Episode Details
Back to EpisodesARTHUR SMITH HIRED AS OC! / Ohio State Primetime LIVE 73
Episode 293
Published 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Description
- Welcome to Ohio State Primetime LIVE, presented by FanDuel.
- Host: Garrison Gaddy, Monday 7 PM EST.
- Encourages likes, shares, subscriptions, and visiting vocfb.com for writers, schedules, and college football updates.
- Dabo Swinney / Ole Miss tampering controversy (biggest current college football news)
- Arthur Smith hired as Ohio State offensive coordinator
- Key Ohio State players who need big offseason progress
- Dabo Swinney publicly accused Ole Miss of tampering with Clemson LB Luke Finley (formerly Cal) before he entered the portal.
- Swinney shared text message timeline showing Ole Miss contact (including photos of large NIL checks) while Finley was still enrolled at Clemson.
- Garrison strongly supports Swinney: “Dabo was right” in this instance.
- Emphasizes NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.4 strictly prohibits off-campus contact with enrolled athletes to induce transfer before portal entry.
- Tampering is widespread but hard to prove/enforce; Swinney’s evidence (texts) makes this case unusually clear.
- Defends Swinney’s integrity and willingness to call out violations even if it invites scrutiny on Clemson.
- Predicts NCAA investigation but low confidence in strong punishment.
- Repeated theme: If you break rules, “don’t be dumb enough to get caught.”
- Garrison: Integrity still matters; can’t criticize someone for enforcing rules just because it happened to them.
- Initial reaction: Even-keeled / wait-and-see (not overly excited, not angry).
- Grade from Garrison: Solid B (B- to B range); significant upgrade over Brian Hartline’s 2024 performance.
- Background on Smith:
- Long NFL tenure: quality control → O-line → TE coach → OC (Titans, Falcons, Steelers).
- Turned Titans into best scoring offense in 16 years under him.
- Run-heavy scheme: wide zone, play-action, RPO, 12/13 personnel, strong red-zone efficiency.
- Weaknesses: In-game adjustments, route concepts/pass-game creativity, maximizing young skill players (e.g., Falcons usage of Bijan Robinson).
- Why the hire makes sense for Ryan Day / Ohio State:
- Addresses weak run game and red-zone struggles (improved dramatically under Chip Kelly).
- Smith is an O-line/run-game specialist → pairs well with Tyler Bowen.
- Best available job in college football at the time; Smith chose it over other NFL opportunities.
- Goal: Stabilize run game, improve red-zone %, complement (not overhaul) Ryan Day’s system.
- Key questions / concerns:
- How much will he adapt passing concepts to elite perimeter talent (e.g., Jeremiah Smith)?
- Will Julian Sayi