The Ohio State Buckeyes' offense won't be one-dimensional under first-year play-caller Arthur Smith this coming fall. Not all the time, anyway.
Bucknuts' Dave Biddle predicts that we'll see the offensive game plan slow the game to a halt at times, but kick into a fast tempo at others. That, naturally, would lead to more opportunities for more players.
"Regarding the tempo on offense, I strongly doubt Ryan Day is stubborn enough to repeat what the Buckeyes did last year. I'm curious exactly how they will approach it, but Smith has talked about tempo in football being a lot like pitching in baseball. You don't want to throw your fastball on every pitch. But you don't want to throw your change-up or curveball every time, either. You have to mix things up. So, I anticipate the Buckeyes changing their pace within games this year. Sometimes they will have a fast tempo. Then they'll slow it up. Keep the defense on its heels. And certainly don't always go at a snail's pace like last year," Biddle wrote.
If there are times we are getting a fast tempo, we're almost certainly going to be getting almost, if not every, skill-position player involved.
Ohio State could need multiple RBs fresh to play fast
A fast tempo benefits an entire RB depth chart and gives the backups chances to steal snaps. Whoever Ryan Day, Smith, and Co. agree on as a playable RB rotation will get a chance, with the offense looking to catch opposing defenses slipping in the short interim between snaps. This is great news for, at the very least, Isaiah West, upperclassman Florida Gators transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson, and Legend Bey.
It'll be tough to keep the entire group happy with touches. Bo Jackson could likely handle a full workload in most RB rooms, and though we haven't seen Bey get any collegiate snaps yet, he also projects as a potential every-down back.
Still, the closest you'll get to everyone being happy is with a fast tempo.
Julian Sayin may be forced to hit the ground running. Literally
When you play fast, you run the risk of receivers running the wrong routes and passing lanes being closed. Julian Sayin may need to take those opportunities to improve his ability to use his feet to make something of broken plays.
Sayin will never be a dual-threat QB, but he promised that he was working on using his legs more this past spring.
It's time for Sayin to become more of a big-play threat. That may be necessary to get this thing over the hump.
Every Buckeyes WR benefits from a faster tempo
Given the way Smith prefers heavy personnel sets, it's not hard to imagine a strong RPO with Sayin calling his own number plenty. There are natural worries about where receivers not named Jeremiah Smith will get their chances in the offense.
With more up-tempo football, more receivers have the chance to produce. It's a simple numbers game. More possessions lead to more passing attempts. Especially behind one of the best offensive lines in the country in Columbus.
If Arthur Smith really does call for speed, nearly everyone on the offense can eat.
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