Ryan Day and Chip Kelly to shape the 2024 Ohio State offense
It’ll be intriguing to see how Ryan Day and Chip Kelly shape the 2024 Ohio State offense.
The Buckeyes have attempted to be balanced on offense under Day, but given the quarterbacks and receivers Ohio State has had, combined with Day’s desire to air it out, the team has appeared to be more of a passing offense in recent years.
Kelly may change that.
It took Kelly a couple of seasons to turn around UCLA’s run game, but his offenses have ranked No. 17 or higher nationally in running yards per game over the last four years. In 2021, his Bruins led the country in yards per rushing attempt, averaging six.
Kelly will inherit more skilled ball carriers at Ohio State than he did at UCLA, as well as an experienced offensive line. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins might each argue for the title of “best returning running back in the country,” but combining the two should make Kelly’s job easier in 2024.
Kelly prefers to use both wide zone and inside zone plays in the running game. These appear to suit Judkins’ and Henderson’s skill sets, respectively. However, both are versatile enough to run both, so Kelly might employ Judkins largely inside and Henderson primarily outside in the Buckeyes’ easier games to build trends that he can break at important periods in larger matchups, potentially resulting in explosion plays in the run game.
A more successful Ohio State running game will benefit the passing game. Kelly is notorious for running play action and bootlegging his quarterback off of fake handoffs, which can lead to explosive throw plays down the field when a defense begins to commit more numbers in the box or cheats their safeties near the line of scrimmage.
He’s demonstrated a willingness to set up vertical plays down the field with wide zone runs and some jet sweep play action. Ohio State has had some success with jet sweeps in previous seasons, with Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. each receiving some carries. I anticipate to see more of such plays in 2024, both as an offensive move in the run game and to set up big plays when passing.
In short, a consistent diet of Judkins and Henderson, along with a few jet sweeps, can provide big plays for Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Jeremiah Smith, and others.
Kelly’s scheme, if not significantly altered, has the potential to deliver tremendous results for the OSU offense by increasing the run game and producing looks that will lead to passing success.
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