OTF Premium How should Texas deal with Jeremiah Smith in rematch with Ohio State?

[Jeff Howe]

AUSTIN, Texas — There was a method to Steve Sarkisian’s madness when the Texas coach embarked on a mission to challenge Malik Muhammad ahead of the team’s second camp scrimmage.

“I purposely went after him with a couple of different things,” Sarkisian said after the scrimmage. “For him to play the way that he played gave me more confidence than I've had, and I have a lot in him. Today was very, very encouraging on that front.”

Muhammad, a veteran cornerback with 18 starts in 30 career games, will begin the 2025 season with arguably the toughest assignment he’ll face as a junior whenever he has to cover Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. Smith was limited to one reception for three yards on Jan. 10, when the Buckeyes’ 28-14 triumph in the Cotton Bowl ended the Longhorns’ season one game shy of the College Football Playoff National Championship.

“It was a team effort,” Muhammad said earlier in camp about what it took for Texas to hold Smith to his lowest statistical output and his lowest single-game grade from Pro Football Focus during his remarkable true freshman season.

The Longhorns had Smith’s number in Arlington. Still, Sarkisian, who didn’t mention Smith or any other Ohio State wide receivers by name while detailing what Muhammad went through last week, knows coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will be looking to get the 6-foot-3-inch, 223-pound Smith (76 receptions 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, which established new freshman records for a Buckeye) involved early and often.

The occasions when Muhammad finds himself one-on-one with Smith should be few and far between.

That’s not a knock on the 6-foot, 188-pound Muhammad, who Pro Football Focus touts as the sixth-best returning cornerback in the country. Texas should do whatever it takes to limit the times Smith faces man coverage because he destroyed opponents in those situations last season.

According to PFF, Smith’s 90.6 grade against man coverage was second among FBS wide receivers (minimum of 13 targets), recording 25 receptions for 384 yards and four touchdowns on 32 targets with a near-perfect NFL passer rating when targeted (156.3). Smith also averaged 4.09 yards per route run (sixth in FBS) with an average depth of target of 11.1 yards, indicating that if Will Howard could correctly identify that Smith was facing man coverage, the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruit in 2024 would be turned loose, and Ohio State could hunt chunk-yardage plays (Smith caught 12 passes last season that traveled 20 yards or more down the field, racking up 467 yards and scoring four touchdowns, recording a near-perfect PFF grade of 99.9 when targeted on deep throws).

Julian Sayin, who was named Ohio State’s starting quarterback on Monday, shouldn’t be expected to decipher what Pete Kwiatkowski is throwing at him in his first career start. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how much Kwiatkowski and Duane Akina alternate between playing man and zone in the opener.

That has more to do with trusting the communication that the secondary has worked to rebuild in the wake of losing Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba than anything else. At the same time, an effective pass rush could make life on the back end much more manageable if the Longhorns can routinely pressure Sayin.

Although Smith was good last season against zone, catching 43 passes for 783 yards and nine touchdowns, shading coverage to his side of the field and devoting more resources to him, in general, is the path of least resistance.

Elevated to the No. 2 wide receiver, with Emeka Egbuka out of eligibility, Carnell Tate was much better against zone last season (a season-long PFF grade of 73.7) than when working against man coverage (59.1). While it’s risky for Texas to let its defensive backs handle Tate, Brandon Inniss and the other Buckeye receiving threats more often in one-on-one situations, Muhammad and the other Longhorn defensive backs should be ready for what they’ll see inside the Horseshoe in 12 days.

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[Jeff Howe]

Malik Muhammad has a chance to make some money on Aug. 30.

[A-10HORN]

Pretty sure MM got benched in the second half against Ohio State last year and G Holmes took his place. To come from that and put together the off season and camp he’s had shows a lot. 

[LovingBuckeye]

They should focus on Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis. Jeremiah Smith is overrated. Put Anthony Hill on him!

[LovingBuckeye]

In all seriousness, Ohio State has NFL wide receivers in Innis and Tate BUT they are not burners and they are not genetic freaks.

I would do the exact same thing Texas did in the sugar bowl, I wouldn’t change a thing 

Edited 1 hour ago by LovingBuckeye

[Jeff Howe]

1 minute ago, LovingBuckeye said:

They should focus on Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis. Jeremiah Smith is overrated. Put Anthony Hill on him!

[Jeff Howe]

1 minute ago, LovingBuckeye said:

In all seriousness, Ohio State has NFL wide receivers in Innis and Tate BUT they are not burners and they are not genetic freaks.

I would do the exact same thing Texas did in the sugar bowl, I wouldn’t change a thing 

Texas went with some three-safety looks. The difference for me, though, is how often Emeka Egbuka came up big when Ohio State needed a big catch in that game.

Can Tate and/or Inniss be that kind of target for Sayin? I don't know if that'll be the case right out of the gate.

[LovingBuckeye]

4 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

Texas went with some three-safety looks. The difference for me, though, is how often Emeka Egbuka came up big when Ohio State needed a big catch in that game.

Can Tate and/or Inniss be that kind of target for Sayin? I don't know if that'll be the case right out of the gate.

Innis is a dawg, and will be replacing Egbuka in the slot. I’m not worried about Innis being able to step up, I’m worried will Julian Sayin be able to thread the needle like Will Howard did against Texas.

There were 3-4 passes that Will Howard threw that if they were just an inch lower, or a millisecond behind they would have been intercepted.

Texas’ defense was outstanding. Ohio State was very fortunate.

Edited 1 hour ago by LovingBuckeye

[ArizonaLonghorn]

6 minutes ago, LovingBuckeye said:

They should focus on Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis. Jeremiah Smith is overrated. Put Anthony Hill on him!

Too bad you aren't attending the game, we would enjoy your analysis.

But you mentioned the upcoming birth of your little wolverine so we understand ...

[SpaceCityWrangler]

Ohio State has been preparing for Colin Simmons all off season.  Likewise, Texas has been focused on the other game changer in Jeremiah Smith.

The best way to keep the ‘ball out of Smith’s hands… it’s not just pressure. It’s threatening pressure.  In other words, get a young QB’s eyes down as quick as possible.

AND, the best way to get eyes down quick is threaten pressure pre-snap in the A and B gaps.

There’s no way a young, inexperienced QB, inexperienced RB’s along with a new guard-center-guard combination can be ready for that.  I don’t care if you’re playing Western Michigan or St. Mary’s Church the Poor, until you’ve done it (ie handle pressure from ‘backers coming from the A and/or B gaps), it has to be a massive concern.  AND, they have to do it in game 1 against elite talent.

Hill, Lefau, Tyanthony, Moore and Spence (yes, I know he’s moved to edge) can dance in the A and B gaps pre-snap and either come or drop.  They’ll be comfortable moving up and back (ie threatening) pre-snap.

A Texas LB’er is going to be the player of the game for shizzle.

[ThatHornsGuy87]

1 hour ago, Jeff Howe said:

Malik Muhammad has a chance to make some money on Aug. 30.

Or just let the raptor crack him going over the middle 

[Jerky]

I believe OHSt will feel comfortable targeting any DB if he is isolated on Smith.

For Smith, I like Manny with help deep. I also like doubling Smith with Guilbeau/Black or Mack/Littleton and a Safety. Should play some zone and a pressure package. I also like mixing it up with Jelani 1 on 1 with Smith along with a pressure package.

For Tate, I like the idea of rolling the dice and using any CB or NB to play man on Tate.

I want Smith to get as few targets as possible.

Will be a challenge and a chess match to defend OH St. 

[thatdude2]

58 minutes ago, LovingBuckeye said:

They should focus on Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis. Jeremiah Smith is overrated. Put Anthony Hill on him!

I’m not sure Smith doesn’t suffer an ankle injuries 

[Hexter]

Shut him down!!!

[Dread-headed Texan]

Sayin from what little I've seen doesn't have the biggest arm. He thrives in the short to intermediate area, I don't see Day leaving him out to dry on many 5 to 7 step drops. I expect to see them move Sayin's launch point, a lot of screens, hitches, slants, and comebacks. Tackling has to be on point, limiting YAC is the key. In my opinion Smith is big and fast with gold status in head tapping dbs deep. He's not the most polished route runner. 

[LovingBuckeye]

2 minutes ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

Sayin from what little I've seen doesn't have the biggest arm. He thrives in the short to intermediate area, I don't see Day leaving him out to dry on many 5 to 7 step drops. I expect to see them move Sayin's launch point, a lot of screens, hitches, slants, and comebacks. Tackling has to be on point, limiting YAC is the key. In my opinion Smith is big and fast with gold status in head tapping dbs deep. He's not the most polished route runner. 

Very interesting opinions.

From all local reports, Sayin’s arm strength is one of his best attributes 

[LovingBuckeye]

3 minutes ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

Sayin from what little I've seen doesn't have the biggest arm. He thrives in the short to intermediate area, I don't see Day leaving him out to dry on many 5 to 7 step drops. I expect to see them move Sayin's launch point, a lot of screens, hitches, slants, and comebacks. Tackling has to be on point, limiting YAC is the key. In my opinion Smith is big and fast with gold status in head tapping dbs deep. He's not the most polished route runner. 

But you may be right on the 5-7 step drop backs. Texas’s front 6/7 might not allow that anyways 

[Jarveaux]

Hopefully Jeremiah meets his match this year!

[Dread-headed Texan]

1 minute ago, LovingBuckeye said:

Very interesting opinions.

From all local reports, Sayin’s arm strength is one of his best attributes 

When watching the spring game or his time in against Michigan State I didn't see him powering the ball into tight windows. People confuse being able to throw far and a strong arm. Joe Milton has a strong arm, Will Howard had a strong arm, that's not what you get from Sayin. 

[CHorn427]

11 minutes ago, LovingBuckeye said:

Very interesting opinions.

From all local reports, Sayin’s arm strength is one of his best attributes 

Were they keeping his arm strength under wraps during the spring game? I think you might be confusing arm strength with arm talent/accuracy.

https://youtu.be/mNHG4ZSQ0Tk?si=o8BAvzK2KoufZsTN

[CHorn427]

8 minutes ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

When watching the spring game or his time in against Michigan State I didn't see him powering the ball into tight windows. People confuse being able to throw far and a strong arm. Joe Milton has a strong arm, Will Howard had a strong arm, that's not what you get from Sayin. 

I haven’t even seen Sayin be great at throwing long personally. And I agree, I haven’t seen any evidence either of throwing bullets into tight windows.

He looks like Quinn Ewers to me. Like very much. If his pocket presence is better with better deep ball accuracy, he could be very good. 
 

He had a lot of time to throw in the spring game. He didn’t look fast on scrambles. 

[Dread-headed Texan]

2 minutes ago, CHorn427 said:

Were they keeping his arm strength under wraps during the spring game? I think you might be confusing arm strength with arm talent/accuracy.

https://youtu.be/mNHG4ZSQ0Tk?si=o8BAvzK2KoufZsTN

That's not what I said. I said I didn't powering the ball in tight windows. I didn't say he didn't have arm talent or inaccurate. 

[Dread-headed Texan]

1 minute ago, CHorn427 said:

I haven’t even seen Sayin be great at throwing long personally. And I agree, I haven’t seen any evidence either of throwing bullets into tight windows.

He looks like Quinn Ewers to me. Like very much. If his pocket presence is better with better deep ball accuracy, he could be very good. 
 

He had a lot of time to throw in the spring game. He didn’t look fast on scrambles. 

I think he's closer to Tua than Quinn because he's a little more athletic than most give him credit for.

[CHorn427]

1 minute ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

That's not what I said. I said I didn't powering the ball in tight windows. I didn't say he didn't have arm talent or inaccurate. 

I wasn’t replying to you. I was replying to the Buckeye fan.