COLUMBUS, Ohio — Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs is no longer calling Ohio State football’s defense, as coach Ryan Day turned those duties over to secondary coach Matt Barnes for Saturday’s 41-20 victory over Tulsa.
Asked if Barnes calling plays was a permanent move, Day said “That’s the way I see it going forward.” It would be the first in-season change of coordinator duties in Day’s three-season tenure and the first in recent memory for the Buckeyes program.
“Everybody has input on the game plan, but Matt was calling it today and Kerry was up 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 that game, with the Ducks averaging 7.1 yards per rushing attempt. Day referred to the lack of in-game solutions to an opponent’s repeated success as “a pattern” dating back to last season.
Pre-game it was known that Coombs moved up to the press box coaches’ booth, after spending the previous year-plus of his tenure on the sideline. Barnes, who usually has the press box perch, moved down to the field. Day confirmed after the game the extent of the play calling switch.
Tulsa still piled up 501 yards, including 428 through the air, though some of that damage came with OSU in prevent mode up 21 points late. Ohio State still struggled to summon a pass rush (two sacks on 54 pass attempts). It did alter its defensive structure more, playing two high safeties more often and mixing in more zone coverages.
Ohio State defensive backs Ronnie Hickman and Cameron Brown said after the game they did not notice a significant difference in how things flowed during the game.
“The coaches did a good job of communicating through the headsets to us, so I wouldn’t say it was that much of a change,” Hickman said.
Barnes was the only other member of the coaching staff with defensive play calling experience, having done so for at least part of a season at Maryland in 2018. When Day promoted Barnes to secondary coach prior to the season, part of the motivation was to take those duties off of Coombs’ plate and allow him to focus on coordinator responsibilities.
“We took a hard look at it and a lot of hard conversations and tried to figure out what gives us the best chance to move forward,” Day said. “And this is kind of the rhythm and the structure that we feel like right now is best suited for the defense.”
• Ohio State football’s growing pains continue before our eyes in 41-20 victory over Tulsa
Coombs spent six seasons at Ohio State under Urban Meyer as cornerbacks coach, with one season as assistant defensive coordinator. He developed a reputation as one of the nation’s best recruiters at that position as well as a skilled developer of cornerback talent. His tutelage produced multiple first-round NFL draft picks, and he contributed to the team’s 2014 national championship staff.
Coombs left for two seasons to join former OSU player and coach Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Tennessee Titans. Day hired him back as defensive coordinator when Jeff Hafley departed following the 2019 season.
For that season, Coombs had co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison to help lead the defense. Mattison retired after the national championship game loss, and Day promoted Barnes and hired Parker Fleming — whose background is mostly on offense — as 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 handled this week’s decision with class.
“He’s a professional,” Day said. “He’s an Ohio guy, from the state of Ohio. He’s got a lot of pride, and he just wants to win. So he’s still very much a big part of this defense and a big part of Ohio State.”
Ohio State plays Akron at home on Saturday before resuming Big Ten play against Maryland.
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