Ohio State's defense hit rock bottom at the end of the 2013 season, and head coach Urban Meyer knew something needed to change.
The Buckeyes defense had given up an average of 38.7 points and 539 yards to the team's three final opponents—Michigan, Michigan State and Clemson—while dropping its last two games of the year. Those losses halted a historic 24-game winning streak and cost Ohio State a chance to play Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game.
That prompted Meyer to shake things up.
After former co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers left for James Madison and former defensive line coach Mike Vrabel jumped to the NFL, Meyer wanted to find replacements who would bring the aggressiveness and spark back to Ohio State's defense.