The Ohio State football team is having to play a little bit of coaching musical chairs. Brian Hartline has decided to take the head coaching job at USF. His preparation seemed to suffer during the Big Ten Championship Game while he was trying to pull double-duty.
Hartline didn't seem to call the right plays, especially in the red zone. Ryan Day confirmed that Hartline was the one calling the plays, so that could be an issue moving forward. Now, the Ohio State Buckeyes have lost another member of their coaching staff right before their CFP run.
Before the season started, the Buckeyes hired a couple of offensive analysts to help Tyler Bowen out as the offensive line coach. Bowen is known as more of a recruiter than an actual developer of talent. One of those analysts has now made a move to the SEC.
Ohio State football team loses Marcus Johnson to Arkansas
According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, Johnson is leaving the Buckeyes to be one of Arkansas's offensive line coaches. He has a connection with new head coach Ryan Silverfield, having played for him while he was with the Minnesota Vikings. That means Bowen will have to grow into a talent developer fast.
Ryan Day will have to figure out a way to replace Johnson once the season ends. Right now, it's more worrisome that someone who has been helping on the offensive line is gone when he offensive line has issues. Ohio State clearly needs to replace Tegra Tshabola at the right guard spot.
Perhaps this move will give Day the push he needs to insert himself more into that decision. Either Gabe VanSickle or Josh Padilla needs to be at the right guard spot. Tshabola continues to be the weak spot on the offensive line, and it was noticeable against the Hoosiers.
Day will look for another analyst once the season ends. Right now, his full attention is on preparing to take on either Texas A&M or Miami on New Year's Eve.