Ohio State Football: Ryan Day takes full command with defensive overhaul
The Ohio State football team might not be playing for the College Football Playoff Invitational tonight but that won’t stop newly minted head coach Ryan Day from making his own headlines.
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day has had, as we say, quite a day.
In releasing defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and linebackers’ coach Billy Davis, Day made his first difficult decision as the man in charge. Some may say pulling the plug was easy since both coaches were on the hot seat for overseeing a defense that vastly underachieved this season.
Don’t be fooled. Releasing a coach is rarely easy, especially ones who are close to you.
It is personal. This was a smart and difficult decision.
This news alone would make it a heavy cycle day but he was hardly finished. As if the rivalry with Michigan needed additional fuel to fan the flames, coach Day went into enemy territory and plucked away Greg Mattison.
There will be plenty of time to debate this hire. On the surface it was a bold move.
Despite how the 2018 season unfolded, Mattison has a great defensive mind and his units are always one of the best against the run. Given how average Jim Harbaugh’s offenses have been, I would argue that without Mattison the Wolverines barely win six games each year.
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Sticking with Urban Meyer’s blueprint of having two defensive coordinators, Day also hired Jeff Hafley, a veteran defensive backs coach most recently with the San Francisco 49ers. Although he’s been primarily an NFL coach since 2012, Hafley is no stranger to the college game. He coached at Pitt and Rutgers from 2006-2011.
Coupled with many former players fully supporting his credentials that should be enough for Buckeye Nation to embrace him.
Maybe the best news of the day is Larry Johnson’s promotion to associate head coach.
Day now has a perfect mix of defensive coaches who embrace his direction for the program. The moves also signal that he is serious about eliminating Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban’s reign on the playoff championships.
Next. Who's staying, who's leaving for the NFL. dark
At this point, how could any blue-chip defensive player not want to come play for Ohio State?