Podcast Summary: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Defense Reactions — Matt Patricia Explains Arvell Reese's Role
Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Episode: Ohio State defense reactions: Matt Patricia finally explains how the Buckeyes are using Arvell Reese
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis
Date: December 23, 2025
Focus: Insightful discussion on the Ohio State defense, with emphasis on Arvell Reese’s usage, player input, and strategies ahead of the Cotton Bowl vs. Miami.
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into Ohio State's defensive press session ahead of the Cotton Bowl, focusing particularly on defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s clarifications about how star linebacker Arvell Reese is being deployed. Doug and Bill analyze interview moments, share their own observations, and connect broader trends within the Buckeyes’ defensive dominance this season.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Access to Matt Patricia, and the “Feelings vs Football” Dilemma
[01:30–05:42]
- First media access to Coordinator Matt Patricia in two months.
- The session was dominated by questions about Patricia’s relationships with players and team culture, leaving little time for X’s and O’s.
- Notable anecdote: Patricia received eye black on his beard after hugging Kaden McDonald before a game, an image likely to appear in future Buckeye stories.
“I like to talk about football feelings, but even I at times reach my feelings breaking point … can we just start talking about, like, whether you should blitz more or not?”
— Doug Lesmerises [05:03]
2. Finally, the Arvell Reese Question Answered
[07:24–11:43]
- Bill Landis asks Patricia why Arvell Reese is less visible as a pass-rushing force lately.
- Patricia lights up and explains teams have adjusted to Reese, often sliding protection and game-planning specifically to neutralize him, which opens opportunities for others.
“A lot of the stuff we attacked early in the season, I think teams have kind of seen enough film on it. So a lot of times they’ll slide to his spot… But that’s great. That gives opportunities for other players on the field… When you have an impact player like that, offenses have to adjust.”
— Matt Patricia (via Bill Landis quoting, [10:48–11:43])
- Reese’s sack/pressure numbers: 6.5 sacks (first 8 games), 0 sacks (last 5), which is explained as a usage shift, not a performance drop.
3. Strategic Impact of Arvell Reese’s Decoy Role
[12:27–16:24]
- Reese’s presence as a “magnet” for blocking schemes boosts teammates’ effectiveness.
- Bill: Despite Reese not collecting sacks, his influence is “only a plus.”
- Data: Reese is 4th nationally in PFF’s “PRP” metric — sacks, hits, hurries per rush.
“It’s not that defenses have figured out how to block Arvell Reese. It’s that they’re using him differently, using him more as a spy or decoy.”
— Doug [16:24]
- Hosts speculate that facing Miami and a less mobile quarterback may allow Ohio State to “let Arvell eat” by sending him after the quarterback more aggressively in the Cotton Bowl.
4. Defensive Creativity and Adjustments for Miami
[18:38–19:56]
- Ohio State rarely uses twists/stunts up front during the regular season but unleashed more creativity in last year’s postseason.
- Miami’s OL is perhaps the best Ohio State’s faced — could inspire Patricia to increase personnel movement and complexity, including creative ways to deploy Reese.
“This is an opportunity for Matt Patricia to get pretty creative up front if he wanted to.”
— Bill [19:56]
5. Defensive Dominance Contextualized
[20:09–21:07]
- OSU’s defense is allowing only 8.2 points per game — lowest at the FBS level since Alabama (2011).
- Team traits: “patient, mature, selfless, sound.”
- As postseason looms, the possibility of dialing up aggression grows.
6. Player Autonomy on Third Downs
[23:04–25:51]
- Sonny Styles shares that he and Reese have “some free will to choose what we want to do on third and long,” hinting at real-time adjustments by linebackers.
- Patricia confirms: linebackers often make on-field calls in critical situations.
“We have some free will to choose what we want to do on third and long.”
— Sonny Styles [25:24]
- This autonomy is seen as both a strategic asset and an intriguing topic the hosts wish to explore more deeply.
7. Media Day and Insider Coverage Planning
[26:03–28:01]
- Doug and Bill discuss how to prioritize their upcoming 45-minute media session: focus on star players, young prospects, or Patricia/Reese Q&A roundtables.
- Welcome reader input via Substack: billanddugosu.substack.com
8. Key Individual Matchups and Miami Connections
[29:04–30:53]
- Noted matchup: OSU DT Kaden McDonald vs. Miami RB Mark Fletcher (former OSU commit).
- Several Miami players were once OSU recruiting targets and now play significant roles, adding drama and narrative layers to the game.
9. Other Defensive Fun Facts
[31:36–32:57]
- Lorenzo Styles Jr. is excited for his matchup against Miami slot receiver Malachi Tony.
- Kenyatta Jackson (from Miami) returns home, with family Hurricane ties.
10. Kenyatta Jackson and “Holding”
[32:57–35:26]
- Holding (by Indiana) frustrated Jackson; Patricia and Sonny Styles advised “make it so they can’t hold you.”
“If they’re gonna try to hold you, the answer is don’t get held.”
— Paraphrased advice to Kenyatta Jackson [33:08]
11. Team Attitude After Indiana Loss
[35:41–39:40]
- After a close loss to Indiana (before the playoff), the team is “tickled off,” yet less emotionally wounded than after Michigan loss in 2024.
- The focus is on internal accountability, not on existential questioning of the program.
“Post-Michigan loss last year was a reckoning… I just don’t know that that’s what this is.”
— Bill Landis [37:59]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “[Patricia’s] smile started to light up…” — Bill describing Patricia’s reaction to the Arvell Reese question [07:24]
- “Imagine if you had a football question you really wanted the answer to and God asked your question.” — Doug, dramatizing the relief at finally getting to talk ball [07:06]
- “The way that we’re doing it makes us the most effective college football defense in 14 years.” — Doug [20:15]
- “[Sonny Styles:] We have some free will to choose what we want to do on third and long.” [25:24]
- “If the answer is to get held, don’t allow myself to be held.” — Doug riffing on Kenyatta Jackson’s learning curve [34:43]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [01:30] – First reactions to defensive interviews; feelings overload vs. football talk
- [07:24] – Bill asks Patricia about Reese's usage; Patricia’s key answer
- [10:42] – Direct quote from Matt Patricia via Bill
- [12:27] – Discussion on decoy role, offensive adjustments
- [16:24] – Use of Reese as spy/decoy, PRP ranking
- [18:38] – Upcoming OL matchup, Patricia scheme speculation
- [23:04] – Sonny Styles on player autonomy on 3rd down
- [25:24] – “Free will” on defense, room for improvisation
- [29:04] – Kaden McDonald vs. Mark Fletcher; Miami connections
- [32:57] – Kenyatta Jackson, holding, homecoming
- [35:41] – Team psyche after Indiana loss
- [43:17] – Texas media day, coverage plans outlined
Tone and Conversation Style
The discussion is fast-paced, playful, and layered with both good-natured sarcasm and true football geekery. Bill provides steady X’s/O’s clarity; Doug oscillates between “football feelings” and hard-core schematic curiosities, always keeping fan priorities central. Both take pride in driving the critical questions and sharing what’s truly happening “in the building,” in plain, unfiltered language.
For New Listeners / Non-Listeners
This episode offers a thorough, accessible inside look at why Ohio State’s defense has thrived, how individual stars like Arvell Reese are unlocking the potential of others, and what tactical shifts may be coming in the playoff. It also gives insight into the personalities behind this historic unit, the coaching culture shift, and anticipates juicy matchups and storylines as Ohio State prepares for Miami.
For more:
- Subscribe to Bill and Doug’s Substack for deep-dive stories and show updates
- Upcoming: Quarterback/Defense playoff draft shows and daily event coverage from Dallas during Cotton Bowl week