The first month of the season is not going well for Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are rallying together.

The defensive staff in Columbus has already experienced a shakeup, and now secondary coach Matt Branes has been given the responsibility of calling the defense by head coach Ryan Day. Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs had previously handled the duties, but Day has opted to make the change after the disappointing loss to Oregon. The loss to the Ducks capped what Day described as a “pattern” of issues that had carried over from the 2020 season.

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Barnes addressed the suggestion that the transition would be awkward, but he emphasized that there would be a collaborative nature between himself, Coombs, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Al Washington.

“Whether the previous opportunity or this one, however they come about, you just are in constant pursuit of how to get right,” Barnes said. “However they shake out to you, you just have to find every resource you can, and our defensive staff has been awesome. Some things have shaken out, and we’ve been a little different, but I give everybody in that room credit. We rallied together in heavy pursuit of getting better every week.

Barnes also said that there have been some minor day-to-day changes in terms of practice structure, and Day said evaluations of coaching, scheme and personnel will be done in an effort to fix the defense.

The Buckeyes travel to New Jersey to take on Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 2:30 PM.