Like almost every newly hired coach does when giving his first public comments after taking a job, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley stood at a podium in the football meeting room of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center last week and declared playing time would be determined by a meritocracy. “For me, the best guys are going to play, and I mean that,” he said. Hafley said he started free agents over first-round draft picks during his time coaching in the NFL. “Put it on tape. Do the right things. Work. And then if you’re the best, you’ll play,” Hafley said. “And if it’s close, we’ll find a role for you. But that’s our jobs to do as coaches, get the best guys out there.” It wasn’t a particularly novel concept, yet for many fans who felt the defensive staff got away from it last year, the comments…
Continue Reading: Jeff Hafley’s Former Players, Colleagues Envision Success at Ohio State
