After a year in which Ohio State struggled mightily on defense, the Buckeyes have brought in four new assistant coaches on the defensive side of the football. Ohio State gave up at least 30 points in four games this year. The Buckeyes looked completely overmatched and unprepared against Purdue, where they are gave up 49 points in an embarrassing loss. Ohio State also looked lost in a 52-51 overtime win against Maryland.
Gone are co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and Alex Grinch, linebackers coach Bill Davis, and cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson. Not only did head coach Ryan Day poach his new co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison from Michigan, but Day was also able to lure linebackers coach Al Washington from Ann Arbor to Columbus.