Talking Defense With Penn State's Manny Diaz

July 7, 2023 - Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is entering his second season with the Nittany Lions, and he is excited about the potential of the defense in 2023. Diaz has a long history of success as a defensive coordinator, and he has brought his aggressive style of play to Penn State.

In his first season with the Nittany Lions, Diaz's defense ranked among the nation's leaders in several categories, including scoring defense (10th), total defense (13th), and tackles for loss (5th). The defense also forced 24 turnovers, which was tied for 10th in the country.

Diaz is known for his ability to get the most out of his players, and he has a knack for creating a disruptive defense. The Nittany Lions will be looking to build on their success from last season, and Diaz is confident that the defense will be one of the best in the Big Ten in 2023.

In a recent interview with Penn State Sports, Diaz talked about his philosophy on defense and what he expects from the Nittany Lions in 2023.

"I think our philosophy is to be aggressive and to create havoc," Diaz said. "We want to create turnovers and get off the field on third down. We also want to be physical and impose our will on the other team."

Diaz said that the Nittany Lions have the talent to be a great defense in 2023. He pointed to the return of several key players, including linebacker Brandon Smith, defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, and safety Jaquan Brisker.

"We have a lot of experience back, and we have some really talented young players," Diaz said. "I think we have the potential to be a really good defense."

Diaz is also excited about the addition of new defensive players, such as linebacker Curtis Jacobs and defensive back Kalen DeBoe. He believes that these players will add depth and competition to the defense.

"We're excited about the new players we've added," Diaz said. "They're going to come in and compete and make our defense even better."

Diaz is confident that the Nittany Lions will be a force on defense in 2023. He believes that the defense has the potential to be one of the best in the Big Ten, and he is excited to see what the team can accomplish.

"We have a lot of work to do, but I'm confident that we can be a great defense," Diaz said. "I'm excited to get started."

The Nittany Lions will open the 2023 season on September 3 against Purdue.