‘I’m Accountable’: Ryan Day’s Take on Ohio State Football’s Offensive Strategy vs. Michigan
Ohio State football’s head coach Ryan Day acknowledged the team’s underwhelming offensive performance against Michigan. Day accepted responsibility for the lackluster showing, stating, “It’s the coaches’ job to put the guys in the best position to be successful. That didn’t always happen on Saturday.”
Ohio State’s primary concern on offense lies in the interior of the offensive line, which has been impacted by season-ending injuries to left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin. Despite this, the Buckeyes opted to run the ball 14 times between the tackles against Michigan’s formidable interior defensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, this accounted for over half of the team’s total rushing attempts.
Coach Day conceded that the team’s interior running plays were excessive. “There’s no question that the ball was run interiorly too much in the game,” Day said. Ohio State’s 14 interior runs yielded a mere 34 yards, including a 17-yard rush by Quinshon Judkins in the third quarter.
Day described the offense’s overall performance as “not a good day.” He attributed some of the struggles to coaching and game planning. The Buckeyes scored on only two of their five red zone trips, with one ending in an interception and two in missed field goals. Day acknowledged that the team could have been more creative in those situations.
Moving forward, Day emphasized that Ohio State will not abandon its running game. Instead, the team will strive for a better balance between running and passing plays. Day noted that the Buckeyes threw more passes (33) than rushes (26) against Michigan. While offensive coordinator Chip Kelly remains committed to establishing a running game, Day is prepared to intervene and enforce changes when necessary.
Ultimately, Day reiterated his accountability as the head coach. “I’m responsible,” he said. “I’m the head coach. That’s where the buck stops.”