Matt Patricia Actually Deployed the Ohio State Freaks Correctly
Nate Tice
My mean takeaway is: I knew I should have known that these Ohio State defenders were going to be so talented because Matt Patricia was starting to get hype again. That's my mean take.
Context
Nate Tice's praise for Matt Patricia's 2025 Ohio State scheme: Reese and Styles weren't locked into one off-ball role; they played on the ball, off the ball, in the A-gap, in coverage 20 yards downfield, in the flat, blitzing. Belichick-style fronts also unlocked Caleb Downs in the inverted, centrally-located rover role.
For scouts, this means it's not theory — there's actual film of these guys doing different things. Easier to project to the NFL.