The Opening Drive 2/18 (Lunchtime Edition): Promoting From Within — Risk or Readiness?
Sometimes the Smartest Move Is the One You’ve Already Developed
Before we dive into this week’s Opening Drive, I want to start with something personal. A quick shoutout to my two oldest — Willa and MJ.
Both are heavily involved in competitive gymnastics, and let me tell you — it’s consuming. Early mornings. Long practices. Constant refinement. As a dad — and as a coach — I genuinely love what the sport is teaching them.
It’s on them.
If they hit the routine, it’s on them. If they miss, it’s on them. There’s no hiding behind teammates. No blaming circumstances. It reinforces that the little things matter. Details matter. Preparation matters. And they have a coach who isn’t afraid to coach them hard — and my girls don’t run from it. They lean into it.
This past weekend they competed at a large meet in Columbus, and watching their hard work pay off was special. There’s nothing better than seeing preparation meet performance.
I’m a girl dad through and through.
Alright — enough about them.
Let’s talk ball.
The Question of Succession
With the Raiders and Patriots locking in their defensive coordinator situations, it now appears increasingly likely that some form of contract extension is coming for Coach Matt Patricia. And quite frankly, it’s deserved. The numbers back it up. Production, efficiency, situational defense — the Buckeye defense showed measurable growth throughout the 2025–2026 season. When you pair statistical improvement with schematic clarity and player development, that’s a strong résumé.
While this process has played out publicly, the natural question during the “wait” has been: Who would be next in line?
One name that consistently surfaced among Ohio State beat reporters was Defensive Pass Game Coordinator Matt Guerrieri. Coach Day has described Coach G as a “rising star” in the profession — and that label isn’t handed out lightly. He brings prior coordinating experience and has now learned under three highly respected defensive minds in recent memory: Tom Allen, Jim Knowles, and Matt Patricia. That’s a strong coaching tree. That’s layered perspective. That’s exposure to multiple systems and philosophies.
And it got my wheels turning.
What actually prompts a promotion from within? What separates someone who is simply doing a good job from someone trusted to take over the room? In a profession built on trust, preparation, and results, that line isn’t accidental — it’s earned.
LATEST PODCASTS:
Position Reviews (RB): Bo Jackson and Isaiah West Analysis and Focus Areas for 2026
Position Reviews (QB): Julian Sayin Analysis and Focus Areas for 2026
LATEST ARTICLES:
The Opening Drive 2/16: The 2027 Recruiting Class Is Starting To Clear Up
The Opening Drive 2/14: Lessons From the Coaches Clinic — Why Laurinaitis Stands Out
The Opening Drive 2/13: Combine Invites Go Out, Pro Day is Set, and Notre Dame's Schedule
LATEST FILM ROOM:
FILM ROOM: What Christian Alliegro Brings to the Buckeyes 2026 Defense
FILM ROOM: Scouting New Ohio State TE Hunter Welcing and How He Fits the 2026 Offense
Preparing for the Chair Before You Sit in It
If you want to be promoted from within, you can’t wait for the title to start acting like it.
The coaches who earn that opportunity prepare as if they’re already the coordinator. They think in terms of structure, not just their position room. They study opponents beyond their own cut-ups. They understand situational football, game flow, complementary phases. They bring solutions to the staff room, not just observations.
You can tell when someone is preparing for the next chair — their questions are different. Their perspective is broader. They aren’t just asking, “How does this affect my guys?” They’re asking, “How does this impact the defense?”
And then there’s the other piece — the one you can’t fake.
The relationship with the players.
Do the players trust the voice? When that coach speaks, do helmets nod? Do eyes lock in? When adversity hits, does the room steady because of that presence?
Trust isn’t built on volume. It’s built on consistency. It’s built on showing up the same way every day. Correcting without belittling. Demanding without demeaning. Teaching without ego.
When players echo a coach’s language in pressure moments, that’s influence. When they respond to correction without resistance, that’s respect. When they play harder because they don’t want to let him down, that’s leadership.
If a coach is already preparing like the DC and the players already respond like he is, then promotion isn’t a gamble.
It’s alignment.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
