Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is stepping into his former role as offensive playcaller, relieving offensive coordinator Brian Hartline of his responsibilities for the game script.
According to Day, Hartline — who has taken the head coaching job at Southern Florida — will be focusing on coaching the Buckeye wide receivers.
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Day has been the primary playcaller for Ohio State since taking over as head coach. However, he made the bold decision to hand over the responsibility to former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly last year.
The change propelled Ohio State to a National Championship, but Kelly departed for the NFL, which left an opening that Hartline was promoted into from receivers coach.
Amid Hartline’s new responsibilities, Day is taking on the offensive game-script duties.
“We wanted to take [playcalling] off of Brian’s plate because he’s got so much going on with what he’s trying to do,” Day said ahead of Ohio State’s game against Miami. “Ultimately, it will be my decision what calls go into the game.”
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Day will have a rough reintroduction to playcalling as Ohio State faces the Miami Hurricanes, who boast one of the best defensive fronts in the nation and feature multiple NFL-caliber players.
Miami held Texas A&M to just three points during Saturday’s playoff game, though windy conditions helped limit the passing game. Ohio State will be a different animal, especially with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate both lining up on the outside, with the poised Julian Sayin passing the ball.
Day has the responsibility to make sure the offense runs as smoothly as it has all season long, and he hopes to tap into what he has learned by watching Hartline and Kelly call the offense.
“I think it’s more just about when you’re not calling it, your eyes aren’t down on the call sheet. You’re with the defense. You’re watching the offense. You’re watching the other side. You’re watching what’s going on as opposed to being down on your call sheet. And I think that’s where we got to be good upstairs,” Day said.
“There’s not a game that’s gone by where I’m not involved or listening to every call and making sure it’s what we’ve agreed upon going in. So, it’s similar to the way it was before.”
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