Ohio State Football: Confidence level against Notre Dame
By Eric Boggs
The Coaching Staff – Confidence Level 7
At times I have been frustrated with the Ohio State football team’s coaching staff in the past. Before Jim Knowles arrived to become the new defensive coordinator, the Ohio State defense was unimaginable, out of position, and lacked discipline while under the leadership of Kerry Coombs.
On the flip side, there seem to be two different Ryan Days when it comes to the offense. Either Day is the “angry” play-caller who is uber-aggressive (think Georgia), or there is the “nice guy” play-caller who becomes ultra-conservative and quite predictable (think Michigan.) Hopefully, angry Ryan Day will show up on Saturday.
On the other side of the field, former Buckeye Marcus Freeman enters his second year as the head coach at Notre Dame. Last season, Freeman took his bumps, losing to not only Ohio State in week one, but then was shocked by Marshall at home in week two. He also suffered a second embarrassing loss last season when he took it on the chin from Stanford before losing to rival USC.
Freeman appears to have learned a lot from his first season, and after a second off-season as the head man in South Bend, has won over the fanbase completely. He is considered one of the best up-and-coming coaches in college football nationally, but one thing still eludes him, and that is a big win over a national power.
Yes, Notre Dame took down Clemson last season, but everyone has begun to question whether the Tigers should even be considered a national power anymore. Ohio State is a completely different story. If Freeman can beat Day and his Buckeyes, that would change the narrative nationally not only about Freeman, but the expectations that the Irish have this season.
I am still more confident in Ohio State’s coaching staff, but not enough to not cause me to pause. I am at a seven going into this week when comparing coaches.