Ohio State Football: Ryan Day will actually have Buckeyes better in 2019
The Ohio State football team is being somewhat disregarded by the national media, but what if the Buckeyes are actually better in 2019 than in 2018?
A large sector of the media and analysts alike are writing off Ryan Day and Ohio State in his first season as a head coach. Is it crazy to assume the Buckeyes will actually be better in 2019 despite all they lost from a year ago?
No, it’s actually not and here’s why.
In fact, Ohio State will actually be a better football team overall this season. Coach Day has kept the core of the Buckeyes’ staff in tact as Mark Pantoni, Mickey Mariotti, Ryan Stamper and Brian Voltolini are all still on board. Those four men are often overlooked because they aren’t walking the sidelines on Saturdays but are as valuable as those who do..
The additions of Al Washington, Jeff Hafley, Greg Mattison, Mike Yurcich and Matt Barnes have improved the assistant and coordinating coaching staffs with fruits already bearing on the recruiting trail. The gaps that seemed to be in year’s past appear to be filled.
Ohio State boasts transfer QB Justin Fields, who will re-add the elusive QB run dynamic back into the Buckeyes’ offense with RB JK Dobbins who is set to have a huge year. The key for the offense will be the line play as four new starters will take the field, but they are prepared with game experience from prior seasons.
As for the defense, the Silver Bullets will be stifling in 2019. In my prediction piece, I projected them to give up less than 18 points per game and I stand by that.
The defensive line led by Chase Young and Jonathan Cooper will dominate and the secondary will return to true form under Coach Hafley.
The key will be the linebackers who are in phenomenal hands. Washington has his LBs play fast, flying everywhere while playing physical downhill shooting their gaps and rarely getting caught out of position.
All things aforementioned considered, the Buckeyes are among the most talented teams in the country and do not show many weaknesses on paper. However, most pundits are going with the safer pick in Michigan rather than the riskier one with Ohio State.
After all, the Buckeyes have to replace legendary head coach Urban Meyer.
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I do not foresee the Buckeyes losing in such a fashion as they did in Iowa City or West Lafayette as I had them on upset alert in those games both years. The road game against Nebraska will be difficult one as will the Friday night test the following week against disciplined Northwestern.
All in all, I expect the Buckeyes to actually be a better overall football team in 2019. Ryan Day may not be Urban Meyer and Justin Fields won’t be Dwayne Haskins.
But this is a new era of Ohio State football and it will be a continuation of the past success and tradition as it has always been.
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The Buckeyes are in the capable hands of Ryan Day who I believe will have his team as a legitimate contender for the College Football Playoff in late November and early December. Ohio State football hasn’t gone anywhere…the Buckeyes don’t rebuild, they reload.