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COLUMBUS - One of the big questions in the weeks leading up to Ohio State’s football season opener against Ball State on Saturday is what the Buckeyes’ offense might look like under the direction of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
OSU coach Ryan Day shared a few thought about that subject at his weekly press conference on Tuesday,
"It’s an equal distribution of run and pass. In terms of putting together an offensive game plan the skill guys and the offensive line both speak very, very highly of him," Day said about Smith.
"I think it is pretty well documented that we talked a lot this off season about our ability to get to the second level (of the defense) and turn 10 to 12-yard runs into big runs. We put a lot of work into that. I think that’s something we’ve seen in practice in the preseason and we want to see it carry over to the games.
"I think it’s going to be a fun offense to watch," he said. "I think it’s going to have an identity. But we’ve got to do it on the field."
Bo Jackson, who rushed for 1,090 yards last season as a freshman, and Isaiah West are expected to get the majority of the carries in the running game but explosive freshman Legend Bey is spending all his time in practice at running back rather than splitting time between that position and wide receiver.
"He’s at running back right now. We felt like it was important for him to learn one position instead of trying to do both and not really learning how to do one. I think we all realize when you can get the ball to Legend in space good things are going to happen," Day said.
NOTES:
HONORING TRESSEL
Former coach Jim Tressel will join OSU’s Ring of Honor on Saturday and one of his former players, Maurice Clarett, will ring the victory bell during pre-game activities.
"When you look at the success Jim Tressel had here, when you look at the record in the rivalry game, and the national championship game it speaks for itself. But to me it’s the impact he made on so many people is what is most significant there," Day said.
Clarett was a controversial figure during his one-year OSU career as the star running back on the 2002 national championship team but he and Ohio State have had a reconciliation in recennt years.
"We all thought him being the bell ringer on the day Coach Tressel was honored was the right thing to do. We asked him and he wanted to do it," Day said.
THUMBS UP FOR NEW TURF
Day said he asked star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith what he thought of the new turf which has been installed at Ohio Stadium and he liked it.
"It’s Jeremiah approved. I went up to the big fellow and asked him, ‘What do you think?’ and he said, ‘I love it,’ " Day said.
NO NEW NO. 1
When Brandon Inniss was honored by being given the Block O jersey he gave up his No. 1 jersey.
When asked if anyone else would be wearing No. 1, Day said, "Not right now."