One of the biggest topics of conversation about the 2023 Buckeyes season has been the offensive line and how they are underperforming. There have been consistent struggles in the run game, and in short yardage, and it was even more apparent against Maryland with TreVeyon Henderson out of the game.
“Just like anybody else in any other line of work, I’m sure,” Day said. “If there’s areas you have to improve on, we have to look at everything. We have to look at what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, how we’re preparing, how we’re practicing it, how we’re calling it. I mean, every part of it.”
Chip Traynum led the Buckeyes with 20 carries but was only able to muster 61 yards, a 3.1 yards per carry average. The run game as a whole only managed 1.9 yards per carry, the worst mark since the 2011 team only ran for 0.9 yards per carry against Michigan State in a 10-7 loss.
Despite the struggles in the run game and with the offensive line, Day still believes they have the right personnel on the field. He doesn’t see anyone performing well enough to take a starting spot at this point.
“When we looked hard at it, I don’t see any of those guys right now pushing,” he said. “I’d like to see that. But I don’t see them like pushing on the door enough to say someone deserves 20, 30 snaps in a game just yet. There’s still a lot of football left to play and feel free to make a push. We want that in practice.”
The offense as a whole hasn’t been as good as anyone is accustomed to seeing under a Day coached Ohio State team. In recent years, it has been the focal point of the team with the defense struggling to keep points off the board. This year has flipped the script with the defense needing to carry the offense at times.
The offense is still tied for 27th in the country with 35 points per game, but tougher conference opponents with top defenses are coming up on the schedule soon. Day said there are things the offensive line needs to fix, but every position group needs to take some responsibility until the offense as a whole gets to the point they want it to be.
Day said the overall execution against the Terrapins wasn’t there, and that much was obvious. There are things he believes he sees on individual plays that are fixable, like using their hands correctly and their pad level, but they will continue working hard to solve their problems.
“We’re just going to keep swinging on this thing,” he said. “It’s one of those things where if you can solve it, it’s going to be rewarding, because we’re working so hard at it. But everybody’s got to take responsibility.”
