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As the Ohio State defense looks to recover from its disappointing performance in 2020 and return to championship level in 2021, a new assistant coach will help lead this effort.
A spot on the Ohio State defensive coaching staff officially opens at the end of the month when Greg Mattison – the Buckeyes’ defensive co-coordinator for the past two seasons – retires.
Mattison’s replacement has yet to be selected, and on Friday morning it was unclear who Ohio State is aiming to replace him. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on Friday he would consider a variety of options for the new signing.
Because Mattison was neither the main defensive coordinator nor the main linebacker coach, Ohio State has the flexibility to hire his replacement. While Day could hire another defensive co-coordinator to lead the run defense game plan and coach Sam’s linebackers like Mattison did, he could also move some of the defensive assistant coaches back into new ones. roles if he thinks a new assistant coach would help. the Buckeyes more in a different area.
“I think we have a really good group of guys out there right now who are versatile, so we’re going to look at all the options,” Day said. “Is there someone else who can take Greg’s place in the same role as him, or are we just going to move some things around and reassign some of the job descriptions?” It’s all on the table, and we’re working on that now, and looking at all the different options.
“I’m not really fixed on ‘This is exactly what the role should be.’ I just want to put together the best group to give our defending guys the best chance to succeed.
While defensive coordinator and secondary coach Kerry Coombs, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, linebackers coach Al Washington and safety coach Matt Barnes are all set to return in 2021, the State of Ohio has reason to consider making a difference.
The Buckeyes finished last season 43rd in the Football Bowl subdivision with 25.8 points allowed per game, 59th with 401.6 yards allowed per game and 122nd with 304 passing yards allowed per game. The Ohio State defense particularly struggled in the National Championship game against Alabama, in which the Crimson Tide scored 52 points on 621 yards, and Day acknowledged Friday that the defense’s performance in 2020 was not up to program standards.
“We didn’t play very well against Indiana, and there were times early in the season where it just didn’t look like it should,” Day said. “And then it all peaked at the end against Alabama.”
At the same time, that defense was good enough – especially in the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern and the Sugar Bowl against Clemson – to bring Ohio State to the national championship game. And the Buckeyes have had to contend with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the year – they’ve only played eight games in total, and Day revealed on Friday that the Buckeyes were only able to hold out. ‘a padded training session before the national championship game – which shouldn’t be overlooked when assessing the struggles they had in defense last season.
“I thought we did a good job against Clemson. I think our guys played well, we created some turnovers and they played really well there. I thought we played well for the most part against Northwestern, ”Day said. “We had a few hiatus just in terms of practice and things like that. We only practiced one day in padel before the national championship match. Not that that’s an excuse, it’s just that I think when you look at how many games we’ve had you know a little bit more about your defense, you can experience some things a bit more when you have it. five or six more. games we made.
“I think that was the highlight of things there at the end. But certainly things that we have to look at at the start of the season and all the big talk we have to do well next fall.
Given Ohio State’s struggles to defend the pass in 2020, these discussions will include a discussion of whether the Buckeyes should stick to Cover 3, the Pete Carroll-inspired defense qu ‘they’ve used the past two seasons, or whether they should revamp their schedule. this offseason. And that’s a factor Day needs to consider when hiring Mattison’s replacement and determining the defensive staff structure for 2021.
“Anyone with four touchdown and one pitch defense experience would definitely be faster,” Day said. “But also bringing in someone who has a little more diverse background can give us a different perspective and areas where we can maximize what we have. And I think that’s what’s important, because we’re trying to do it all the time on offense, and I think that’s going to be important for what we do on defense, depending on who we have that that year, which gives us the best chances. to succeed?
“If it’s to continue being in a single-high, Cover 3?” Let’s do it. But if not, what are the things? So do we want to have some continuity there and maintain that, or do we want to bring in someone with a different perspective? All the discussions going on now.
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