Throughout the season, we have seen pretty much 6 different guys play a defensive back position for Ohio State. FS Malik Hooker, SS Damon Webb, CB Denzel Ward, CB Gareon Conley, CB Marshon Lattimore, and NB Damon Arnette. The guys who have caused the most curses at the screen this year out of that group of 6 are the two guys who play almost identical positions, ironically enough the two Damons. Webb plays SS which in the Ohio State system, for all intents and purposes, is essentially the 3rd corner, the same position that Vonn Bell had played. Arnette plays Nickelback, which is a 4th corner position, usually saved for passing downs.We are a man coverage team, our Corners are manned up on outside receivers and our SS and Nickel are manned up on slot receivers. 

For a few years we have been going after a certain type of DB, long and physical with obviously the athleticism to play DB,  aka the Richard Sherman type. We focus on the length and physicality aspect of DBs when it comes to our man to man press coverage, Meyer and Coombs have gone after guys who have the arm length to get hands on the receiver off the line and guys who have the physicality to impede the routes. Our Richard Sherman type corners are able to use their hands, physicality, and technique to use the sideline as the defender to pretty much cover whatever receiver lines up in front of their faces. The only usual downside with this type of Corner is their foot quickness and the ability to truly mirror a receivers route without using their hands, but for outside corners in our system, this weakness usually never comes out because of our systems techniques at outside corner.

Now for the position in which our two Damons play, the different spot on the field presents different techniques to play. The Damons play essentially slot corner positions. Slot receivers are usually quicker guys who line up off of the line of scrimmage, their routes are usually run in traffic, and they are not bounded by the sideline at either side of them, so their routes can break off in any direction without any presumption by the DB in coverage. So with all this being taken into account the covering Nickel or Strong Safety has to line up a few yards off of the receiver, giving the quicker slot guy space to run without being impeded or having to change much direction. A long, more physical DB like Damon Arnette isnt able to play to his strengths at Nickel. Despite his struggles this year Damon Webb is the guy on our current roster most fit to play this position, Webb was a pure corner in high school and was moved to SS this past offseason, due to his build, background at corner, and quickness is why he is the best for us at the position.

The "Slot Corner" is the hardest position in the defensive backfield, that's why guys like Vonn Bell are so valued in our defense and why theyve gotten so much praise from Kerry Coombs, Chris Ash, and Urban. Also why a guy like Jeff Okudah is so highly coveted and valued by our staff. They are the perfect guys to man the SS spots.