How Ohio State football receiver Garrett Wilson’s shift to the slot fit Brian Hartline’s year-long vision (original) (raw)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Watching Garrett Wilson develop into a trusted red zone weapon last season, Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline had visions of the future.
At the time, it was a future no one else was talking about.
Some of Wilson’s biggest freshman season highlights — going up over a defender for a touchdown catch against Miami of Ohio, or elevating on the sideline for an acrobatic catch against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl — reinforced preconceived notions that Wilson would would pair with Chris Olave on the outside in 2020.
Then came the first day of spring practice, when Wilson lined up in the slot and brought a new dimension to the question of who would succeed all-time receptions lead K.J. Hill. Ohio State coach Ryan Day spoke with exuberance about the move that day — about how Wilson’s “spatial awareness” and all-around skills set could thrive inside.
Hartline said that concept was already in his head when Day approached him about trying Wilson in the slot. He called moving Wilson inside a “team decision,” but was not surprised when Day first made the suggestion.
“Frankly I was already having visions of that last year,” Hartline said. "Coach Day puts good trust in me. He just asked me. ‘What do you think? What do you want to do?’ He’ll have a thought and we’ll talk about it.
“As a coaching staff, we’ve made decisions on putting guys in position to be the most successful. All those discussions happen and we’ll see where it goes.”
Last season’s depth charts listed Hill as an H-back. That terminology rolled over from Urban Meyer’s stint as head coach. Meyer liked using converted running backs as both a receiver and a rusher.
Percy Harvin thrived there at Florida. Curtis Samuel enjoyed some big years at Ohio State.
Yet Hill took a total of four handoffs in his career. Parris Campbell rushed 23 times total, which seems even smaller when compared to his 90 receptions in 2018 alone.
The remaining hybrids on Ohio State’s roster went into the spring with no history of extensive usage. Demario McCall rarely lined up in the slot in 2019 and usually only in empty backfield formations. Jaelen Gill, who barely had a role last season as a redshirt freshman, recently announced his intention to transfer.
Wilson’s new identity in the slot proves Ohio State’s inside receiver position has completely flipped over to fit Day’s preference. He speaks often of the pro style offense he prefers, even using it as a selling point in quarterback recruiting.
It makes sense then that the Buckeyes’ inside receiver — in both usage and skill — more resembles what Day experienced while crafting his offensive philosophy.
• In 2015, Day served as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach. That team’s leading receiver was Jordan Matthews, operating primarily out of the slot while collecting 997 yards and eight touchdowns on 85 receptions.
• Day followed Chip Kelly to San Francisco the next year. Again, slot receiver Jeremy Kerley led a bad offense with 667 yards and three touchdowns on 65 receptions. He was targeted nearly twice as many times as any other player (115-63).
• Those examples came before Day was in charge of calling an offense. But in three seasons as OSU’s co- or full offensive coordinator and one as head coach his leading receiver has been a slot man: Hill twice and Parris Campbell in the middle in 2018.
Injuries limited Campbell to seven games and 18 receptions as an Indianapolis Colts rookie in 2019. Hill will compete to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ No. 3 receiver in 2020.
Of course, Wilson also potentially provides more versatility as a legitimate option to move back outside in some packages.
“Spring would have been a good time to see the complexity of that and how well that would work out,” Hartline said. “Now if we do those things and put guys in those positions how well can we move them around?”
Hartline wanted a full spring to have a better grasp of the dynamic. He tried to play coy with the Wilson decision on a recent teleconference, but only after admitting “that’s the route we’ll probably be in.”
The most obvious reason for putting Wilson in the slot is it helps Ohio State put the best three receivers on the field regardless of “position.”
The outside will continue to be well-stocked with Olave and an intriguing queue of candidates — junior Jaylen Harris, sophomore Jameson Williams and freshmen Julian Fleming and Gee Scott. (This assumes both Mookie Cooper and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are both slated for the slot as well.)
Hartline, also a longtime NFL receiver, knows a playmaker when he sees one. Wilson fits that description, regardless of where he lines up.
“I think he’ll do a really good job in there,' Hartline said. "We’ll see how it progresses over time.”
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