Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio Bobcats head coach Tim Albin looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
The following are a selection of quotes from Ohio head coach Tim Albin’s weekly press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The Cyclones are coming off a 10-7 win over archrival Iowa while Ohio lost 46-10 at Penn State.
On Iowa State in general…
“It’s a very talented football team. I won’t go position by position Penn State vs. Iowa State, but I’ll tell you right now they are solid. The most powerful thing I can share with you about Iowa State, I know Matt Campbell. He wears the old ball cap just like I do. I’m sure he has an old truck like me. His teams are tough. We crossed paths in his time at Toledo. The job he’s done at Iowa State is remarkable.
Here’s the thing I’ll share with you. They return three guys on defense if you look at returning starters, but they’ve got a veteran football club. You watch them on defense, they are flying around. They’re better than Penn State on defense. That’s a fact. O-line, they’re better than Penn State. I’m not dishing Penn State. I’m just telling you the facts.
I think offensively they only return three, and they are solid. They don’t have the experience at quarterback that Penn State did, but he’s just got a couple of games under his belt. He’s mobile. They do a good job with him. Running back-wise, not a returner, but they’ve had back-to-back-to-back draft picks at running back. He’s started (two games), and he is talented. That Penn State kid was talented.
We are going to be challenged, but (Iowa State) in all three phases is solid. It will be a huge challenge. As I said last week, we respect all, fear none. We went in there to try to win, didn’t get it done. Our goals are not going to change.”
On preparing for Hunter Dekkers…
“From a scheme standpoint, try to give him some different looks. We knew going in last week (against Penn State), we weren’t going to fool him with the scheme. Not saying that’s what we’re going to do this week, but just some different looks than what he’s seen in the first two games.
You look at the numbers, a little more pressure in the second game than the first one. He’s more mobile and they’re not afraid to use him. That’s going to put some pressure on how we prepare scheme-wise. It’ll be interesting to see how the week goes, but that’s how I see it.”
On playing back-to-back Power 5 teams…
“In my time here at Ohio, we’ve never played back-to-back Power 5 (games). That’s a fact. We’re sore. We’re relatively healthy, but we’ve got some guys that got some bumps and bruises. We’re gonna have to be smart as a staff in how we prepare this week because they are a physical outfit at Iowa State. Not that Penn State wasn’t. We’re gonna have to be smart. That’s where my challenge is right now. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night because I’m trying to figure out what’s best.”
