Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Manny Diaz Has Miami Defense Making a Statement

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Through the first three games of the season, new Miami Hurricanes defense Coordinator Manny Diaz has the Hurricanes playing an attacking style defense that has led to the domination of their first three opponents.

Despite the return of just two starters from 2015, Diaz’ impact on the Hurricanes improvement defensively cannot be understated. Miami lost three returning starters who were dismissed in the offseason because of a rental car scandal.

Jeremaine Grace, Juwon Young, and Quan Muhammad were Miami’s three leading tacklers a season ago. Even with a soft schedule early, Diaz has had his newly rebuilt defense playing with aggression since kickoff against Florida A&M.

Miami held the Rattlers to 197 total yards, just 22 on the ground. They added three sacks and 14 tackles for loss against FCS FAMU, who only won one game last season.

The Hurricanes continued their dominance on the defensive side of the ball against FBS Florida Atlantic and Appalachian State. The ‘Cane defense is ranked in the top five nationally in multiple categories.

Their 217 total yards allowed per game ranks second to Kansas State. Miami is fourth in rush defense, first in tackles for loss per game, and tied for first in sacks. This is the type of defense Miami played in their championship eras of the 1980’s, early 1990’s and early 2000’s.

Diaz has had to count an All-Freshman linebacking core that has played beyond their years. Many have compared the linebacking core to the Bermuda Triangle of Jessie Armstead, Michael Barrow and Darrin Smith in the 1990’s and the early 2000’s teams that featured Jonathan Vilma and D. J. Willams.

The current core has been a major part of Miami’s early success. Michael Pinckney is tied for the ‘Canes lead with 16 tackles and has 1.5 sacks, Shaq Quarterman has 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks manning the all-important middle linebacker spot and Zach McCloud has seven tackles playing the strong side, or SAM linebacker.

The Breakout star on the Miami defense has been Defensive End/Viper Chad Thomas. Thomas is third on the team with 15 tackles and leads the team with five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. In his first two seasons under the old regime, Thomas had a total of 25 tackles, 2.5 for loss and one sack.

Diaz spoke to WQAM in January just after he was hired. Among the things he said were:

“It’s about getting four defensive linemen … and when that ball’s snapped those guys are getting across the line of scrimmage…That’s really what the rest of the country wanted to emulate. The first thing we’re looking forward to bringing back is getting our feet across the line of scrimmage so we can create havoc in the backfield.”

Diaz also reminisced about the Hurricanes shutting down the vaunted Oklahoma wishbone. Diaz and his defense have a similar task Saturday shutting down the Georgia Tech option. The Tech running machine hasn’t been as strong since they led the nation in rushing in 2014

They shredded Miami for 314 yards rushing on 57 carries with three touchdowns last season. The Hurricanes were able to withstand the Tech rushing attack and won 38-21 at the now Hard Rock Stadium.