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After a few years of positive seasons, the Duke Blue Devils are ready to build a football program that mirrors its basketball success and coach Manny Diaz is no stranger to building a program or the Atlantic Coast Conference Media Days. He comes in with a new defense, but the same Duke culture and attitude.
Diaz Talks Duke
The ACC is a conference that is known for its offense but Diaz, a defensive-minded coach, is attacking from the defensive side of the ball. He spoke about how his defense has traveled with him throughout his career and has always been a staple to his game plan, during Duke's time at the podium in Charlotte, N.C.
“We want to create a high volume of negative plays," Diaz said of his defensive philosophy. "It's important to us to lead the nation in tackles for loss. Those are drive killers. There's a reason behind that. That puts people in third down and long. No one turns the ball over more than they do on third down and long. Everybody knows that turnovers win.”
Diaz also commented on the Duke culture and how it has helped with his transition in his first year with the program.
“The best thing we have at Duke is our people … culture is what you do for each other, in the offseason and in the weight room," Diaz said. "What you find out being at Duke is that you spend so much time instilling the virtues of hard work, discipline and sacrifice. What you find here at Duke is that they already have it.”
Stinson 1-on-1
College Football Dawgs sat down with Duke Safety Jaylen Stinson. Stinson and broke down lessons, changing the perspective of the ACC and competing against wide receiver Sahmir Hagans.
Q: “What lessons have you taken from previous years to make you a better player?”
Stinson: “The biggest thing I’ve learned is film. It helps you out so much. You’re able to anticipate things, guess things. When you see something on the field you already know it’s coming.”
Q: “The [ACC] commissioner spoke during the kickoff about how it’s a league of quarterbacks.”
Stinson: “I just talked to somebody about that. I feel like it’s a slap in the face. Saying it’s a league of quarterback’s is saying the DB’s aren’t stopping them. So hopefully that motivates all the DB’s in the ACC to step up our game and not let the quarterbacks feel like they can do whatever they want to.”
Q: “Who’s on the offense, that you go against at practice, who brings out your best?”
Stinson: “Sahmir Hagans, I’m waiting for him, Fall camp. I hope they prepared because I’m going to be on that type of timing. I’m ready for him.”
Duke a Top Contender in ACC
Duke and Diaz kick off their first year in lockstep about improving their place in the ACC. Diaz brings his defensive mindset to a program built on hard work, discipline and sacrifice. An elixir ripe to create a stingy and staunch defense.
Duke’s recent football success is a direct reflection of the integrity of the program and the 2024 season will see that success continue. The ACC is primed to be one of the tougher conferences in the nation and Duke is adding their name to the top contenders list.
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