Ohio State DC Matt Patricia Speaks on the Importance of Eliminating Big Plays

Ohio State has been the victim of the big play when their defense is on the field over the last couple of weeks. The game against USC began with a huge touchdown to start the game and then a couple of other touchdowns that kept the momentum on USC's side.

Oregon's entire game plan last week inside the Horseshoe was based on chunk plays and a couple broke for big ones. It has been a really tough stretch for the Ohio State defense, and there are several reasons why.

The first is that, for Patricia, what he was praised for last year is what he is being crushed for this year. He was credited, and rightfully so, for turning the Buckeyes' defense into an NFL-style attack. It was incredibly impressive, and it was in large part due to the fact that he had top-level NFL players at every position. 

As it turns out, you need NFL players to run NFL style defenses. 

This year, as his personnel has taken an obvious step back, so has his defense. Now, when they have competed against inferior competition, it hasn't been as obvious. But in the three games against equal skill levels, he has been exposed.

Issue number two is that the Buckeyes are one of the worst teams in the entire country at creating pressure. They are dreadful at getting after the quarterback, and they just simply do not do it at all. When quarterbacks can sit in the pocket, they are going to find completions down the field with ease.

The last is that they do not tackle well in space. I think back to the USC 75-yard touchdown catch that was a glorified run, the big play where the USC tight end ran through the entire defense, the 48-yard touchdown run Dierre Hill had through the heart of the Buckeyes, and several more.

If you aren't going to be getting pressure, you better be able to tackle, and they don't do any of them.

The defense is in a bad place, and they are susceptible to what is coming their way this weekend in the Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern is a team that is built on creativity on offense and capitalizing on big plays.

They aren't going to hold anything back, and they are going to make it their goal on Saturday to exploit the Buckeyes in the big play category.