The Ohio State football program will have a new offensive coordinator for next season. With Brian Hartline now in Tampa, the Buckeyes needed someone who could come in and call plays. Ryan Day's play-calling against the Hurricanes was a disaster, so they can't let that happen again.
Ultimately, Day decided that Arthur Smith was the right person to come in and coordinate the offense. Smith was the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers in each of the last two years. Before that, he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Simply put, he has a wealth of experience and has an idea of how he wants the Buckeyes to play offense. Former coach Urban Meyer gave some insight as to how Day will integrate a new offense for the Ohio State Buckeyes and how smooth the transition will be.
Urban Meyer offers insight to the Ohio State football team's new offense
While speaking on the Triple Option Podcast, Meyer offered up his take on how Day will mesh his offensive ideas with what Smith wants to do.
"Ryan's pretty well set in his offense. That's the same offense, terminology, we used when I was there. Chip Kelly changed it a little bit because the minute you hire a big-name coordinator, the coordinator is going to run his stuff...I think there's going to be a little bit of a mesh of what he's (Smith) done before."
Smith has a very run-happy offense. He ran that while he was with the Titans, Falcons, and Steelers. Ohio State's offense under Day has been more predicated on the passing game. That's why Jeremiah Smith is one of the best players in the country. Keeping him and Julian Sayin happy will be key.
The Buckeyes need to have a stronger run game to maintain balance, but not at the expense of Smith's touches. Sayin was a Heisman Finalist this past season, and Smith should want to make sure he develops even further. Day is going to make sure that happens.