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.