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Film Study: Manny Diaz Pressure/Blitz Looks

CaliLION79

Well-Known Member
Sep 27, 2020
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MANNY DIAZ FILM STUDY

See Link. Dove into Diaz's 2018 Miami film, his last as DC at Miami and the year the Hurricanes lead the country in TFLs and 3rd Down Defense despite having a terrible offense (think they finished 7-6 that year). Lot of similarities between when Diaz does and what Pry does/did at Penn State. Major difference was how much more complex Diaz's pressure looks are then Pry and how he asks his DTs to do a lot more than what Pry asked for on blitzes. Much harder for QB's (Kenny Pickett in this case) to figure out who is coming and who is dropping and far less of the safeties blitzing from another zip code with no shot of getting home.

For context, Miami had 6 sacks and 14 TFLs in this Pitt game from 2018.
 
As on offense, main issue was predictability and execution. I'd like to see more effective DB blitzes. As per the offense, the ability to execute the screen pass to the RB seems like ancient history. Just add a few tools you know how to use-personnel helps, might not have had the RBs this year...the Baylor transfer didn't pan out.
 
MANNY DIAZ FILM STUDY

See Link. Dove into Diaz's 2018 Miami film, his last as DC at Miami and the year the Hurricanes lead the country in TFLs and 3rd Down Defense despite having a terrible offense (think they finished 7-6 that year). Lot of similarities between when Diaz does and what Pry does/did at Penn State. Major difference was how much more complex Diaz's pressure looks are then Pry and how he asks his DTs to do a lot more than what Pry asked for on blitzes. Much harder for QB's (Kenny Pickett in this case) to figure out who is coming and who is dropping and far less of the safeties blitzing from another zip code with no shot of getting home.

For context, Miami had 6 sacks and 14 TFLs in this Pitt game from 2018.
Coaching in the B1G is a challenge due to the weather swing during the season. On one hand, you've got to prepare for warm summer Saturday afternoons. the next, four inches of snow when you can't see the field. And it isn't just the snow but wind as well. This is something the SEC and most of the ACC don't have to deal with. As such, the B1G has a lot of teams that are run-heavy (Wiscy, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois). If you want to win the B1G, you have to be able to run the ball in the critical, late-season games.

As such, the DT and their run-stopping ability is a key success factor. Diaz hasn't really had to deal with that. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts. The open, pass-heavy offenses he faced as DC are much less prolific in the B1G and almost non-existent in late November.

I think this is a great hire for many reasons; improve the brand, SE recruiting, a record of success. But this will be a bit different for him.
 
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