Penn State Football: Two major differences between Manny Diaz and Brent Pry
69Penn State has a new defensive coordinator in 2022, but what does that mean for the Nittany Lions? Head coach James Franklin has said that he chose Diaz because of his skill calling defensive plays and his similarity to former coordinator Brent Pry. But no two coaches are the same, so what are the differences? Host Thomas Frank Carr looks at that today on the BWI Daily Edition.
This video is a complimentary piece to T-Frank's article from earlier in the day, detailing the most significant structural difference between Pry and Diaz. Check out that article below.
Article: https://bit.ly/3qafzIa
Instead, T-Frank focuses on the secondary differences between Diaz and Pry during this episode of the Daily Edition. These stylistic quirks make each coach who they are, but many different factors can alter them each season.
Coverage
The first, and most notable difference between the two coordinators, is the use of different coverage schemes. Of course, all defensive coordinators have crossover in terms of coverages used, but it's where they lean in their tendencies that make them different. T-Frank points to a very distinct split in this area between Penn State's former defensive boss and Diaz. Will that continue for Diaz in Happy Valley? T-Frank has his doubts and explains why.
Because of Diaz's coverage preferences, the next difference from what Penn State fans know is the use of safeties by each coordinator. Pry and Diaz have had similar tendencies over time, but Diaz has recently diverted from that path and gone in a different direction. So how does he deploy those players? T-Frank explains how one part of coverage affects player usage in another.
Blitzing
Penn State is not necessarily getting a more aggressive play-caller in Manny Diaz, but T-Frank points to the 2021 season for the Miami Hurricanes as a blueprint for the Nittany Lions in 2022. So why does T-Frank think there is a similarity? He shows the differences last season and how that might affect the Nittany Lions next year.
Finally, T-Frank explains different ways a defensive coordinator can dial up the pressure and what that means for the players involved.
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