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Ryan Day said Kerry Coombs did not call Ohio State’s defense Saturday
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One week after Ohio State losing 35-28 to the Oregon Ducks for the first time in school history, they appear to make some internal changes. Ohio State took on a tough Tulsa team that would not be put away it took all four quarters for Ohio State to win 40-21 at home.
During the press conference, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced that it was defensive backs coach Matt Barnes that called the defensive plays versus Tulsa. This change of play-calling on the defensive side of the ball comes one week after Day reiterated there might be some changes to the team after the loss to Oregon last week.
Day said DB coach Matt Barnes called the defensive calls today.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 18, 2021
Day said Coombs remains "a big part of this defense."
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 18, 2021
Although no coaches were fired or demoted, second-year defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs is no longer calling plays for Ohio State’s defense. Coach Day also said that while Barnes calling the defensive plays is permanent with strong support from associate head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
Is Matt Barnes calling the defense a permanent move? "That's kind of the way I see it going forward right now." Day says Larry Johnson is very involved as well.
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) September 18, 2021
Coombs remains on the staff with Ohio State as the Buckeyes defense played better against Tulsa than in the previous week against Oregon.