brodybuck21 said:

totally agree

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Just get a 5th year transfer at TE until some type of rules are set. Kid will already have the size, knows the speed of the game and will come in ready to go from day 1

Merih said:

One charitable way to view this is Day clearly raising his hand and saying "I need to solve this running game; that if that gets fixed, everything else will come along with it". I would agree with that and honestly be glad he's taking addressing it that seriously.

If Arthur Smith can:
- improves the running game
- improves the offensive line blocking scheme and execution vs the stuff they struggle against (which is NFL style stunts and twists)
- thoughtfully implements Day's passing game, without totally ruining it
- allows Day to focus more broadly and get back mental share for other things (overall gameplan, special teams, roster management, etc.)

We will look back on this as a successful hire.

He won't revolutionize our offense... he's not that kind of hire. But he will professionalize certain elements, especially the run game. And Day clearly is saying that is what he needs.

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We don't need him too. OSU has enough talent, to where they should be able to get 2-3yds for a first down, which they couldn't last year. OSU should have more success in the RZ, regardless if Smith and Tate were in there or not. Kelly didn't revolutionize anything last year, he figured out the strengths of the offense, and leaned on that. He leaned on the strengths of Henderson and Judkins. That's all you want your OC to do. They don't need to get cute, and that's what it seemed like Hartline was doing too much. A lot of meat was left on the bone of this offense this past season, and that falls squarely on Hartline since he was the OC. He wanted the job, he wanted to call plays, and we were all told he was. Now the Miami game falls on Day, but the rest, that's on Hartline.

BuckeyeNation27 said:

I'm not quite sure how you can say this as a Steeler fan. (also....look out. somebody around here doesn't like Steeler fans)

DK Metcalf was invisible this year. He'd have like 2 catches for 30 yards in the 1st quarter and then never get another target. I can't even name another Pittsburgh WR.

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That's been DK is entire career buddy. He's one of the most overrated WRs in the NFL. He's made a living off of an NFL draft picture, and chasing down an INT. He's a glorified WR2. He's a 7yr vet with only 3 1000yd seasons. This was his lowest overall yards in a year, but his targets, TDs, and reception average were all on par to what he's always done. So he played like DK plays. His Ole Miss counterpart: AJ Brown is who fans think DK is. And btw, Smith coached Brown too. He had 2 1000yd seasons, and in his 3rd year he had multiple injuries and still had 869yds 5tds.

The man made chicken salad out of chicken you know what with DK. And when he had a solid WR1 in Brown, he had success. Smith didn't have a good WR1 in Atlanta. He had a rookie ad 2nd year Drake London. Not sure how many coaches are seeing success with that. And oh btw, you fail to mention: DK had an over the hill Rodgers throwing to him, Brown had an average Tannehill and London had Mariota... Again, how many OCs are winning with that?

pnuts34 said:

Unpopular opinion, but with OSU going towards the IU model of older players. I don't really have that much interest in Williams anymore. He's going to need a RS year to get some serious size, and then we have to pray he will stay and not be tampered with. OSU just brought in 2 TEs in the portal both 6'5, but their weight is 250 and 260. Williams is 210, and might hit campus in the 220s. The new system could see guys like this get weeded out. Unless Williams is willing to stay at OSU and not really see the field until year 2 or 3. Roberts and Lennon were at least bigger in HS

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totally agree

Unpopular opinion, but with OSU going towards the IU model of older players. I don't really have that much interest in Williams anymore. He's going to need a RS year to get some serious size, and then we have to pray he will stay and not be tampered with. OSU just brought in 2 TEs in the portal both 6'5, but their weight is 250 and 260. Williams is 210, and might hit campus in the 220s. The new system could see guys like this get weeded out. Unless Williams is willing to stay at OSU and not really see the field until year 2 or 3. Roberts and Lennon were at least bigger in HS

One charitable way to view this is Day clearly raising his hand and saying "I need to solve this running game; that if that gets fixed, everything else will come along with it". I would agree with that and honestly be glad he's taking addressing it that seriously.

If Arthur Smith can:
- improves the running game
- improves the offensive line blocking scheme and execution vs the stuff they struggle against (which is NFL style stunts and twists)
- thoughtfully implements Day's passing game, without totally ruining it
- allows Day to focus more broadly and get back mental share for other things (overall gameplan, special teams, roster management, etc.)

We will look back on this as a successful hire.

He won't revolutionize our offense... he's not that kind of hire. But he will professionalize certain elements, especially the run game. And Day clearly is saying that is what he needs.

pnuts34 said:

He prefers to use 1 primary WR, and then the #2 WR and TE then become the next receiving weapons

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pnuts34 said:

There will be a dominant WR1(Smith)

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I'm not quite sure how you can say this as a Steeler fan. (also....look out. somebody around here doesn't like Steeler fans)

DK Metcalf was invisible this year. He'd have like 2 catches for 30 yards in the 1st quarter and then never get another target. I can't even name another Pittsburgh WR.

But does his system take three years for the players to really master it.

My bad. Wrong coordinator thread;-)

brodybuck21 said:

11W Forums

GoBucks24 24 Jan 2026, 8:16 pm
Dakota Guerrant with a Fong Bomb to Oregon.

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That Whittingham hire is paying off already

RugbyBuck said:

I'm on board with all of that; best case. We'll see. My question, though, is how creative can you actually be with the 1 main receiver, TE, RB arrangement you mention?

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Idk, but we can ask the OCs for Denver, New England, Seattle and LA. They didn't seem to have an issue with it, and they played in a 17gm regular season with 2-3 post season games with no issue. And if I dug deeper, I'm sure I could find many more teams who also implemented this method with success as well.
And to add, the WR2 will factor into the top 4 offensive weapons as well. Including that, shows the offense of pretty much every team that made the NFL playoffs.

Again, if I'm wrong, I have no problem being told so and eating a large portion of crow

BuckeyeNation27 said:

You can let the numbers lie to you all you want. If you watched that Steelers offense and came away thinking it was even remotely impressive then I don't know how to help you. A college football offense in 2026 should not be centered around 83 different TEs. Especially one with Jeremiah Smith.

The guy had Bijan Robinson and couldn't figure it out. He's a fucking clown.

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I think the Smith love for using TEs, is quite overblown.
And he had Bijan for his rookie year, its not like he had him for multiple years. Did you expect him to give a rookie RB 300car like he was Derrick Henry? Vrabel/McDaniels barely started Treveyon most of the season and now they're in the SB, using him in a committee, like what Smith did. And you're forgetting his only competent WR was a 2nd year Drake London, so the only other offensive weapons he had were 2 TEs(Pitts and Jonnu Smith). Gotta tell the whole story if you're going to bash the guy.

osuvictory1 said:

What do OSU fans lament with a Ryan Day offense? The run game. When OSU has been strongest, is when the run game has been complimentary to the pass. From some of the pundits are saying, Smith will be very strong in assisting with the run game, to assist the pass. This will also help the offensive line to be better.

We loved Chip, and also Wilson, so I think this hire may be better than the detractors think.

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scarletngray said:

My only concern is not whether or not Smith can do the job, but rather how long will he stay? We will have three OC's in three years. This hire could result in four OC's in four years if after a successful season he jumps back to the NFL. Hoping for both success and longevity. Welcome to Buckeye Nation Coach!

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If he only stays 2-3yrs, that's a massive success. Saban only kept his OCs for the same amount of time and saw success. Plus it keeps new voices in the room. Coordinators aren't staying for 5-10yrs any longer

cmstophe said:

Upgraded over Hartline at the end of the day. How much, we’ll see.

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1 guy who had never called plays and was only a position coach his entire short career, compared to a guy who literally worked his way up the NFL coaching tree, was an NFL HC and OC. And he called plays while being a HC, so 3 different stops he was an actual OC. I'd say that's an upgrade

lvbuckeye said:

He was the head coach in Atlanta. NOT the offensive coordinator. There's a difference.

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But he called the plays, so he was the OC in essence.

iambrutus said:

fall mountain air, summer beaches, bourbon....

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Funny, those are 3 things I don't loathe either

Sorry for writing so many, but there were a lot of interesting posts to respond to.