Day willing to let Fields have the freedom to improvise something great for Ohio State

Sophomore QBs success so far suggests great things lie ahead

The two most memorable plays from the Heisman Trophy career of the only quarterback to win the award in Ohio State history were born of individual improvisation, not strategic planning.

Ryan Day was only a a few seasons into the 15-year assistant-coaching odyssey that would make him the Buckeyes head coach when Troy Smith offered those highlights -- against Michigan in 2005 and against Penn State in 2006 -- so that's not why Day is willing to leave Justin Fields room for similar displays of greatness.

It's more Day's belief that Fields' ability to elude the rush affords OSU a higher percentage for good things happening than bad things.

"You try to give him certain parameters and then you have to let him play," Day said. "Then he watches it and learns. The guys on the perimeter have to do a better job, too, of staying with him when he scrambles.

The play is never over with Justin. The ball came out with a little more rhythm last year with Dwayne (Haskins)."

Fields threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another in OSU's 51-10 win Saturday at Indiana.

Entering a 3:30 p.m. Saturday home game against Miami of Ohio (1-2), Fields  has duplicated the feats of his two predecessors, Haskins and J.T. Barrett, by accounting for four or more TDs in three consecutive games.

Fields, though, has done it in his first three games as a starter. Oh, and he hasn't committed a turnover yet.

Maybe that's why Day said the Georgia transfer is, "light years ahead of where I thought he would be."

13 touchdowns and counting for @OhioStateFB's Justin Fields 👏👏👏

Watch every TD from this season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/a1Hko4LOix

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 15, 2019