The Opening Drive 3/7 (Weekend Edition): The Buckeyes Add Another Piece to the Offensive Staff.
An NFL Mind Added to the Offensive Line Room + More.
Ohio State has added another piece to its offensive staff, hiring Mateo Kambui as the program’s new assistant offensive line coach. Kambui arrives in Columbus after spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he worked as an offensive assistant under Arthur Smith. His addition fills the role left open by Marcus Johnson, who departed this offseason to join Arkansas Razorbacks.
Kambui will now work alongside offensive line coach Tyler Bowen and veteran assistant Charlie Dickey, reinforcing a room that remains one of the most important position groups in the program. Offensive line development has always been the engine of Ohio State’s offensive success, and adding another coach with NFL experience only strengthens that foundation.
What stands out about Kambui is the professional background he brings with him. During his time in the league, he played a role in helping develop offensive linemen such as Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick. Working with players at the highest level of the sport provides a different perspective on technique, preparation, and the details required to succeed in the trenches.
The hire also carries a natural layer of continuity within the staff. Kambui previously worked with Arthur Smith not only in Pittsburgh but also during Smith’s time with the Atlanta Falcons. That familiarity matters. When offensive staffs are aligned in philosophy and language, it allows the system to be installed and taught more efficiently — particularly in the offensive line room, where communication and cohesion are everything.
For Ohio State, this move isn’t about headlines. It’s about reinforcement. Bringing in a coach with NFL experience, existing staff connections, and a background in developing high-level linemen adds another layer of expertise to a unit that must continue to set the tone up front.
Because in Columbus, everything still starts in the trenches.
Ronnie Hickman Gets A Vote Of Confidence
Former Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman received a strong vote of confidence today from the Cleveland Browns, who placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on him. The move locks Hickman in at $5.8 million for the 2026 season, while giving Cleveland the right to match any offer he receives from another team. If the Browns chose not to match an offer sheet, they would receive a second-round draft pick in return — a clear indication of how highly they value the former Buckeye defender.
For Hickman, it’s another step in what has been a steady climb at the NFL level. After entering the league as an undrafted free agent, he has developed into a reliable presence in the Browns’ secondary. Moves like this don’t happen unless a team views a player as part of its defensive core moving forward, and this tender shows that Hickman has firmly established himself as a trusted piece of Cleveland’s defense.
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CLIP OF THE DAY: Creativity within the Run Game
When I think about the run game under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, one word immediately comes to mind: creativity.
When evaluating running backs like Legend Bey and Turbo Rogers, it’s hard not to look at how the Pittsburgh Steelersutilized Kenneth Gainwell this past season. Gainwell finished the 2025 season with 280 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 75 carries, while adding 32 receptions for 241 yards, showing how valuable versatility can be in today’s run game.
There are a multitude of ways to get players like Bey and Rogers the football — but at the end of the day, the priority is simple: the ball needs to be in their hands.
Let’s take a look at the clip below.
The Steelers begin in 11 personnel, aligned in Trips with the Y initially detached from the formation. The tight end motions inside and sets, and what happens next is critical to the success of the play.
In this variation of split zone, two things can happen. The motion player can log the squeezing defensive end, or he can execute a crack exchange with the No. 1 receiver. Either way, the edge defender must be accounted for.
Up front, the offensive line sells strong outside zone steps, creating horizontal flow before the ball ultimately cuts back toward the boundary.
Plays like this don’t require perfect blocking across the board. The deception created in the backfield and through the offensive line’s movement is often enough to create space. Once that seam appears, it allows backs to do what they do best — get vertical and use their speed.
And when you’re talking about players like Legend Bey and Turbo Rogers, that’s exactly the type of space you want to create.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
