"It takes a village..." is the motto Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline lives by as it pertains to play-calling. Hartline defers to head coach Ryan Day, co-offensive coordinator & TE coach Keenan Bailey, OL coach and run game coordinator Tyler Bowen, and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn.
Bucknuts' Patrick Murphy revealed that Hartline does that so he doesn't favor "his" players, the receiving corps, over the run game.
"While the Scarlet and Gray are still working to get their run game going, they have rushed the ball 103 times compared to only 80 pass attempts. Some of that stems from the conservative offensive approach in the opening game against Texas, but it indicates that Hartline isn't favoring 'his' players," Murphy wrote.
"Hartline is the play caller, but he is not running the offense alone. Just as he collaborated with Day and Kelly over the past two years, he has received assistance from the head coach and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen. Bailey and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn are also involved in game plans."
Thus far, the run game has been a work-in-progress, to say the least. True freshman Bo Jackson looks like a potential keeper, but he and the rest of the Buckeyes' room are still a massive step back from last year's, which featured two top-40 NFL draft picks.
It's hard not to scheme the offense around the consensus best player in college football, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, captain Brandon Innis, and Max Klare. But no great passing offense can function without the run setting it up.
Hartline is doing the right thing by the offense this way. Checks and balances are good, especially when deferring to the specialty coaches who more intimately know the talent in their rooms.
Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin will be grateful, and likely already is. As is Day, considering the 3-0 start because of Hartline's willingness to win ugly in Week 1 against the Texas Longhorns.