STARKVILLE — Manny Diaz isn’t worried about this week’s opponent understanding his defense.
The Mississippi State defensive coordinator spent the 2014 season in Ruston, Louisiana, leading the Louisiana Tech defense. Even with Diaz’s familiarity of Louisiana Tech, MSU (4-2) hasn’t changed its philosophy as it continues preparations to take on Louisiana Tech (4-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday (SEC Network).
“There will be some things that will be the same and there will be some things that will be different,” said Diaz, who added the only changes MSU might make is altering a couple of signals. “I don’t think there’s as many secrets as we are all led to believe.”
Last season, Diaz’s defense at Louisiana Tech led the nation in forced turnovers (42). It allowed only 362.5 yards and 24.7 points per game, and helped Louisiana Tech (9-5) cap its season with a victory against Illinois in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz was glad to have Diaz on his staff last season. He admits his offense will face a challenge in Starkville.
“You know you are not going to get just that size and power, but you are going to get a scheme that will twist your head around a little bit,” Holtz said. “You have to expect the unexpected going into this game.”
Diaz was the defensive coordinator at MSU in 2010, but he left to take the same position at Texas. He lasted two-and-a-half years with the Longhorns before being fired. Louisiana Tech hired him for the next season.
This season, MSU is allowing 361 yards and 17.7 ppg. Last week against Troy, the Bulldogs tied a school record with 15 tackles for loss.
Holtz was sad to see Diaz go, but he understood the allure of coaching at a SEC school.
“He got an opportunity to get back on that horse again,” said Holtz, whose father, Lou, also coached at South Carolina. Skip Holtz also has coached Connecticut, East Carolina, and South Florida. “I am happy for him.”
Holtz said Diaz created an attitude with Louisiana Tech’s defense that has carried over to this season. Holtz promoted Blake Baker to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after he served one year as the safeties coach.
Diaz and Baker have kept in touch, but Baker said he isn’t approaching this week any differently.
“It is probably a little more meaningful having the relationship that we have,” Baker said. “We talk every single week still to this day. We are good friends off the field.
“It is bragging rights, so it is a little more meaningful.”
Baker’s defense is allowing 26.2 ppg. and 361.5 yards per game.
Former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel, a redshirt senior, leads Louisiana Tech’s offense. On Wednesday, Driskel, who has passed for more yards in six games at Louisiana Tech than he did in any full season at Florida, was added to the Manning Award Watch List. The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. The winner will be announced after the bowls in January.
Driskel is 136 of 223 for 1,812 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is 11th in the nation in passing yards, and is averaging 302.0 passing yards per game (16th in the nation). His total of 11 passing touchdowns is one shy of tying the most he threw in a season at Florida.
Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly also is on the 10-player watch list.
Senior running back Kenneth Dixon, who missed Louisiana Tech’s 34-31 victory against the University of Texas at San Antonio last week (ankle), has rushed for 583 yards and six touchdowns.
Louisiana Tech is scoring 39.5 ppg. and is averaging 493.7 ypg.
Diaz said Louisiana Tech has one of the most balanced offenses MSU has faced. In losses to Western Kentucky and Kansas State, Louisiana Tech scored 38 and 33 points, respectively. It scored 62 points in a season-opening victory against Southern and had 43 in a victory against Louisiana-Lafayette.
“We’re playing a really good football team,” Diaz said. “We’re playing a team that, in my mind, will win the Western Division of Conference USA and be in the championship game again, with an SEC quarterback who has won games on the road in the SEC, with a tailback who’s broken all kinds of NCAA records and has played in all kinds of big stadiums against all kinds of great defenses.
“This is a really exciting challenge for our guys on defense because this team can play. We’re going to have to play very well to get the kind of outcome we want.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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