Ohio State’s defense hasn’t skipped a beat under Matt Patricia . The front is sturdy, the back end communicates, and the multiplicity Patricia brought from the NFL has translated into clean execution. The Silver Bullets look familiar in all the right ways. They are disciplined against explosives and opportunistic on money downs yet fresh enough to keep offenses guessing. Even with personnel turnover and a new voice, the unit has adopted Patricia’s adjustments quickly, signaling buy-in and a shared language from sideline to huddle.

That invites a natural comparison to Jim Knowles’ tenure. Knowles built an efficient, explosive-averse structure that prized leverage and disguise, often orchestrated from the booth where the panoramic view sharpened his chessboard approach. Patricia, by

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