Matt Patricia’s goal as he builds his first defense at Ohio State is simple: To put Ohio State’s players in positions that allow them to do what they do best.
Patricia’s defensive philosophy isn’t tied to a specific structure, and that could work to his advantage as he takes over as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. Patricia’s approach dating back to when he won two Super Bowls as the New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator has been to fit his defense around his personnel, and he inherits plenty of talent to work with in Columbus.
Because Patricia’s defenses in New England were known for using a variety of packages and changing from week to week to match up with opponents, one of the biggest questions surrounding his hire has been how his defensive philosophy will translate to the college game, where he’ll be working with less experienced players.