Ohio State football: Will Chip Kelly be able to maximize Justin Frye’s potential?
The Ohio State football team unintentionally improved its offensive coordinator position, raising questions about whether Chip Kelly can optimize the potential of his former offensive line coach.
In the wake of a tumultuous offseason involving the offensive coordinator role, Chip Kelly is set to lead the Ohio State offense alongside Ryan Day. The collaboration is expected to enhance the team’s play-calling capabilities compared to the past few years.
Notably, the Achilles’ heel for the Buckeyes last season was their offensive line, leading to inconsistent running and subpar blocking. The inability to generate push upfront, particularly in short-yardage situations, contributed to their struggles. The arrival of Kelly as the new play-caller is anticipated to bring about improved run plays, drawing from his success in running the ball during his tenure as the head coach at UCLA. Justin Frye, who served as the offensive line coach for Kelly at UCLA, demonstrated promise in his coaching abilities.
Although Frye’s tenure with the Buckeyes has not unfolded as expected since his hiring, there is optimism that Kelly can extract the best from him. Under Kelly’s guidance, Frye exhibited competence, not only in the run game but also in addressing pass protection issues, a significant concern in the last two games of the previous season. While some of the pass protection challenges may be attributed to personnel issues, coaching and strategic planning can play a crucial role in addressing these issues.
Kelly’s proficiency as a play-caller, adept at scheming plays to capitalize on his best players’ strengths while mitigating weaknesses, is expected to make a positive impact. The hope is that Kelly’s strategic approach will address the problems in tackle performance, ultimately restoring Ohio State’s offensive numbers to their pre-last season levels.
