Here is where I’m at, not that anyone asked…Cautiously optimistic, yet turning pessimistic.
I think Ryan Day is a premier pass play designer and passing game coordinator. I think he’s probably the best in the country at identifying pass plays based on defensive alignment. I think he’s a top level communicator and story teller. I think he also thinks he is better than he is at calling a complete game.
It feels like Jim Knowles has a Ferrari, but it’s held together with bubble gum. We know from his history that he can get a lot out of lower recruits, so why can’t he get what he needs out of 5 and 4 star recruits at every position. I think he’s adapted his defense to limit the big play, and maybe this is really year 1 instead of year 2 it shows on the calendar. I think another portion comes down to development.
Personally, I don’t think Ryan Day is going to get us a championship. He has shown an ability to talk the talk and recruits at an extremely high level - maybe even higher than Urban, if you believe the stars (he even has Urban’s talent evaluator and S&C coach). He has not shown the ability to develop the talent outside of the QB and WR positions. He has not shown the ability to make successful personnel decisions. I don’t see more Ohio State players being faster, stronger, better conditioned, or better coached.
He has not shown the ability to develop coaches. I say develop because supposedly he is working with the best money can buy. Yet, he doesn’t have a coaching tree except Hafley, which makes it a coaching stump.
And I don’t think he recognizes that he’s basically getting Tresselballed by Jim Harbaugh the last 2 Novembers. All Michigan has done is draw up a couple trick plays, played sound football, and waited for Ohio State’s mistakes and capitalized. Ryan Day has taken the bait and played right into it, trying to show why his team is faster or more physical.
I will give myself an out (of course) and say Coach Day can be that guy IF he can evolve. Some coaches win it all their second year and get fired within 2 years, some don’t win it all until their 10th year. What you have you be worried about is those that don’t win it at all. Unfortunately, he hasn’t shown a desire to adapt himself as much as adapt the situation around him. Then again, isn’t that the downfall of most people? Hell, the two coaches before him each won a championship and arguably squandered more talent and opportunities than any coaches in the nation, and Buckeye history, because they had more of both and couldn’t evolve.
Hopefully this corrects the cosmic football alignment and sets the Buckeyes on the path, but I’m losing hope.
