Coach Matt Guerrieri and the safeties discussed versatility, emphasizing that spring practices focus on development, not fixed game-day roles.

Spring football is a critical time for every college football program, and Ohio State, under the leadership of head coach Ryan Day, has long used these months to shape and refine its roster. For many programs, spring practice is about laying the foundation for the upcoming season, focusing on player development, fine-tuning technique, and ensuring that every player on the roster understands their role within the system. For the Ohio State Buckeyes, spring practice represents a critical opportunity to build a championship-caliber team for the fall, and one of the key figures in this process is Coach Matt Guerrieri, who works directly with the Buckeyes’ safeties.

During a recent press conference, Coach Guerrieri, along with his safeties, spoke about the importance of versatility in spring practices and how the coaching staff is taking this time to allow players to grow, experiment, and develop flexibility in their skill sets. This is particularly important for a position group like the safeties, who are expected to be not only leaders on defense but also highly versatile players capable of fulfilling multiple roles depending on the defensive scheme or the game situation.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what Coach Guerrieri’s comments mean for the safeties and the broader Ohio State defense, how versatility is becoming a defining characteristic of the position, and what fans can expect from the Buckeyes as they approach the 2024 season. We’ll explore how spring practices serve as a time for experimentation, the significance of player development, and how Ohio State is positioning its safeties for success both now and in the future.

The Importance of Spring Practices for Player Development

Spring football is one of the most valuable times for a coaching staff to mold players without the pressure of preparing for an opponent. It’s a chance to focus on the fundamentals, teach new concepts, and give players the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in various situations. Unlike during the regular season, where the focus is on preparing for specific opponents, spring practices are about laying the groundwork for everything that’s to come.

Coach Guerrieri’s emphasis on versatility during spring practices highlights this principle. Rather than locking players into specific roles early, the safeties are encouraged to explore various positions within the defensive backfield, to adapt to different scenarios, and to work on broadening their skill sets. This approach allows for more flexibility down the road and ensures that players have a comprehensive understanding of the defense’s strategies.

For the safeties, the ability to be flexible in terms of positioning and role on the field is incredibly important. Modern defensive schemes require safeties to not only defend against the pass but also to provide run support, cover tight ends, and occasionally even blitz. With this multi-dimensional approach to coaching, players are being asked to understand various aspects of the game, which will make them more effective and adaptable during the season.

Versatility: The Hallmark of Modern Safeties

The role of the safety in college football has evolved significantly over the past few decades. No longer just the last line of defense, safeties are now expected to be dynamic playmakers capable of contributing in multiple facets of the game. This evolution has changed the way that safeties are coached and developed, with versatility becoming one of the most crucial attributes for any player at the position.

Coach Guerrieri has embraced this shift, and his approach during spring practice reflects the modern emphasis on versatility. Traditionally, safeties were often divided into two roles: free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS), each with its own responsibilities. The free safety was often the deep coverage player, tasked with reading the quarterback’s eyes and preventing deep passes, while the strong safety played closer to the line of scrimmage, providing run support and covering tight ends. While these roles still exist, the lines between them have blurred in modern defenses, and players are asked to adapt to both positions.

At Ohio State, the safeties are being taught to have the ability to rotate between different responsibilities as needed. For example, a safety who is typically positioned as a free safety might be asked to play in the box, as a linebacker would, in certain defensive packages or situations. Conversely, a safety playing in the box could be tasked with covering wide receivers in the slot or even blitzing from the edge. The defensive staff at Ohio State, led by Coach Guerrieri, is building a unit that can be effective in any scenario, which means that each player must be able to step into different roles as needed.

This is where the versatility mentioned by Coach Guerrieri becomes crucial. While players may have specific strengths, such as covering deep routes or playing the run, the coaching staff wants them to develop skills in all areas, ensuring that they can adapt to various defensive schemes. Having players who are capable of playing multiple roles not only makes the defense more unpredictable but also allows for greater depth and flexibility across the roster.

Spring Practice: Building the Foundation for a Flexible Defense

In the spring, the coaching staff encourages players to experiment and step out of their comfort zones, knowing that it’s a time for development and growth. Players who might not have been previously exposed to certain coverage techniques or responsibilities in the previous season are given the opportunity to try them out, and coaching staff can assess their ability to learn and adapt.

Coach Guerrieri’s focus on allowing safeties to experience different roles can also be attributed to his broader philosophy on defensive back development. In the modern game, defensive backs are often forced to cover a wide variety of offensive weapons, from fast slot receivers to big tight ends, making it essential that they have experience with all of these matchups. This kind of comprehensive skill set, which includes both coverage ability and physicality against the run, can be developed effectively in spring practices when the team isn’t facing an opponent each week.

Additionally, spring practices allow for testing new schemes and rotations. Defensive coordinators like Jim Knowles, Ohio State’s current defensive coordinator, often like to try out different personnel groupings and alignments to see what works best. If a safety has experience playing multiple positions, it gives the coaching staff more flexibility to experiment without sacrificing the overall effectiveness of the defense. For example, if a team is facing a dual-threat quarterback who excels at running, a safety might be asked to move into a hybrid role closer to the line of scrimmage to help contain the quarterback.

The Role of the Safeties in Ohio State’s Defense

At Ohio State, the safeties are expected to be key contributors to the team’s overall defensive success. With a defense coordinated by Jim Knowles, the Buckeyes have implemented a more complex and aggressive defensive scheme, with a heavy emphasis on both pass coverage and stopping the run. The safety position has become crucial in ensuring that the defense can function at a high level in both areas.

The safeties are often the players who are required to make quick decisions, especially in the passing game. A deep safety must read the quarterback’s eyes, adjust coverage, and react quickly when the ball is thrown. A strong safety, on the other hand, needs to be a versatile player who can contribute against the run, cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game, and occasionally even blitz to put pressure on the quarterback. Both roles require a high level of intelligence, communication, and athleticism.

In Ohio State’s defense, safeties are expected to be leaders, not only because of their on-field responsibilities but also because they serve as the last line of defense. Their ability to read plays and react accordingly is vital to the success of the team. With Coach Guerrieri’s focus on versatility, he’s preparing his safeties to be leaders who can handle a wide array of responsibilities, whether they’re playing center field, stopping the run, or covering a receiver in the slot. This versatility will be key to making Ohio State’s defense one of the most dynamic units in the country.

Key Safeties to Watch in 2024

As Ohio State continues to develop its safeties, several players are emerging as key contributors who could make a significant impact on the 2024 season. With the focus on versatility, players who can excel in multiple areas of the game will be essential for the Buckeyes’ defensive success.

• Jahsen Wint: Wint has been a standout safety for Ohio State, known for his hard-hitting ability and his versatility. His experience allows him to be a leader on the field, and his ability to play both free and strong safety positions gives Coach Guerrieri significant flexibility.
• Lathan Ransom: A player who has shown promise at safety, Ransom is another example of the type of versatile player that Coach Guerrieri seeks to develop. His athleticism and ability to cover wide receivers and tight ends in space will be crucial for Ohio State’s defense.
• Rod Moore: Moore is a young safety with a bright future ahead. His ability to cover the deep ball and his playmaking ability make him one of the most exciting players to watch this spring.