Chip Kelly uses anecdote from Ryan Day's playing days to explain preference for coaching on field vs. box

As Ohio State begins spring practices, a ton of attention has been turned to Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the freshly-minted Ohio State assistant spoke on whether he’d call plays on the field, or opt to be above the field in a box on game-day. His answer was a humorous one, where Kelly explained he’s looking for a way to do both at the same time.

“Honestly, and I’ve thought of this a lot. I thought about it a lot during COVID, because we had the empty stands. So I had thought about just walking up into the stands for a little bit, because I’d have a better vantage. I’ve always believed you can see the game better from up above, but I believe you can feel the game better from the field,” Kelly said. “So if there was anyway we could get a zip-wire, where you could do both. You know, coach, call from there and then zip down to the field and get a chance to talk to them.”

While Kelly taking a zip-wire back and forth from the field to a box would be a sight for many to see, he has his reasons for being torn on the decision, and even used an example of when he was coaching Ohio State leader Ryan Day.

“It’s a different deal when you’re talking to the quarterbacks on the phone then being able to look in their eye and kind of see where they are with in. Part of it is the feel part of it,” Kelly added. “I remember when I coached Ryan once. We were playing UConn, and he got hit hard going out of bounds. And he just walked by me, and I was the play caller and he was like, ‘Run the next play.’ I just kind of looked at him, I saw the look in his eyes because I don’t think he could’ve thrown it. He was still trying to get his wind back. But you wouldn’t know that if you’re up in the booth.

“You’d call a pass play from up in the booth, and you’re like, ‘How come he can’t complete that?’ Well, he just took a shot going out of bounds. So it’s that fine line. I don’t have an answer. I think the feel on the ground, but you can see from up above. Maybe in this day in technology they’ll figure it out, but we’ll see how that operates, and whatever Ryan feels is the best for the team is what we’re going to do.”

That makes a ton of sense from Chip Kelly. We’ll see what he decides to do, but it’s obviously a choice weighing heavily on his mind at the moment.