As the College Football Playoff (CFP) approaches, Ohio State coach Ryan Day has announced that he will be taking over the responsibility of calling offensive plays in the team's upcoming game against Miami on New Year's Eve. This decision comes as Ohio State's offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline, has recently accepted the head coaching position at South Florida, and Day wants to alleviate some of Hartline's workload.
Day explained that Hartline will focus on coaching the team's receivers during the CFP, allowing him to devote more time to his new responsibilities. "We wanted to take (play calling) off of Brian's plate because he's got so much going on with what he's trying to do," Day said in a statement. Ultimately, the decision of which plays to call will rest with Day, who has previous experience in this role. As head coach, Day called the Buckeyes' offensive plays until last season, when he handed over the duties to Chip Kelly.
After the Buckeyes won the national championship, Kelly left to become the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, and Day promoted Hartline from receivers coach to offensive coordinator. Under Hartline's leadership, the Buckeyes have ranked 17th nationally in scoring, averaging nearly 35 points per game. However, their performance in the Big Ten championship loss to Indiana was less impressive, with the team only managing to score 10 points. Despite driving the ball inside the Indiana 10-yard line twice in the second half, the Buckeyes were unable to capitalize on these opportunities.
Day's decision to take over play-calling duties is likely a strategic move to ensure the team's success in the CFP. With Hartline's new responsibilities and the team's recent performance, Day may be looking to shake things up and try a new approach.
Miami, on the other hand, has been performing well, having knocked off Texas A&M 10-3 in the first round to advance to the CFP. The team will face off against the second-seeded Buckeyes at the Cotton Bowl, and it will be interesting to see how Day's play-calling decisions impact the game.
There are several factors that could influence the outcome of the game. These include:
As the game approaches, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how these factors play out. One thing is certain: with Day at the helm, the Buckeyes will be looking to make a strong statement in the CFP. The team's performance will depend on a variety of factors, but with Day's experience and leadership, they may have an edge in the competition.
In conclusion, the upcoming game between Ohio State and Miami is shaping up to be an exciting and closely watched matchup. With Day's decision to take over play-calling duties and Hartline's new role, the team is looking to make some significant changes and try to gain an advantage in the CFP. As the game approaches, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the team's performance and whether they will be able to come out on top.
As Day noted, the decision to take over play-calling duties was made to support Hartline and the team, and it will be important to see how this decision plays out in the coming game. With the CFP just around the corner, the Buckeyes are looking to make a strong statement and prove themselves as a top contender. Only time will tell if Day's decision will pay off, but one thing is certain: the game against Miami will be an exciting and closely watched matchup.
Original: ESPN
Image: ESPN
Written by Npsports
