The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Around the Shoe

Episode Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Blue Wire
Guests: Andy Anders (Eleven Warriors), Colton Denning (Two Stripes CPD), Bill Landis, Doug Lesmerises

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Ohio State’s latest offensive coordinator hire—Arthur Smith—and what it means for the program. Bill, Doug, Andy, and Colton grade the hire, discuss the importance of coordinators, reflect on season-changing “what-ifs” for the 2025 Buckeyes, debate if Jaxon Smith-Njigba could claim “best OSU NFL receiver” status, and wrap up with a spirited conversation about snow games vs. dome games. The episode captures lively debate, deep insight, and plenty of humor.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Grading the Arthur Smith Hire (Starts ~03:00)

• Purpose: Assess whether Ohio State's move to hire Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator was the right call.
• Colton Denning: "I'm gonna go with a solid 83. Just solidly [B] territory... he at least has the history of calling an offense and it's an outside voice, which I think Ohio State and that offense desperately needs right now." (03:28)
• Andy Anders: "I'm right around Colton. I have an 80... it reaches [a] baseline immediately just in the fact that it's not an internal promotion and it's a guy with experience..." (04:57)
• Bill Landis: "I'll go 88... you almost get a B by default, right. For kind of all the things that have already been laid out. But, I'll go more like B plus and 88 because I do think there are things Arthur Smith brings to the table that, that can help this offense." (06:34)
• Doug Lesmerises: "You're giving it B's... I'm giving it a 94. What do we want, Kyle Shanahan?... If you're gonna go this way... I don't know if they realistically could have done better." (12:48)

Key Themes:

• Smith’s NFL play-calling experience is a plus, especially compared to the internal hire of Brian Hartline.
• The staff values Smith’s ability to operate independently, lessening the load on head coach Ryan Day.
• Despite some fans’ skepticism, most panelists see the hire as at least a solid "B"—possibly an "A" in the current context.

Notable Quote:
"At least you know that Ryan Day isn't gonna have to be babysitting Arthur Smith... he can kind of trust him to just do his thing and he can be the head coach instead of having his hand in every little single thing offensively." —Colton (08:15)

2. How Much Do Coordinators Matter? (15:40)

• Prompt: How significant is a coordinator hire at a place like Ohio State?
• Andy Anders: "Almost everything. The only reason I include the, almost is because if you don't have good players, it doesn't matter how good your scheme is... But I'd say it's the next most important thing." (15:49)
• Bill Landis: "I'm gonna use some French: 'mise en place'... everything in its place. And... this is what good coordinators do for a college football team..." (17:43)
• Doug: Argues that the head coach is still the true driver, but acknowledges coordinator impact is growing as talent gaps shrink: "It means more than it used to." (19:15)
• Colton: Leans into "synergy" as the corporate analogy—when the head coach can trust his coordinators, the whole program runs better. (21:45)

Memorable Exchange:
“Football is armored chess. That’s one of my favorite ways to describe it… the scheme and the tactics… are only a step less important… Coordinators are almost everything.” —Andy (15:49)

3. What Single Change Would Have Helped 2025 the Most? (26:37)

• Question: Which would have helped the 2025 Buckeyes more—better left tackle play, more reliable kicker, or a veteran play-caller?
• Consensus:
  • All four panelists pick the offensive line (specifically, locked-down left tackle), noting its ripple effect on protection, quarterback confidence, run game productivity, and overall offensive smoothness.
  • Bill: "I think I'll go with the O-line...if they just sort of had everybody settled there and didn’t have that glaring hole at right guard in that Miami game in particular, I think a lot of things probably could have gone differently." (26:37)
  • Colton: "To me, it’s left tackle too, because it affects the whole offense... if [Julian] Sain feels more comfortable in the pocket... plays to be made." (28:40)
  • Andy: Adds that a veteran play-caller would have been #2, above the kicker; the OC’s impact might have helped situationally, but nothing outpaces the importance of a stable OL. (29:50)

Notable Insight: "When you actually get to the matchup games, teams with somewhat equated talent, the coordinators make a giant, giant difference in those games to me." —Andy (25:24)

4. Could Jaxon Smith-Njigba Be the Best OSU NFL WR Ever? (Starts ~35:00)

• Prompt: Given JSN’s breakout year, does he have a shot at NFL greatness—possibly surpassing legends like Chris Carter or Paul Warfield?
• Doug: Contextualizes with recent WR production. Recites all-time receiving yard list: Chris Carter tops, Joey Galloway is next, JSN is 18th already.
• Colton: "You gotta do it for more than a couple of seasons. But this season is just spectacular what he's done... his versatility and the fact that he's in such a good spot right now... that's just perfect for him." (37:10)
• Andy: Cites how JSN outperformed Olave & Wilson in college, calls him the “complete package,” and firmly predicts: "I think there is a real chance he ends up going down as the best Ohio State NFL wide receiver and gets a gold jacket and is also in Canton." (39:00)
• Bill: Sees JSN as the current standard, but notes the real conundrum may come once Jeremiah Smith enters the league: "I think we could have... three years from now, where the two best receivers in the league might be Jackson Smith-Njigba and Jeremiah Smith." (42:34)

Notable Quote:
"He was the best receiver in the NFL this season and I think there are going to be more seasons where he's the best receiver in the NFL…” —Andy (39:00)

Memorable Stat:
JSN: 10 out of 19 games in 2025 with at least 100 yards; 153 yards in the NFC title game.

5. Snow Game or Dome? (45:38)

• Doug: Poses the classic debate about whether marquee games should be played in the elements (like January’s AFC title game blizzard) or always under a roof.
• Colton: "If it’s like a big game, sure, dome... at least get decent conditions just so we don’t have to hear people complaining about it." (46:30)
• Andy: Torn between “the Chillicothe kid” who loves snow games and “objective journalist” who wants fairness; picks snow in the end: "I want to see it in the snow. I want to see it raining down... let’s get it on." (49:01)
• Bill: Team Snow all the way: "Give me office. No games." (49:21)
• Doug: Praises college football’s current playoff structure, where earlier rounds offer weather variety but championship games are protected from weather extremes. Thinks that's the perfect blend. (50:19 onward)

Notable Exchange:
"I like where college football is because I think like the championship game... we might be at a really good spot in college football where we get a dose of [snow games]..." —Doug (50:19)

Notable Quotes

• On Arthur Smith:
  "You almost get a B by default, right. For kind of all the things that have already been laid out. You just got a Guy who, who's done the job before..." —Bill Landis (06:34)
• On coordinator significance:
  "Football is armored chess... Coordinators are almost everything." —Andy Anders (15:49)
• On JSN’s NFL trajectory:
  "There is a real chance he ends up going down as the best Ohio State NFL wide receiver and gets a gold jacket..." —Andy Anders (39:00)
• On weather in big games:
  "I want to see it in the snow... just field covered like those classic games. Dogged fight, let's get it on." —Andy Anders (49:01)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 03:00 — Grading Arthur Smith as OC
• 15:40 — Role/importance of coordinators at Ohio State
• 26:37 — The one “fix” that would have changed the Buckeyes’ 2025 outcome
• 35:00 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s case as OSU’s best NFL WR
• 45:38 — Snow game vs. dome game: which is better for championships?

Tone & Style

The panel maintains a conversational, humorous, and deeply informed tone, balancing serious football analysis with inside jokes and personal anecdotes. Classic Buckeye pragmatism blends with genuine love for the intricacies of the sport—perfect for passionate Ohio State fans.

Episode Takeaways

• Arthur Smith’s hire as OC is met with optimism—even the skeptics see clear rationale versus other options.
• Experienced coordinators unlock program “synergy,” letting the head coach focus on the big picture.
• Offensive line stability is foundational for elite performance—its absence was the root of this year’s letdowns.
• JSN is poised for NFL stardom, and could become OSU’s greatest pro receiver, though history and emerging talent like Jeremiah Smith keep the debate alive.
• Weather is part of football’s soul, but there’s a limit—for championships, the consensus leans toward level playing fields, but “snow game magic” still holds charm for many.

For in-depth Ohio State and national college football coverage, follow the guests:

• Colton Denning: @Dubsco / two-stripe CPD (YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram)
• Andy Anders: @andyanders55 / Eleven Warriors
• Bill & Doug: billanddugosu.substack.com

Summary by [Your Podcast Summarizer]