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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs no longer calls the Ohio State football defense as coach Ryan Day handed those tasks over to secondary coach Matt Barnes for Saturday’s 41-20 victory over Tulsa .
When asked if Barnes following games is a permanent move, Day said, “That’s the way I see it going forward.” It would be the first mid-season change in coordinator duties in Day’s three-season tenure and the first in recent memory for the Buckeyes program.
“Everyone has a say in the game plan, but Matt was calling him today and Kerry was there and helping and doing a lot – in-game adjustments and things like that,” Day said. .
Day hinted at significant structural changes following the previous week’s 35-28 loss to Oregon. Ohio State allowed over 600 yards in this game, with the Ducks averaging 7.1 yards per rushing attempt. Day called the lack of solutions in the game a repeat success of one “role model” opponent dating back to last season.
Before the game it was known that Coombs had moved to the press box coaching booth, having spent the previous year and more of his tenure on the sidelines. Barnes, who usually has the press box perch, moved to the field. Day confirmed after the match the extent of the play call change.
Tulsa still racked up 501 yards, including 428 in the air, although some of that damage came with OSU in prevention mode 21 points behind. Ohio State has always struggled to summon a pass rush (two sacks on 54 pass attempts). He changed his defensive structure further, more often playing two high safeties and mixing more zone covers.
Ohio State defensive backs Ronnie Hickman and Cameron Brown said after the game that they didn’t notice a significant difference in the way things went during the game.
“The coaches did a good job communicating with us through the headsets so I wouldn’t say it was a big change,” Hickman said.
Barnes was the only other member of the coaching staff with any defensive appeal experience, having done so for at least part of a season in Maryland in 2018. When Day promoted Barnes to secondary coach heading into the season, part of the motivation was to take these tasks off Coombs’ plate and allow him to focus on coordinator responsibilities.
“We took a close look at it and had a lot of tough conversations and tried to figure out what gives us the best chance to move forward,” Day said. “And that’s sort of the pace and structure that we think is best suited to defense right now.”
• Ohio State’s football growing pains continue before our eyes in 41-20 win over Tulsa
Coombs spent six seasons at Ohio State under Urban Meyer as a cornerback coach, with one season as an assistant defensive coordinator. He has built a reputation for being one of the country’s top recruiters in this role as well as a skilled developer of cornerback talent. His tutelage produced several first-round NFL draft picks and he helped staff the team’s 2016 National Championship.
Coombs left for two seasons to join former OSU player and coach Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans. Day hired him back as defensive coordinator when Jeff Hafley left after the 2019 season.
For this season, Coombs had defensive co-coordinator Greg Mattison to help lead the defense. Mattison retired after the loss in the national championship game, and Day promoted Barnes and hired Parker Fleming – whose background is mostly in offense – as the special teams coordinator.
Coombs spoke to reporters after the Oregon game and took responsibility for the defensive performance. Neither he nor Barnes were made available after the Tulsa game. Day said Coombs made this week’s decision with style.
“He’s a professional,” Day said. “He’s a guy from Ohio, from the state of Ohio. He has a lot of pride and he just wants to win. So it’s still a big part of that defense and a big part of the state of Ohio. “
Ohio State will face Akron at home on Saturday before resuming the Big Ten game against Maryland.
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