of the things about your passing game this year — we haven’t talked about it a ton — but you guys have taken a lot of deep shots. Flagrant throws have been 20 or more yards down the field. Is that something you look for as a quarterback? Is that just the way things have transpired? Can you give insight into that?
JUSTIN FIELDS: That’s just Coach [Ryan] Day’s offense. You only get so many shots in the game. There are going to be completion plays. It depends on how the game pans out and the way we shift — I would say there’s always going to be shots in the game. And I think every offense on every team has shots in the play calling. I wouldn’t really call our play calling different from others, but it is just the way that we execute them, I think. That’s the biggest difference in them.
Q. How was the whole thing with the Heisman and now coming into the College Football Playoff as a sophomore, your first year as a starter, how — has it been overwhelming, or how have you adjusted to it?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I wouldn’t say it’s been overwhelming. It’s definitely been a great experience being able to go to New York and just kind of experience that with my family and also Chase [Young]. So I would just think of it as a blessing, really. So I don’t think many people get this opportunity in life so I’m just taking it day by day and trying to get the most out of it.
Q. Have you ever gone through sort of a nagging knee injury like this?
JUSTIN FIELDS: No, not really. I sprained my ACL my freshman year. That’s the only other knee injury I had.
Next … Quotes from Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins
Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins
Q. Does bowl week feel any different under Ryan Day than it did under Urban Meyer?
J.K. DOBBINS: Definitely not. The coaches are set. It doesn’t feel any different.
Q. How different does this feel than the Rose Bowl week? Not going to Disneyland and stuff.
J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, Disneyland. I mean, it’s the College Football Playoffs and not just another bowl. No disrespect to any other bowl game, but it’s the College Football Playoffs. Different mindset, different situation.
Q. Is it harder to get back into the business mindset after a couple of days off and after the travel for the different awards and that kind of stuff?
J.K. DOBBINS: No, definitely not. I feel like I’ve been locked in the whole time, even though we were at the award shows and stuff like that, I was always thinking about the playoffs. This is what you dream of. This is what you come to Ohio State for.
Q. Did you and Travis Etienne talk about which running back was overlooked the most this year?
J.K. DOBBINS: No. We haven’t talked about that.
Q. Not publicly.
J.K. DOBBINS: No, I mean, we both have an argument.
Q. You’re here.
J.K. DOBBINS: We’re both here.
Q. Did it bother you coming in as the number two team as opposed to being number one?
J.K. DOBBINS: It didn’t bother me at all. Whenever they were in the room, when they did the rankings, that’s what they voted on. We’re ready for whatever team. We’ll be ready to play our best game and try to win and be the best.
Q. How much do you work on stiff arms? Most of it is natural but Travis [Etienne] said you actually work on it. How do you work on it?
J.K. DOBBINS: We don’t work on it in practice. There is a point where you should punch at your opponent’s head. We try and do that. (laughing). We emphasize the point where you should punch. That’s where we try to punch every time.
Q. Coach Day talked about the crown of the helmet. Where is your target?
J.K. DOBBINS: We say chin area and cheek area, because if you turn your head, there’s no way we can tackle you. Wherever it hits, just drumming up the power.
Q. Do you have a favorite play? There’s a pretty good one behind you.
J.K. DOBBINS: Do I have a favorite one? Yeah, definitely. Against Wisconsin. We ran a play to the right side. Became free, linebacker, stiff armed pretty hard. It was a great point in the game.
Q. When did you realize that you had a natural talent at breaking tackles?
J.K. DOBBINS: Peewee football. I’ve been doing the same thing since peewee football and it’s worked. So I think I was gifted all along to break tackles.
Q. It seems like both you, you and Travis [Etienne] have that. Something you take a lot of pride in?
J.K. DOBBINS: Definitely, definitely. Because offensive line does a great job and getting to the second level. If you don’t break any tackles at the second level, then you’re not really a good running back. Your offensive line has done all of the work for you.
Q. It seems like that’s the distinction you have guys that if the play is designed to get three yards, they’ll get you three yards. You guys practice. Guys that can get six, seven.
J.K. DOBBINS: Definitely.
Next … Quotes from Ohio Sate co-offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson
Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson
Q. You mentioned Isaiah Simmons. Have you seen anyone like him?
KEVIN WILSON: Watching him, he’s a guy that can come off the edge like a defensive end. And he’s seen back there running in the middle of the field, covering — ten, five-ish, whatever he is. He’s got range, he’s got length. Creating space. Brent does a nice job bringing on these pressures. Use him in certain situations almost as a hybrid rusher.
He’s a guy that sometimes will spy around and have on the quarterback. He does a lot of jobs. And I’m sure there are some guys that aren’t quote, faster. I’m sure there are some guys that are bigger, stronger, but the combination of length, size, and speed, that’s an unusual guy. What I think is pretty neat is how Brent in his mind created a position for him. Played to his skill set, which is pretty unique.
Q. What impresses you the most when you turn on the film and you’re watching him (Isaiah Simmons) play?
KEVIN WILSON: All of the multiple jobs. Because for example, I coach tight end. That means you play left tackle and wide receiver. So sometimes we have to pass block in practice, Chase Young. Then you have to go down and you’re playing one-on-one against [Jeff] Okudah. That’s a hard, hard job. It takes a skill set. This guy has a skill set. He’s playing in space and perimeter. He’s playing man-to-man. He’s pressuring. He’s playing in the box, running through the “A” gap and blitzes like an internal linebacker.
So, one, he has the skill set to do it. And the next thing, he has the courage and the mindset to do it, because a lot of guys wouldn’t want to do that. Brent [Venables] has done a great job of finding some things that are unique and great to make him a special player. I think he’s done a great job of selling him on what he could become.
He was a freshman and Lawrence Taylor was a senior, and no one played defense like that. And no one knew how to coach it. Nobody had a guy who could come up the edge and do that. So I think Brent thought, Here’s an unusual skill set. Let’s be sound in what we’re doing. Have it structured and say, Let’s play to an unusual skill set and move this cat all over the field. It’s pretty neat.
The best thing about it is no one talks about. Those inside linebackers are tough as heck. Calling the plays, too, now. They don’t have the flash. Those guys are some old-school ball players. They get no notoriety. I know Venables, he loves the inside guys. Isaiah gets all of the credit for being the dude, the guy. Those guys inside are tremendous players that complement the whole thing. It is pretty neat.
Q. What kind of difference have you seen in the maturation of J.K. [Dobbins] in terms of adapting to the offense from where he was in his first two years?
KEVIN WILSON: His first year, he graduated early. He showed up, and I showed up in January, after this game a couple of years ago. And he was unbelievable that spring. First of all, he had broken his ankle his senior year in high school in game one. It was either game one or a pre-season scrimmage.
So he didn’t have a senior year, so he was hungry. He had an unbelievable year. And with that year at Ohio State, when you have that kind of year, you get a lot of hype. He got a lot of hype. Last year, I felt — I didn’t coach him a great deal — I felt the hype was so much he was looking for the big play and the big year. And my mentor in coaching was a guy named Randy Walker, who was head coach at Northwestern and Miami Ohio. I was with the guy a long time. He was a great running back coach. He said you go for nickels. There’s not a lot of dollar bills laying on the ground, but there’s a bunch of nickels. Go get a nickel, go get a nickel, you’ll get your dollar.
This year, back in preseason, Coach [Tony] Alford and Coach [Ryan] Day did a great job with J.K. about stick it and run hard. Don’t look for the big play. Run hard, they’ll happen. He’s matured where he has confidence now where he doesn’t try to make a big play. He tries to just trust his read and run hard, and naturally those things happen. A year ago, he had a really good year, but maybe it was off a little bit because I think he was wanting so bad the big things to happen.
This year, I think he’s just come back to the fundamentals of being a fundamental guy, playing hard. And with that, I think he’s one of the best running backs I’ve been around. And I’ve had a couple now. I had a guy named Peterson [Kerlegrand] for three years. I’ve seen a couple guys who can tow the rock. That guy has had an unbelievable year. We had two guys at the Heisman. That guy — no disrespect — those are two special players. Mr. Dobbins does not take a backseat to those guys. I love that kid. He’s a great player.
Q. Is it fair to compare Justin [Fields] to Dwayne [Haskins]?
KEVIN WILSON: No. It is different.
Q. How different are they?
KEVIN WILSON: They’re both still growing, both young. Both have not played a lot of football. Year ago, I saw Dwayne through 14 games. This will be Justin’s 14th game. So they’re still young in the process. Dwayne probably a little bit more trained naturally, accurate thrower, good movement skills, but not Mr. Runner. This guy can run, but with a great throwing skill set. And a high-end skill set.
If his throwing really gets polished, as good as Dwayne was, Justin could be one of the premier players that has played the game ever. He’s a smart kid. They’re both smart. They’re both great kids, both great families. Both have had short-term success. They’re both set up for high-end success. Justin may be a little bit more natural, God-given skill with athleticism.
Q. I know you weren’t here the last time these two teams played in the College Football Semifinal. Are the seniors telling anything to the other players about that game, revenge, motive going on here?
KEVIN WILSON: I have not heard it. I don’t say that because I’m talking to you. Most of those guys that were part of that were on a scout team, being red-shirted, played minimally. We’ve had a lot of success since then. They have, too. I think we see it more this year. I think with Coach Day being here, it is a little different deal now.
No disrespect. It was Coach Meyer’s staff at the time. We’ve had some changes, new defensive coaches. Coach Day, a new head coach. Myself and Coach Day, Coach Mattison, Coach Hafley, we all go back to the game, because we saw it from afar. It is more about this team competing and preparing to play a great Clemson team.
