Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn reveal their biggest concerns for Manny Diaz at Penn State
One of the biggest changes for Penn State this offseason came at defensive coordinator. Brent Pry is now the head coach at Virginia Tech and former Miami head coach Manny Diaz is in to replace him, which could make for a major shift in philosophy.
FOX Sports analysts Urban Meyer and Brady Quinn weighed in on that Thursday night, expressing some concern about the Nittany Lions defense this season.
Pry worked as James Franklin’s defensive coordinator since 2011, first at Vanderbilt and then at Penn State since 2014. That means Diaz has the tough task of replacing the architect of some impressive Nittany Lions defenses over the years. Quinn said that’s a big deal for Franklin and his group.
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“The biggest concern I have for Penn State at this point … [Franklin] doesn’t have Brent Pry anymore,” Quinn said on FOX College Football Pregame. “Brent Pry has been with James Franklin every year he’s ever been a head coach as defensive coordinator. That has been the cornerstone of Penn State is their defense. They don’t have that anymore.
“So, big shoes to fill for Manny Diaz trying to replace a guy who, over his tenure at Penn State, he held opponents to less than three touchdowns. He’s done a heck of a job. It’s a different style for Manny Diaz. We’ll see what he brings to the table. But for me, tonight, it starts on what does that defense look like? Can he replicate what Brent Pry did during his tenure?”
Meyer took a different spin on the situation. He’s watching to see if Diaz runs a similar system to Pry or brings his own scheme to State College. Either way, though, the former Ohio State coach said there are challenges ahead for Penn State’s new coordinator.
“First of all, [Diaz is] an excellent coach, been around a long time, has an excellent resume,” Meyer said. “He’s taking over for Brent Pry. Brent Pry was one of the most respected guys not only in the Big Ten, [but] in the country on defense.
“Here’s the dilemma. Manny Diaz comes in, top-10 defense. Does he bring his defense or does he keep their defense? He comes in with a new staff coaching someone else’s defense, I’ve seen that, that’s hard. Or does he come in, bring his defense, it might be a lot different, the players look at you sideways, that’s a dilemma. That’s something I’m anxious to see, if it’s Penn State’s defense or Manny Diaz’s defense.”
Diaz will get his first chance to showcase the new-look defense Thursday night when Penn State takes on Purdue on the road.