Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
5 6 A U G U S T 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 M anny Diaz has some very spe- cific goals in mind while prepar- ing for his first season as Penn State's defensive coordinator. Diaz wants his unit to stop the run, pressure the passer and create turn- overs. The way to do those things, he said, is for everyone on the field to play fast. The way to play fast is to under- stand your responsibility. "You play fast because you know what to do, you're confident. But, more than anything, it's because you trust your teammates," Diaz said. "I can go fast if there's one place I need to be, and I trust you to go fast to the one place you need to be." The 48-year-old Diaz arrived at Penn State this past winter after a six-year stint at Miami, where he spent his first three seasons as defensive coordinator and the last three as head coach. During his seven months with the Nittany Li- ons, he has worked to build confidence and trust within the defense. Taking over for Brent Pry, a longtime colleague of James Franklin who was named head coach at Virginia Tech last November, Diaz is working with a dif- ferent roster than the one that helped Penn State tie Minnesota for sixth place in the FBS in scoring defense last year (17.31 points per game). Of the eight Penn Staters who were drafted last April, five played on the defensive side of the ball, including a pair of second-round picks in edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie and do-it-all safety Jaquan Brisker. Linebacker Bran- don Smith opted to forgo his remaining eligibility in favor of a pro career, while cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields and defensive end/linebacker Jesse Luketa heard their names called in rounds six and seven, respectively. With defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo and middle linebacker Ellis Brooks also gone, six players who started at least six games last season are now gearing up for their first NFL training camps. At most of the vacated positions needing productive replacements, Diaz is taking a wait-and-see approach. "We'll have to find out. I think that sort of sums up a lot about our defense," he said. "There certainly is potential, but with all the guys that left from last year's team, it's a little bit to-be-determined." The Nittany Lions do have some ex- perienced players set to occupy promi- nent roles this fall, including two de- fensive linemen who are coming off season-ending injuries. Fourth-year ju- nior end Adisa Isaac returns after sitting out the 2021 season, while super senior tackle PJ Mustipher is expected to be ready for the start of the 2022 campaign following his season-ending knee injury last October. At linebacker, Diaz said the decision to move third-year sophomore Curtis Jacobs from Sam to Will was motivated by "fit." The coaches want to take full advantage of his speed and quickness by stationing him closer to the ball. Said Diaz, "He'll be in a position to make a lot more plays, and he makes us fast." The Mike linebacker competition in THE DEFENSE F A S T F A C T S : D E F E N S E Coordinator: Manny Diaz (first season) Starters returning: S Ji'Ayir Brown, OLB Curtis Jacobs, DT PJ Mustipher, CB Joey Porter Jr., DE Nick Tarburton Other returnees with starting experience: DT Dvon Ellies, CB Daequan Hardy, DT Coziah Izzard, CB Kalen King, LB Jonathan Sutherland, DE Smith Vilbert Starters lost: S Jaquan Brisker, MLB Ellis Brooks, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, DE Arnold Ebik- etie, OLB Brandon Smith, DT Derrick Tangelo New coordinator Manny Diaz sees teamwork as the key to the Nittany Lions' defensive outlook NAT E BAU E R | NATE.BAUER@ON3.COM A Matter Of Trust