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Aug 9, 2023 · After only one year at Penn State, Diaz was ranked number five among all defensive coordinators in college football. But, Diaz has no time for accolades on his body of work in year one in Happy Valley. “We do not pick up where we left off a year ago,” Diaz told reporters during Penn State media day.
- Penn State Sports Columnist
Oct 3, 2023 · After Manny Diaz was relieved of his head coaching duties at the University of Miami in December 2021, Penn State Football head coach James Franklin quickly brought the defensive mastermind to Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions ‘ defensive coordinator.
Aug 4, 2023 · Diaz coordinated a 2022 defense that ranked among the nation's top 10 in scoring, turnover margin, sacks, tackles for loss, passes defended, red-zone defense and fumbles forced. The Lions fielded...
- Mark Wogenrich
Oct 12, 2022 · Ahead of Penn State's high-profile game at Michigan, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin met with media members. Here are a few takeaways.
- The Turnover Chain
- Tackles For Loss
- Rush The Quarterback
- Yards Per Play/Opponent Passing Efficiency
The most symbolic—and, some would say, the most obnoxious—thing about Diaz’s time at Miami was the “turnover chain.” Diaz’s defenses celebrated a takeaway by showing off a big, gold Cuban chain with Miami’s “U” Logo. The tradition started under Diaz’s watch, and not only did the coach approve of it— it was his idea. In 2016, Diaz’s first season at ...
The first thing James Franklin cited about Diaz’s past defense was one statistic; tackles for loss. In Diaz’s last five seasons as a defensive coordinator— with three different schools— his defenses have ranked in the top ten in tackles for loss every year. The peak came in 2018 when Diaz’s Miami squad placed first in the country in TFL’s. Diaz’s d...
A big part of Diaz’s success in the tackle for loss department has been sacks. In 2016, Diaz’s first Miami defense ranked 24th in the country in sacks, and that ranking shot up to third in 2017. In Diaz’s last season, the Hurricanes continued to get to the quarterback, albeit finishing out of the top 10. The Hurricanes finished 11th in the country ...
A concern some may have about Diaz– and aggressive defensive coordinators in general– is that the furious style could lead to big plays allowed to the opposing offense. In Diaz’s three years as Miami’s defensive coordinator, however, the Hurricanes placed in the top 20 in opponent’s yards per play three times, placed in the top 10 twice and ranked ...
- Joe Smeltzer
Nov 27, 2023 · The “worst-case” scenario for Diaz is returning to Penn State, where he’s become beloved because of what he’s been able to do with retooling a unit that leads the nation in yards per...
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Dec 17, 2021 · Fired on Dec. 6 after going 21-15 in three years with Miami, Diaz is already three practices into his new gig as Penn State's defensive coordinator. It's a role for which Diaz is perfectly...
