Arthur Smith is heading to Columbus with a resume that’s sparked plenty of debate - and for good reason. The former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator has now been tapped to run Ohio State’s offense, and while his track record has highs, it’s the lows that have raised eyebrows among Buckeye fans.
Let’s start with the basics: Smith has been calling plays in the NFL for the past seven seasons, either as a coordinator or head coach. His best work came in 2020 - a season that wasn’t just solid, it was exceptional.
That year, his offense clicked in a big way. But outside of that peak, the production has been inconsistent at best, and at times, downright hard to watch.
So, what gives? Is Smith the problem, or was he simply working with flawed rosters?
To get a clearer picture, it helps to look at the quarterbacks he’s worked with over the years. This isn’t exactly a who’s who of elite NFL talent.
We’re talking about Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan (well past his MVP prime), Josh Rosen, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, and brief stints with Russell Wilson and a very late-career Aaron Rodgers. Not exactly a lineup that screams offensive fireworks.
His receiving corps has featured some standout names - A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf jump off the page - but those two weren’t on the same team, and the supporting casts around them were often thin.
Corey Davis, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tajae Sharpe, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Scottie Miller aren’t exactly game-changers. There’s talent in there, but not the kind that consistently tilts the field.
At running back, Smith did have Derrick Henry in Tennessee, and later worked with a mix of Cordarrelle Patterson, Bijan Robinson, D’Onta Foreman, and Tyler Allgeier in Atlanta. Again, some good pieces, but not always used to their full potential.
Looking back at his three seasons as the Falcons’ head coach, Smith’s teams went 7-10 each year. That kind of consistency - while not disastrous - also suggests a ceiling that was never quite broken.
You could argue he got the most out of limited rosters, especially with a rotating door at quarterback and a defense that rarely gave him breathing room. But the offensive identity never fully materialized.
Then came his time in Pittsburgh. With Russell Wilson and a veteran Aaron Rodgers, expectations were higher.
The defense was elite, but the offense never matched that level. And that’s where the criticism becomes harder to ignore.
When you have capable quarterbacks, a solid run game, and a defense that gives you chances, you’re expected to produce. Smith’s offenses didn’t - and that’s a red flag.
Now, as he takes over at Ohio State, the stakes are different. He’ll have access to top-tier talent, elite recruits, and a program that expects to compete for national titles every year. The question isn’t whether Smith can be “fine” - it’s whether he can elevate this Buckeyes offense to championship caliber.
Because at Ohio State, fine doesn’t cut it.