Penn State Sports Magazine
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6 M A Y 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T he most commonly used word to describe Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz in the early going of his tenure is "energetic." About four months in, he's already developed a fiery reputation with his players. "He's really big about the little things," linebacker Curtis Jacobs said. "That's what you want from your coach." Diaz's motor was evident as the sun set over Penn State's football facil- ity following the seventh practice of spring ball. Fielding questions from reporters, Diaz bounced from topic to topic like a rubber ball. The words couldn't come out of his mouth fast enough. Asked if there's an element of reju- venation about all of this, having left the head coaching job at Miami in the offseason to return to his roots as a defensive coordinator, Diaz took the question a step further. "Just being a linebacker coach and getting to have a room again is invigo- rating," he said, "getting to have guys that you get to really pour into every day and teach. Ultimately, as a coach, that's what you are. You're a teacher. I'm blessed with the guys that I have. "I'm really fortunate with the de- fensive personnel in general, not just their talent, but just who they are. You get back in the room and you get back to that relationship of being a teacher. You try to do that as a head coach, and there's just a barrier. It's just not the same. That part has been nice for me." It's hard to imagine a better fit for the present stage of Penn State's de- fensive life cycle. Let's take a quick look at who the Nittany Lions must replace. First, there are two first-team All-Big Ten defend- ers in edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie and safety Jaquan Brisker. Then there are two multiyear starters at linebacker in Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks, and one at cornerback in Tariq Castro- Fields. Productive interior defender Derrick Tangelo is moving on, and senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher isn't practicing yet after suffering a season-ending injury midway through last year. There's little doubt: Penn State has plenty of guys in prominent roles this spring who need teaching. Take, for example, the two candidates to replace Brooks as the Nittany Lions' starter at middle linebacker. Neither Tyler Elsdon or Kobe King — in their third and second seasons at Penn State, respectively — have played more than 100 snaps at the collegiate level. The Nittany Lions are going to need one of those players, if not both, to un- derstand not only his own assignment, but everyone else's around him. "Middle linebacker is different be- cause you're the guy who has got to make all the calls," Diaz explained. "Everyone has got to turn to you. You've got to get everybody lined up. It's not actually what happens after the snap, it's what happens before the snap." Adaptations are being made at the other linebacker positions, too. Jonathan Sutherland seems to be Penn State's starter at the Sam spot. He spent the first five seasons of his career as a Nittany Lion playing at safety. On the opposite side, Jacobs is mak- ing the move from Sam to Will — much as Smith did during the bridge between his second and third seasons in blue and white. There are tweaks and transitions everywhere you look. And Diaz is in his element. Coach James Franklin said he sees Diaz's comfort level improving as spring practice continues. "Obviously, it's nowhere near where it will be this far into [preseason] camp," Franklin said. "But I think it's growing. He's done a really good job in meetings. He's got a presence to him. I like how he views the game of football and how he leads." The winter for Diaz was, in a word, messy. The University of Miami made very little attempt to conceal its pursuit of Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal while Diaz was still employed. In a statement released when he was finally fired, Diaz acknowledged his disappointment at how the university had acted. Now, he can shed the extra respon- sibilities and the need for political maneuvering that comes with being a head coach at a high-profile college football program. He can just teach. And Penn State's defense needs a teacher. "I think the tweaks that we've made on defense … are going to be really beneficial to us," Franklin said. "I know the coaches and the players like it. But there's still a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball." ■ O P I N I O N DAVID ECKERT davidecker t98@gmail.com The defense that Diaz inherited at Penn State must replace five of its top seven tacklers from last season. PHOTO BY THOMAS FRANK CARR Manny Diaz's High-Energy Approach Suits Lions JUDGMENT CALL