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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
“WHERE I WANTED TO BE.” When Ryan Day first reached out to Arthur Smith about coming to Ohio State, coaching in college football wasn’t exactly at the top of Smith’s list. But the more Smith learned about the opportunity, the more he realized Columbus was exactly where he wanted to be.
“It wasn’t really on my radar when Coach Day first called and was feeling out if I’d have any interest coaching in college football,” Smith told On3’s Chris Low this week. “But then I kind of dug into it. That’s my mindset. I just want the next adventure. It was the same way when Coach (Mike) Tomlin called me. I wasn’t really thinking about Pittsburgh until he called, and I was halfway across the world after I’d been let go in Atlanta. I didn’t know Mike T that well. I knew him casually as peers, so you just never know where this profession takes you.
“I’ve always been excited that when you get an opportunity for another adventure, it’s a chance to learn something new, learn a different way to do it and try to enhance yourself and the place you’re going to.”
After sitting down with Day and talking with Matt Patricia about his experience in Columbus, Smith quickly became sold on the opportunity to coach for the Buckeyes.
“It’s Ohio State. It’s a chance to work with Coach Day,” Smith said. “Obviously, he’s had a heck of a run here and has the highest winning percentage of any active coach. And then talking to Matt about his time here and how much he’s enjoying it, mostly because of the kind of players we’ve got, only reinforced that this is where I wanted to be.
“He was right. The kids here have been awesome.”
Day, meanwhile, knew Smith had to genuinely want to make the jump from the NFL to college for the partnership to work.
“The first thing is you have to want to be in college,” Day said. “If you have to talk yourself into it, someone is always going to have one foot in and one foot out and say, ‘I’m going back to the NFL. This is crazy. The portal is crazy. These kids are young.’ I’ve seen it before. It doesn’t work. You have to want to do this. Matt (Patricia) wanted to do this. He wanted to build relationships. Arthur was the same way. He came over to my house. We spent five hours together at my house. You could tell by the look in his eyes he wanted to coach in college.”
After 15 years in the NFL, Smith could have viewed Ohio State as a temporary stop before returning to the league. Instead, he sees an opportunity to experience something completely different — and one that came with the chance to work alongside Day and coach one of the most talented rosters in the country.
Now, Smith gets his “next adventure” in Columbus. And judging by his comments, Smith is thrilled he answered Ryan Day's message.
“There’s just an appreciation to be at a place like this and have a chance to get where we all want to go,” Smith said. “I’m excited for the atmospheres, the traditions, the rivalries and all that stuff that make college football so cool. … It’s a different type of fandom.”
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
The Ohio State offense could be completely different under Arthur Smith
Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator is not simply bringing a new playbook to Columbus. Arthur Smith could fundamentally change how the Buckeyes use their personnel, create formations and put Julian Sayin in position to succeed..
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Expect more personnel, more motion and a much bigger role for the tight ends
One of the clearest changes should come in Ohio State’s formations.Smith has consistently been comfortable using multiple tight ends and unconventional personnel groupings. Tennessee ranked fifth in the NFL in 12 personnel usage in 2019 and second in 2020, while Atlanta went even further in 2023, using 12 personnel nearly 42% of the time, the highest rate in the league.
That could be particularly interesting at Ohio State because Smith has plenty of pieces capable of moving around. Instead of constantly lining up in traditional three receiver sets, the Buckeyes could use two tight ends, shift receivers before the snap, motion running backs and tight ends across the formation and create situations where defenses have to reveal their intentions.
Smith has previously used tight ends as legitimate formation pieces rather than simply oversized receivers, or just as blockers. Kyle Pitts, for example, was moved all over the formation during Smith’s time in Atlanta, while Smith also emphasized positional flexibility and using the same personnel to create different looks.
That could open up some fascinating possibilities with Ohio State’s personnel.
Jeremiah Smith can be moved around rather than simply parked outside. Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin could become more versatile weapons. The running backs can be used as both downhill runners and receiving threats. The tight ends can help Ohio State create heavier formations without necessarily sacrificing explosiveness.
The biggest beneficiary, however, could be Julian Sayin. Arthur Smith has already praised the quarterback’s understanding of the game, saying in August that Sayin “sees the game so well” and understands football at an unusually advanced level. That makes him an ideal quarterback for an offense built around pre-snap information, play-action and changing defensive looks.
Ohio State should still throw the ball plenty. It would be foolish not to with Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. But expect the passing game to be built more heavily off the threat of the run, with boot action, motion and play-action forcing linebackers and safeties to hesitate.
That is where this offense could become really difficult to defend. Smith’s best offenses have not simply run the ball and then occasionally thrown deep. They have used the run to manipulate defenses, creating opportunities for explosive passes when defenders finally commit.
That’s the whole point of the system — make defenses respect the run first, then make them pay for it.
Ohio State has arguably better talent at almost every skill position than Smith has had at any previous stop, and that is truly what makes this so intriguing.
The Buckeyes are not asking him to turn a mediocre offense into something functional. They are giving him a Heisman level quarterback, the best receiver in college football, a 1,000-yard running back, an explosive second back, an experienced offensive line, and a very deep collection of pass catchers.
The question was never whether Ohio State could put up points. It’s how different this offense looks when all that talent runs through Arthur Smith’s system.
If the early signs are any indication, expect more motion, more multiple tight end looks, a stronger commitment to the run, and far more play-action.
The roster may look familiar. The offense running it might not.
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The Ohio State offense could be completely different under Arthur Smith
Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator is not simply bringing a new playbook to Columbus. Arthur Smith could fundamentally change how the Buckeyes use their personnel, create formations and put Julian Sayin in position to succeed.
.
.
continued
.
.
Expect more personnel, more motion and a much bigger role for the tight ends
One of the clearest changes should come in Ohio State’s formations.
Smith has consistently been comfortable using multiple tight ends and unconventional personnel groupings. Tennessee ranked fifth in the NFL in 12 personnel usage in 2019 and second in 2020, while Atlanta went even further in 2023, using 12 personnel nearly 42% of the time, the highest rate in the league.
That could be particularly interesting at Ohio State because Smith has plenty of pieces capable of moving around. Instead of constantly lining up in traditional three receiver sets, the Buckeyes could use two tight ends, shift receivers before the snap, motion running backs and tight ends across the formation and create situations where defenses have to reveal their intentions.
Smith has previously used tight ends as legitimate formation pieces rather than simply oversized receivers, or just as blockers. Kyle Pitts, for example, was moved all over the formation during Smith’s time in Atlanta, while Smith also emphasized positional flexibility and using the same personnel to create different looks.
That could open up some fascinating possibilities with Ohio State’s personnel.
Jeremiah Smith can be moved around rather than simply parked outside. Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin could become more versatile weapons. The running backs can be used as both downhill runners and receiving threats. The tight ends can help Ohio State create heavier formations without necessarily sacrificing explosiveness.
The biggest beneficiary, however, could be Julian Sayin. Arthur Smith has already praised the quarterback’s understanding of the game, saying in August that Sayin “sees the game so well” and understands football at an unusually advanced level. That makes him an ideal quarterback for an offense built around pre-snap information, play-action and changing defensive looks.
Ohio State should still throw the ball plenty. It would be foolish not to with Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. But expect the passing game to be built more heavily off the threat of the run, with boot action, motion and play-action forcing linebackers and safeties to hesitate.
That is where this offense could become really difficult to defend. Smith’s best offenses have not simply run the ball and then occasionally thrown deep. They have used the run to manipulate defenses, creating opportunities for explosive passes when defenders finally commit.
That’s the whole point of the system — make defenses respect the run first, then make them pay for it.
Ohio State has arguably better talent at almost every skill position than Smith has had at any previous stop, and that is truly what makes this so intriguing.
The Buckeyes are not asking him to turn a mediocre offense into something functional. They are giving him a Heisman level quarterback, the best receiver in college football, a 1,000-yard running back, an explosive second back, an experienced offensive line, and a very deep collection of pass catchers.
The question was never whether Ohio State could put up points. It’s how different this offense looks when all that talent runs through Arthur Smith’s system.
If the early signs are any indication, expect more motion, more multiple tight end looks, a stronger commitment to the run, and far more play-action.
The roster may look familiar. The offense running it might not.
Don’t tease me with a good time all season and go all man ball in the Game
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billmac91
Head Coach
I was actually on correct side of Patricia hire….i liked it as long as he utilized Caleb Downs in a way that allowed him to play close to LOS….which he nailed.
I’m nervous on this one though…..there’s (2) thoughts when it comes to offense, and the correct thought is likely a blend of those (2). I feel like Arthur really leans into ball control, heavy run, and is known to take the air out of the football.
Ryan Day had this “weird” character change where he went from ultra aggressive to ultra conservative….like, obviously someone had a serious sit-down with him and explained data and why he was wrong to go for it on 4th and 4 all the time…
Anyways, I don’t love ultra-conservative Ryan Day….being the slowest team in the country is weird with the weapons we have. I think it’s criminal. We also don’t need to be crazy running no-huddle all the time….but there are moments it’d be nice to put the defense in a bind.
I think A. Smith leans heavily towards a conservative, ball control offense though. We’ll be OK, I just don’t think we’ll be elite. And there will be games where we wish the offense would just be a bit more aggressive and uptempo.
I hope I’m wrong….JMO.
I’m nervous on this one though…..there’s (2) thoughts when it comes to offense, and the correct thought is likely a blend of those (2). I feel like Arthur really leans into ball control, heavy run, and is known to take the air out of the football.
Ryan Day had this “weird” character change where he went from ultra aggressive to ultra conservative….like, obviously someone had a serious sit-down with him and explained data and why he was wrong to go for it on 4th and 4 all the time…
Anyways, I don’t love ultra-conservative Ryan Day….being the slowest team in the country is weird with the weapons we have. I think it’s criminal. We also don’t need to be crazy running no-huddle all the time….but there are moments it’d be nice to put the defense in a bind.
I think A. Smith leans heavily towards a conservative, ball control offense though. We’ll be OK, I just don’t think we’ll be elite. And there will be games where we wish the offense would just be a bit more aggressive and uptempo.
I hope I’m wrong….JMO.
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I think tempo and efficiency are two different things but it’s not even close to the time of the year to start this conversation again.
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