Will Brian Hartline calling plays instead of Ryan Day help Ohio State beat Michigan? Hey, Nathan!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football coach Ryan Day has fairly pointed out the damage done by the explosive touchdowns his defense allowed against Michigan last season.

At the same time, the Buckeyes’ loaded, high-scoring offense managed a mere three points in the second half of last season’s game at Ohio Stadium. That came one year after Michigan’s defense clearly won its matchups in Ann Arbor.

What sort of offensive adjustments must be made to win The Game? One of our Buckeye Talk subscribers wondered if a potential change for 2023 could have ramifications in the regular season finale.

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Hey, Nathan: If Brian Hartline is given the keys to the offense and gets play calling, he is still using Ryan Day’s play book. Meaning Ryan day cannot get in his own way. The offense scores more then three points in the second half, allowing the defense to give up more but get into a shoot out with Michigan. I like our odds.

What are your thoughts on that scenario? If Brian H is the play caller at the end of the year do you think that improves the odds in the game or keeps it about the same? No wrong answers but I believe it increases the odds because Ryan Day can’t have that hiccup. — Ryan in the Winton Woods area

Hey, Ryan: Starting with my usual caveat that Day has not formally handed play calling over to Hartline. Seems headed that way. Not official.

Also Hartline’s background as a receivers coach does not necessarily mean he will dial up four verticals on every snap. Day’s quarterback roots have not prevented him from leaning run-heavy at times.

Day recently appeared on Chris Holtmann’s podcast “More Than Coach Speak” and addressed the shortcoming’s of last season’s loss in The Game.

“I think the mistake I’ve probably made is we’re just going to win this game and the focus is on ‘Let’s get after them, let’s get physical, let’s just beat them up,’” Day said.

That answer mostly concerned preparation and mindset. Yet it also clearly seeps into play calling. Ohio State played at times offensively as if it were trying to prove it could beat Michigan’s identity rather than emphasizing its own identity.

So I get what you’re saying, except I would also point you to the next game after the Michigan loss. Ohio State took a different vibe into the Peach Bowl. Stroud had the freedom to freelance more. The over-emphasis on the run game was gone.

Whoever is calling plays, Day likely will retain veto power as head coach. But he essentially admitted he learned a lesson last season, and he seems eager to apply that lesson to all of 2023, including The Game.

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