Penn State DC Manny Diaz is enjoying his opportunity to teach again
The most common word used to describe Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz in the early goings of his tenure is “energetic.”
About four months into his new gig, 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.”
Asked if there’s an element of rejuvenation about his new role, 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,” Diaz 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. So I’m blessed with the guys that I have.
“I’m really fortunate with the defensive personnel in general, not just their talent, but just who they are. So 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. So that part has been nice for me.”
Certainly, Diaz will have reason to use those teaching skills — especially at linebacker, where the Nittany Lions must replace two starters in Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks.
More on Manny Diaz’s transition to Penn State
Neither Tyler Elsdon nor Kobe King — the two candidates to replace Brooks at middle linebacker — has played more than 100 snaps at the collegiate level.
The Nittany Lions are going to need one, if not both, of those players to understand not only his own assignment, but everyone else’s around him.
“Middle linebacker is different because you’re the guy that’s got to make all the calls,” Diaz explained. “Everyone’s got to turn to you. You got to get everybody lined up. So it’s not actually what happens after the snap, it’s what happens before the snap.”
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Adaptations are being made at the other linebacker positions, too.
Jonathan Sutherland seems to be Penn State’s presumptive 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 making the move from Sam to Will — much as Smith did during the bridge between his second and third seasons in the blue and white.
As Diaz makes changes and facilitates transition, James Franklin says he thinks the DC’s comfort level is growing.
“Obviously, it’s nowhere near where it’ll be this far into 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.
“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 it’s been good. Obviously there’s still a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. There’s still a lot of time between now and Purdue.”
