DL David Patterson (official thread)

[Oh8ch]

He was not in the official participation report.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

4/1/06

Patterson merits attention

Unassuming senior moves inside on the defensive line

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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One member of the coaching staff says David Patterson will be a dominant player this year, but the question is: Will anyone outside the Ohio State film room know?

Such is the life of a defensive tackle, a position doomed to anonymity. But even judged by the low standards of his position, Patterson seems strangely publicity-proof.

Case in point: Last season against Michigan State, Patterson became only the 13 th OSU player ever to have a three-sack game. Yet in the postgame reports, it was Bobby Carpenter’s four sacks that drew all the attention.

"That kind of stuff doesn’t bother me," Patterson shrugs. "I just love playing football here. As long as I’m here, it doesn’t matter if anyone knows, as long as I know."

He means that too. It’s not a brave face. He’s a happy, unassuming sort.

"The guys on the team, I think they respect me," Patterson said.
They do. The senior is one of just two returning starters on defense for OSU, along with fellow tackle Quinn Pitcock.

He played as a true freshman in 2003 out of Warrensville Heights High School and has played in all but one of the Buckeyes’ 37 games the past three years.

Last year, Patterson played mostly at defensive end, even though he’s a natural tackle. That’s what the team needed.

"Dave is a lot more athletic than people would think," defensive end Jay Richardson said. "For an interior lineman, he’s got very good moves, he’s got really good agility for his size (6 feet 3, 285 pounds). He’s definitely a dual threat because he’s athletic enough to play end, (but) he’s also powerful enough to play inside."

This year, Patterson is moving back inside.

"I think he’s going to be a dominant football player," said Jim Heacock, the defensive coordinator and line coach. "I think with him and Quinn, we’ve got two of the best inside guys we’ve had here in a long time."

Pitcock jokes at Patterson’s penchant to be in the right place at the right time.

"He’s so flexible, he squirms around people and squeezes into the smallest little spaces and makes plays," Pitcock said. "I’m always joking around with him, like, ‘You just fell into that player, they ran into you,’ but he’s actually a great player who can use his body well."

Patterson grins and pleads guilty to Pitcock’s charge.

"I fall a lot," he said. "My first sack here was against Washington. I got the sack, but I kind of fell down and I got the sack. And then my second sack, I fell down again and got his legs and got the sack.

"So every time I get a tackle and I fall, they make a big deal out of it, like I always fall into tackles."

Despite Patterson’s relative obscurity, athletic, versatile defensive tackles can fall into a lot of money in the NFL. Consider two of Patterson’s former teammates taken in the 2004 draft — Darrion Scott (third round, Minnesota Vikings) and Tim Anderson (third, Buffalo Bills).

"They were two of the best guys I’ve ever seen inside, and they might not have gotten all the (publicity) everyone else got," Patterson said. "I’m not really looking for that. As long as I can just come out and have a good year this year and try to impress some people on the next level, that’s important."

kgordon@dispatch.com

Saturday, April 01, 2006

[AirForceBuck]

BN$

According to the Bucknuts article, David Patterson will be officially making the move from Defensive End to Defensive Tackle. He finished 2005 with strong games against Michigan and Notre Dame, along with 24 tkls (14 solos), 7.5 tfl, and 4 sacks. Patterson says it is the position he likes playing the most and that hes excited to beplaying next to Quinn Pitcock.
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I think alot of us saw this comming with Sian Cotton being off the team. Nice permanent move by the staff. This will definitely make Pitcock and Patterson one of the best D-Line tandems in the country. This move will also help with freeing up space for the guys at DE.

[scarletngray]

With Patterson and Pittock, OSU will dominate in the middle. We also have excellent back ups in Penton and Denlinger. The later two have great motors and so there will be no let up when the second team is in.

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

August 25th, 2006

Scout Free

David Patterson appointed captain of 2006 football team after a vote by team members.

[HineyBuck]

Wow! Congrats to David Patterson on the vote of confidence from his team mates. Shows he is performing and demonstrating leadership. Do we have the best pair of DTs in the nation? Scary good--very scary.

[BB73]

Quotes from today.

official.site

David Patterson, senior defensive lineman

On the 2006 OSU defense

"We want to emphasize turnovers and try to increase our takeaways. We want to give our offense more chances with the ball."

On the young OSU defense

"They're all really good players so I'm looking forward to seeing them play. We want our guys to execute their assignments, take care of their responsibilities and stick to our basic philosophy."

On seeing his former teammates in the NFL

"It's great to see some of the guys you came in with and who you played with making it at the next level. It gives you hope."

On NIU running back Garrett Wolfe

"He gets the ball and picks his spots and then hits the hole so fast. He'll be a challenge to stop."

[BB73]

At today's press luncheon.

ozone

Senior DL David Patterson answers questions from the press.

[Bestbuck36]

I'm predicting "Baby Sapp" will have a Darrion Scott type breakout year and Pitcock will see a lot of double teams. If he does Gholstin and Richardson will be terrorizing QB's all year!

[Buckskin86]

OSU defensive tackle Patterson talks, plays good game
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006

COLUMBUS — Being pitted in one-on-one drills with defensive tackle David Patterson wouldn't rate as Ohio State center Doug Datish's least favorite thing to do, but he'd probably rank it somewhere between sitting through a 24-hour chick-flick marathon and wrestling an anaconda.

"He's shifty. He's quick. He plays with great technique. And he's got crazy pass-rush moves," Datish said. "He's a pain in the butt. His motor doesn't stop."

But Patterson's internal engine isn't the only thing that never shuts down. When the 6-foot-3, 285-pound senior from northeast Ohio gets around his teammates, his gums tend to flap incessantly, too.

Patterson is likeable, outgoing and productive, which is why he was voted captain along with fellow lineman Quinn Pitcock, quarterback Troy Smith and Datish.

"David Patterson is a vocal guy," Pitcock said. "Everybody likes to hear him talk. I think he's a natural-born leader. He strives to be in that position and has fun with it. You can tell he wants to be a coach."

Patterson, who had four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss last season, knows the Buckeyes have a multitude of untested players and need their veterans to speak up.

"I just really try to convey my personality to the guys," said Patterson, who wants to be a high school history teacher and coach after giving the NFL a try. "Some guys say they can't believe how different I am off the field and on the field. Off the field, I just laugh and joke with the guys. But as soon as I get on the field, I'm all about business."

The Buckeyes have 18 seniors on the roster, yet all but Patterson are fifth-year players. He arrived as part of a 15-member recruiting class, but eight were dropped from the team for various transgressions.

Three ended up redshirting as freshmen, and another three departed on good terms — linebacker Anthony Schlegel, an Air Force transfer, going to the NFL after exhausting his eligibility, and defensive backs Ashton Youboty and Donte Whitner leaving early for the pros.

"Sometimes it's tough," Patterson said. "Me and Ashton were really close friends. He was my roommate for a year or two, and he's gone. Sometimes you want to go play Madden (video games) with someone. ... But I still have a lot of friends here. Pretty much anyone on the team can go hang out together."

And if Patterson is around, it usually becomes a talk-fest.


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/con...spotlight.html

[daddyphatsacs]

Patterson and Pitcock will be the best tackle tandem in the country this season, mark it down and notarize it.

It all starts up front, and we've got two of the best in the land at tackle. Hence the reason why I feel our defense will be much better than many anticipate. If our front 4 can get pressure without having to blitz LB's, I pity whoever is on the schedule that week.

[Buckeyes27]

WOW, this kid is good, really good. he was all over the place. looked like a LB at times

[msj2487]

I agree, I just got back from the game and I must say Patterson stuck out as probably the most physical today. Others who really seemed to play well were Freeman, Gholston, Barrow, and Homan, Richardson. The defense played real well that entire first half, but seemed to slump a little towards the end of the game, hopefully this game worked out most of the kinks and we'll be able to figure out what works the most for us, but definitley Pitcock and Patterson down front is HUGE for us!

[BB73]

official.site

David Patterson, senior defensive tackle

On playing at Iowa

"It's all in our heads. We know what it's like to play up there. We know it is a hostile environment and they play extremely well at home. We know they are going to come out fired up. They have a great crowd, a great stadium, and it's just going to be a great atmosphere."

On Iowa quarterback Drew Tate

"He is a tremendous quarterback. He does everything well. He's able to get out on the perimeter and just put the ball on the money. He's a real tough guy. He's one of those guys who is like a linebacker playing quarterback."

On Tate's recent injuries

"I don't think that matters. He's going to come out ready for us and ready to play."

On the Ohio State defense

"I had really high expectations for this defense this year. I've seen these guys play for so long that I knew they had the talent. It was just a matter of getting used to the game and the speed of the game and being comfortable out there. That was the key for them."

On which areas the defense has progressed the quickest

"Turnovers, definitely. We are doing a better job creating turnovers this year. It's a credit to the whole defense really. The defensive line is giving a little pressure, the linebackers are playing great coverage and the defensive backs are being speedy. They have the mentality that if the ball is in the air, it's ours and they are trying to go get it."

On Tate's experience

"Basically it adds a whole other aspect to the game. He's not going to get rattled at all. If anything happens he's going to be prepared to do whatever he does. Being a three-year starter, he's experienced just about everything you can at the quarterback position. He's going to be ready to go and whatever we throw at him he'll be ready."

On preparing for Albert Young

"We have the luxury of having a guy like Ray Small back there, who's doing a tremendous job of giving our defense a look. He is a fast, quick guy and he is trying to watch film and simulate things he (Young) does in the back-field."

[osugrad21]

CoachTressel.com


David Patterson Feature Sunday, October 01, 2006 By RICH LEONARDO
Courtesy Buckeye Sports Bulletin
One of the more interesting and little-known facts about the top-ranked and talent-laden Ohio State Buckeyes centers on the status of their senior class. Of the 18 seniors listed on OSU?s roster, amazingly only one of them is a true fourth-year player.
Heisman Trophy candidate Troy Smith perhaps? How about potential All-Americans Quinn Pitcock or Doug Datish? Guess again. The only Buckeye who is a true fourth-year senior is defensive tackle David Patterson.
Patterson, at 6-3, 285 pounds, is one of only two returning starters for the Buckeyes? defensive unit. (The other returning starter is Pitcock.) Over his collegiate career, Patterson has played in 40 of OSU?s 41 games, including 16 starting assignments. His totals over that time include 57 tackles and eight sacks.
?David is one guy who has played a lot of good football for us, ever since he arrived here,? OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. ?He had a very solid season last year and he continues to prove why he is the ultimate team player by his willingness to move back inside to tackle after having played end last season.?
Patterson played defensive end as a freshman, defensive tackle as a sophomore and both defensive end and tackle last season before moving inside for good before the start of his final campaign.
?Playing both defensive end and tackle has been great,? Patterson said. ?It has enabled me to become proficient at all of the defensive line positions. In addition to the benefits I?ve received from playing both positions, it has also given me the experience necessary to help all of our younger players better understand their roles.?
Considering all of the new faces that constitute this year?s Buckeye defense, having a game-tested veteran such as Patterson on board should indeed make a world of difference.
?David?s a great young man who we?re counting on to provide not only solid play, but also a high level of leadership,? Heacock said. ?Being the elder statesman out there, David needs to step up and really show our young guys how to get their jobs done.?
Despite a penchant for surrendering more yardage than recent Buckeye defenses, this year?s version of the Silver Bullets has been holding its own as OSU remains undefeated while allowing only three touchdowns and four field goals through four games.
?As a unit, our defense has been working extremely hard and we?re all giving great efforts out on the field,? Patterson said. ?While we still need to tune up our overall performance, I feel we?re on the road to reaching our full potential. Plus all of our young players are giving great efforts both on the field and in the film room. They?re all learning more and more with each passing week, and to watch them fly to the ball during our games is really amazing.?
Patterson?s own exceptional efforts and his ability to fly to the ball have been duly noted as he was named one of OSU?s co-captains for 2006.
?With my experience and the honor of being named as one of our captains, I?m being looked at to provide more of a leadership role this year,? Patterson said. ?When we?re locked in tight games and times are tough, I want to be the guy who everyone can depend on to step up and make the big play.?
Prior to arriving at Ohio State, Patterson was well-versed in making big plays following a stellar prep career at Warrensville Heights (Ohio) High School. As a senior, Patterson was named first-team All-Ohio and The Associated Press? District Defensive Player of the Year.
?David is a player who does whatever is necessary to improve himself and to help us win,? Heacock said. ?David playing tackle this year is the best thing for our team and also the best thing for him as a player. His strength and agility are going to enable him to be a very effective defensive tackle.
?I believe we have the potential to have an outstanding defensive line this year. In addition to David, we have Quinn Pitcock, as well as a nice mix of guys like Vernon Gohlsten and Jay Richardson, who have some game experience, along with some talented players who are new to our system.?
For the Buckeyes to attain the lofty goals they set for themselves this season, Heacock?s assessment of the talent on the defensive side of the ball will most likely need to be right on target.
?I?ve been a part of some great defenses during my career here and I?m expecting this year to be no different,? Patterson said. ?While it?s true that we lost a lot of great players from last year?s team, this is Ohio State and there are always great players just waiting for their opportunity to shine.?
Although OSU?s defenders may currently lack the polish that some of the stalwart units from the past have enjoyed, they might just be getting buffed up for a fantastic finish.
?It?s actually an honor to be rated the No. 1 team in the nation,? Patterson said. ?It just shows the level of respect that our program receives and has earned. We?ll just continue to keep working hard and not allow any unnecessary pressure to affect us because in reality, the only No. 1 ranking we?re concerned with will be the one following the BCS championship game.?