Scarlet Sunrise: Brian Hartline talks glowingly about working with, learning from Chip Kelly
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Brian Hartline talks glowingly about working with, learning from Chip Kelly
Longtime Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was promoted to pass game coordinator ahead of the 2022 season. He was promoted to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2023 season.
This offseason, Hartline experienced another title change.
Looking to give up play-calling and focus on just being a head coach, Ryan Day first hired Bill O’Brien and then Chip Kelly after O’Brien left to take the Boston College head coaching job. With Kelly on staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Hartline became co-OC and, of course, remained at the helm of the robust wide receiver room he’s built.
“I would say that I sleep a little better,” Hartline said with a smile, when asked about his new role. “No, it’s really a great combo. Because we’re obviously doing a lot as a group. It’s not just Chip and I. But obviously Chip has an image and a view of things that I never had. So to have that experience and have that viewpoint, I’m just trying to absorb as much as I can but then also highlight some things we’ve really done a good job of and make sure nothing’s really changing.
“We’re just trying to enhance. We’re not changing, we’re enhancing.”
Kelly’s ties to Day are well documented. Kelly was the University of New Hampshire offensive coordinator while Day quarterbacked UNH back in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Day then coached under Kelly not only at UNH but also with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
Kelly and Day are in sync, and it seems as if Hartline is following suit.
“I love working with Chip,” Hartline said. “I love talking ball. I love the viewpoints. I love the veteran that he is. I love all of it. I think that early on the biggest impact is just feeling perspective in the run game has been awesome.”
Hartline reiterated: “I love working with him.”
Hartline tried his hand at play-calling last offseason, but Day wound up calling plays throughout the 2023 campaign. Now, Kelly will be the maestro behind the Ohio State offense in 2024, and his co-OC and wide receivers coach will have extended opportunity to learn the ropes from another proven offensive mind.
Buckeyes talented, veteran cornerback room still building off reclaimed ‘BIA’ status
Ohio State ranked first nationally in passing yards allowed per game (145.9) last season. The Buckeyes also ranked second in the country in passing defense efficiency. Once a weakness, the Ohio State back end has become a strength again under secondary/cornerbacks coach Tim Walton.
Walton has helped restore the “Best in America” status to the Buckeyes’ defensive backfield. It’s a group that’s player-led at this point, and that effort is bolstered by returning starters, especially at cornerback, where Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock and Davison Igbinosun are all back for another year.
For the full story on what’s next for “BIA,” go here.
RELATED
Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith sheds black stripe
True freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith shed his black stripe in four practices. That’s the fastest any Buckeyes player has earned the post-practice honor since Urban Meyer introduced the tradition in 2012.
Last year, Carnell Tate officially became a Buckeye in five practices. Smith one-upped his teammate Thursday.
“I love the way he lives,” Buckeyes co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said Thursday. “I love the way he approaches things, the questions he asks. I love the way he makes mistakes and then corrects mistakes. It’s very veteran-like.”
Go here for more on Smith.
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 162 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 253 days
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