Coach Ryan Day hands over play-calling duties for first time in season opener

COLUMBUS — Saturday's season-opening 52-6 victory over Akron was the first time in Ryan Day's six years as head coach that he turned the play-calling duties over to an offensive coordinator. How did that work out for him? "It's still early but I think what it has allowed me to do is just be more present with everybody," Day said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. "So far, it's been great to do and still have a say in what goes on in all three phases every day." Day appeared somewhat deferential to coordinator Chip Kelly in the Akron game. "(Defensive coordinator) Jim (Knowles) is calling it, Chip's calling (the offense) and I am just kind of there, not getting in the way of what's being called but just making sure they understand the situation, down, distance and time, and things that we're seeing down on the field." Kelly, a former head coach in college and the NFL, said Day "really contributed a lot, offensively" in the Buckeyes' blowout win over Akron. "He was great. There were a couple suggestions that we ran. He's involved with the defense and special teams guys. I understand that role because I've been in it," Kelly said. Day said he is "still very involved" in offensive meetings and stays busy but also has a little more time to gather his thoughts, meet individually with players or just walk into the lockerroom to get a sense of how things are going. "Those are the things that when you're grinding away day-to-day on the film that might get away from you," he said. Some other thoughts from Day: TWO STARTERS DAY-TO-DAY: Offensive lineman Donovan Jackson and linebacker Cody Simon are still considered questionable to play against Western Michigan on Saturday night."They're day-to-day right now. We're going to see how it goes (in practice)," Day said. GOOD FIRST STEP: Austin Siereveld (Lakota East), who started at left guard against Akron when Jackson was held out because of illness or injury, has a promising future, according to Day."He looked like a first-time starter who has real potential, has power and has strength," Day said. "I think, once he got his feet underneath him and started playing a little bit, he played decent. He didn't grade out a champion but wasn't that far off. For a first start, it was encouraging." SILD EFFORT: Overall, Day liked what he saw from quarterback Will Howard in his OSU debut after making 27 starts in four seasons at Kansas State."He's got a demeanor that's he's played before. He just hasn't played in this offense, so there are things he's still picking up. In terms of the command and how he handled himself, he looked experienced out there," Day said. MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Day thought there was a chance for OSU to return the opening kickoff against Akron for big yardage but didn't make the plays to make that happen."I thought we had an opportunity to pop that and we did not execute that well," he said. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: Sophomore linebacker Arvell Reese climbed up the depth chart in the offseason and preseason. He had four tackles, including a tackle for a loss, against Akron. Could he get even more playing time as the season goes on?"The way Arvell played he deserves more reps (repetitions) but I think it has to do with his preparation. There was a moment last week when his preparation was just OK and then there was a point in the week where he really dug in and did a good job with his preparation," Day said. "You see athletic ability and strength. Any coach in America would love to have someone like that." Contact Jim Naveau at jnaveau@limanews.com.