Diaz excited about experience on defense

[Peter Ariz]

A year ago at this time, Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was faced with the task of rebuilding a broken unit. The first season was marked with a completely new-look scheme which featured pressure from every angle and youth spread all across the depth chart.

On day two of UM spring practice, it was evident that Diaz felt confident about the direction that his side of the ball is headed.


"The biggest thing that stands out is just how much further ahead we are compared to this time last year," Diaz said. "Even going back and looking at some of those clips is comical where we were starting from. I think the guys have picked up where we left off in December."

Three freshmen linebackers, multiple freshmen defensive linemen, and even Malek Young who is a projected corner starter, all saw significant snaps last season.

"We had a lot of inexperienced players. The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores. They now understand what's it takes to be a big time college football player and really what the season requires of you," Diaz said. "You have to experience it to really understand it. For even the sophomores who were getting their first playing experience, that's the advantage of having guys who are coming back and know what it's about."

In what was speculated by a number of people, Mark Richt announced yesterday that Sheldrick Redwine was moving from cornerback to safety. Today, Diaz explained the move for Redwine.

"Coming out of our offseason program, we wanted to put our best four defensive backs out there from who we saw competing. We wanted to see what he could do at safety after we evaluated where we were from a year ago. We believe we have more options, not just on campus, but that are coming in at corner to cover those spots. We felt like he had the skill set to do some of the same things that Rayshawn Jenkins did at the field safety position," Diaz said.

"We told him if it doesn't work out, we can always move him back to corner or shuffle other guys around so we're just looking for our best guys to fit."

 

[Cane Dynasty]

[video=youtube;Qw5OwgDtFNs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw5OwgDtFNs[/video]

 

[Canes2082]

Never gets old lol

 

[jw410]

It does get old.. Another corny WB inside joke.

 

[JgDaCane]

It does get old.. Another corny WB inside joke.

go **** yoursef

 

[whoopingcane]

[video=youtube;Qw5OwgDtFNs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw5OwgDtFNs[/video]

 

[LustNCanes]

[video=youtube;Qw5OwgDtFNs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw5OwgDtFNs[/video]

This is some HILARIOUS SH!T!!!!

Disco Pete at his finest....LOL

 

[grover]

That DL is a murderers' row, we have the Bermuda Triangle at LB, and we have 7-8 solid to excellent options at DB with Delaney, Young, Dean, Redwine, Bandy, Quan, A Carter, and Finley. Top 5 all-around D in the nation.

 

[jkaz1]

I didn't know what to think of Diaz when we got him as the DC last year. Philosophically, I strongly agreed with the aggressive style he was preaching, but I didn't know what he could do during a game with the playcalling and adjustments.

I thought he did a great job last year - both as the DC and coaching and developing the LBs. Sure the 3 freshmen LBs have talent, but clearly Diaz put them in a position to be successful. It worked out very well.

Looking forward to what a Year 2 defense looks like with our players and quality coaches on the defensive side of the ball - especially the DL....

 

[The Franchise]

I didn't know what to think of Diaz when we got him as the DC last year. Philosophically, I strongly agreed with the aggressive style he was preaching, but I didn't know what he could do during a game with the playcalling and adjustments.

I thought he did a great job last year - both as the DC and coaching and developing the LBs. Sure the 3 freshmen LBs have talent, but clearly Diaz put them in a position to be successful. It worked out very well.

Looking forward to what a Year 2 defense looks like with our players and quality coaches on the defensive side of the ball - especially the DL....

His work as LB coach was even more impressive than his work as DC. It's basically unprecedented to see a team with 3 true freshmans starting LBs perform as well as ours did statistically.

There were faxquits on here prior to the season trying to tell me that the freshmans LBs would be our downfall. I fought them, but, deep down, I wasn't even sure I believed what I was pitching.

 

[skeeper]

All I can say is man it is good to watch Miami play real defense again after the BS we've had to endure the prior several years.

 

[UMFarArcher]

Never gets old lol

It really doesn't. I need a laugh, I watch it again.

I bet Pete can also jump!

 

[jw410]

It does get old.. Another corny WB inside joke.

go **** yoursef

You first b I t c H

 

[canesfanmpls]

I didn't know what to think of Diaz when we got him as the DC last year. Philosophically, I strongly agreed with the aggressive style he was preaching, but I didn't know what he could do during a game with the playcalling and adjustments.

I thought he did a great job last year - both as the DC and coaching and developing the LBs. Sure the 3 freshmen LBs have talent, but clearly Diaz put them in a position to be successful. It worked out very well.

Looking forward to what a Year 2 defense looks like with our players and quality coaches on the defensive side of the ball - especially the DL....

His work as LB coach was even more impressive than his work as DC. It's basically unprecedented to see a team with 3 true freshmans starting LBs perform as well as ours did statistically.

There were faxquits on here prior to the season trying to tell me that the freshmans LBs would be our downfall. I fought them, but, deep down, I wasn't even sure I believed what I was pitching.

I just hope Diaz sticks to the game plan. Too often coaches have success and try to get more complicated on both sides of the ball and it can end up working against you. My favorite thing about Diaz's defense was that it it made everybody on the field look like they were in a position to make a play. Compare that to Dorito where half the defense was not in a position to contribute.

 

[Pixelated bukake]

I didn't know what to think of Diaz when we got him as the DC last year. Philosophically, I strongly agreed with the aggressive style he was preaching, but I didn't know what he could do during a game with the playcalling and adjustments.

I thought he did a great job last year - both as the DC and coaching and developing the LBs. Sure the 3 freshmen LBs have talent, but clearly Diaz put them in a position to be successful. It worked out very well.

Looking forward to what a Year 2 defense looks like with our players and quality coaches on the defensive side of the ball - especially the DL....

I was also impressed with his in game adjustments, which is made more difficult when you're dealing with inexperience in key areas. I think he did a great job st both teaching and motivating.

 

[MovingZen]

You look at what Diaz did with the defense last year and you really have to wonder how Dorito was out of work for only one year. I could see maybe somebody taking a chance on him immediately, but after what Diaz did with so much youth, why would you even consider giving no D a job after a full season of proof that his unit was just plain terrible. The only way no D got that job was to throw Gorlden under the bus- "Wait, don't hang up.. ok, stop laughing for just a second... I swear to god that wasn't my scheme, it was Al Golden's and he made me run it to keep my job."

Last year at this time the defense was a huge question mark, this year the question is how much more dominant can they get?

 

[M.Hendrix]

You look at what Diaz did with the defense last year and you really have to wonder how Dorito was out of work for only one year. I could see maybe somebody taking a chance on him immediately, but after what Diaz did with so much youth, why would you even consider giving no D a job after a full season of proof that his unit was just plain terrible. The only way no D got that job was to throw Gorlden under the bus- "Wait, don't hang up.. ok, stop laughing for just a second... I swear to god that wasn't my scheme, it was Al Golden's and he made me run it to keep my job."

Last year at this time the defense was a huge question mark, this year the question is how much more dominant can they get?

Hate talking about those guys but since you brought it up, I enjoyed watching Ed Oliver last season, curious to see if he remains as disruptive under No D. I will be surprised if he does. But I hope he overcomes the lack of coaching. Good player

 

[The Franchise]

I didn't know what to think of Diaz when we got him as the DC last year. Philosophically, I strongly agreed with the aggressive style he was preaching, but I didn't know what he could do during a game with the playcalling and adjustments.

I thought he did a great job last year - both as the DC and coaching and developing the LBs. Sure the 3 freshmen LBs have talent, but clearly Diaz put them in a position to be successful. It worked out very well.

Looking forward to what a Year 2 defense looks like with our players and quality coaches on the defensive side of the ball - especially the DL....

His work as LB coach was even more impressive than his work as DC. It's basically unprecedented to see a team with 3 true freshmans starting LBs perform as well as ours did statistically.

There were faxquits on here prior to the season trying to tell me that the freshmans LBs would be our downfall. I fought them, but, deep down, I wasn't even sure I believed what I was pitching.

I just hope Diaz sticks to the game plan. Too often coaches have success and try to get more complicated on both sides of the ball and it can end up working against you. My favorite thing about Diaz's defense was that it it made everybody on the field look like they were in a position to make a play. Compare that to Dorito where half the defense was not in a position to contribute.

Diaz had a pretty good defense his first year at UT. Then the bottom fell out. Not sure what he lost personnel wise from year one to year two there, so that could be part of the explanation for his downfall.

 

[CaneSince4Ever]

[MENTION=5971]canesfanmpls[/MENTION]...

Too often coaches have success and try to get more complicated on both sides of the ball and it can end up working against you.

This.

 

[LuCane]

I didn't know what to think of Diaz when we got him as the DC last year. Philosophically, I strongly agreed with the aggressive style he was preaching, but I didn't know what he could do during a game with the playcalling and adjustments.

I thought he did a great job last year - both as the DC and coaching and developing the LBs. Sure the 3 freshmen LBs have talent, but clearly Diaz put them in a position to be successful. It worked out very well.

Looking forward to what a Year 2 defense looks like with our players and quality coaches on the defensive side of the ball - especially the DL....

His work as LB coach was even more impressive than his work as DC. It's basically unprecedented to see a team with 3 true freshmans starting LBs perform as well as ours did statistically.

There were faxquits on here prior to the season trying to tell me that the freshmans LBs would be our downfall. I fought them, but, deep down, I wasn't even sure I believed what I was pitching.

I just hope Diaz sticks to the game plan. Too often coaches have success and try to get more complicated on both sides of the ball and it can end up working against you. My favorite thing about Diaz's defense was that it it made everybody on the field look like they were in a position to make a play. Compare that to Dorito where half the defense was not in a position to contribute.

Diaz had a pretty good defense his first year at UT. Then the bottom fell out. Not sure what he lost personnel wise from year one to year two there, so that could be part of the explanation for his downfall.

Whether true, not or somewhere in between, it's been said there were two main differences, as you and I have debated about in the past:

1) Diaz did lose some guys who are key players in his style of defense (to which I conceded your past point about that meaning a potential negative in terms of complexity)
2) Diaz was supposedly in some kind of philosophical tension between his 2-read coverages and the man coverages other coaches on his staff wanted to employ in order to attract/recruit a style of DB for Texas

I don't have any knowledge of the inner workings of what happened at Texas, but I know he's shown decent enough results whenever he's played his style of defense. What that means for us is decent news, since it seems he's been given autonomy here (as he was at La. Tech and Miss St). His biggest issue, in my view anyway, has always been whether he gets too aggressive or not. Hoping he continually improves on balance and reliance on blitz packages without losing his "create negative plays" mentality. If last year was any indication, he definitely adjusted well in-game. Positive data for now.

Also important to note his style of defense relies so heavily on the front and Coach Kul is the perfect match for Diaz's needs.