Jim Knowles on pressure Ohio State defense feels to deliver national championship

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles spoke with media about whether his defense feels pressure to match the offense this season. Knowles was asked if the Buckeyes’ defense felt pressure to deliver a national championship right out of the gate, in just his first year with Ohio State.

Jim Knowles on defense not feeling pressure

When asked about how much pressure his defense feels to match the high-powered offense for Ohio State and be championship-caliber, Knowles explained that they didn’t feel pressured at all because they’re focused on handling their own business and growth.

“First of all, I don’t think the players feel any pressure because they believe and they’re confident,” said Knowles. “They’ve seen how the whole system works and the quality of our program. The challenge for us is just to be the best we can be, that’s all. If we’re the best we can be, we’ll be fine. So we just have to get better every day. That’s what I keep [telling them], I say ‘get better’ they say ‘every day.’ It’s one of our sayings, they say it back to me. That’s all we have to worry about, so I don’t think anybody’s feeling pressure, just excitement.”

Knowles enters his first season with the Buckeyes after coming over from Oklahoma State and taking the defensive coordinator position with Ohio State. Knowles played for Cornell as a player, and began his coaching career with Cornell as a defensive line coach in 1988. Knowles received his first defensive coordinator position with Western Michigan before returning to Cornell as a head coach from 2004-09. From there he accepted the defensive coordinator position with Duke and then Oklahoma State.

Knowles on coaching with Brian Hartline

In addition to hyping up his own defensive unit, Knowles shared high praise for wide receivers coach Brian Hartline and his impact on the team. Knowles spoke with media as well about what it was like to coach alongside Hartline, someone that Knowles believes is the “best in the country.”

“He’s great. He’s the best in the country and that shows up,” said Knowles. “There’s a saying — ‘what you see is what you coach’ — so there’s nobody better than him in terms of the product that he puts on the field. I love the way he dresses, he’s a snappy dresser. He looks sharp — he just looks like you’d want a great wide receiver coach and offensive coach to look. And I’m glad to be on his team.”