Jim Knowles‘ scheme is so complex that players are constantly thinking instead of playing fast, and it’s showing. The defense has gone from leading in sacks to barely getting any pressure at all, dropping 53% from last year. After getting a beatdown from the No. 1 program last weekend, Terry Smith is all set to capitalize on a new game plan for the Indiana clash. It’s a strategy that he is familiar with, thanks to his former colleagues in Happy Valley handled the Nittany Lions’ secondary.

After the opening practice on Wednesday evening, the interim head coach spoke to the reporters. Terry Smith was reminded that the Hoosiers’ defense is similar to how Manny Diaz used to take care of the Penn State defense. The PSU interim head coach is all set to embrace that style. “Manny’s defense was a movement defense. It’s a vertical defense. These guys are that way. They move a lot. We have to make sure we stay ahead of the sticks,” Smith said.

Under Manny Diaz, Penn State’s defense had been flat-out dominant. The Nittany Lions ranked fifth and then first in yards per play allowed. They had given up just 3.91 yards per play. This is what Smith expects from the #2 Indiana and has a strategy to counter.” They pride themselves on a lot of movement. Getting you behind the sticks, second and long, third and long, it’s tough to call plays that way. We’ve got to get positive yards. We’ve got to get four or five yards on first down.” This philosophy was evident in Penn State’s 2022 and 2023 seasons under Manny Diaz, the current HC of Duke, where he earns $4 million.

The defense stressed fresh legs and aggressive looks to disrupt opponents. Then Penn State was the best mark by any FBS team since Florida State in 2012. In 2023, they led the nation in total defense and sacks, ranked second in rushing defense and tackles for loss, third in scoring and passing defense, and eighth in pass efficiency defense. Opponents just couldn’t move the ball.

Under Diaz’s two-year reign, Penn State had held 17 straight opponents under 24 points, with four shutouts. Even Michigan State and Ohio State couldn’t crack them. Michigan State scored its fewest points of the season, and Ohio State managed only its second-lowest. That was the true dominance of Manny Diaz’s philosophy.

The defensive “Prowler” package, featuring three defensive ends and safety in the box, became a deadly third-down tool. The 51-year-old loved using guys like safety Ji’Ayir Brown and linebacker/edge Abdul Carter as his “Swiss Army knives.” He moved them all over the field from safety to linebacker to stand-up end, just to mess with offenses and create mismatches. Compared to all this, Jim Knowles is facing a lot of difficulty in racking up results this season, even coming to Happy Valley with the taste of a national championship. The reason? It’s too complex.

Terry Smith addressed the problem with Jim Knowles’ defense 

The Nittany Lions’ beatdown from the Buckeyes was the major eye opener, raising questions about the defensive coordinator. The Buckeyes ran away with a 38-14 win, leaving fans and coaches scratching their heads. In the post-game press conference, interim head coach Terry Smith didn’t mince words. “It’s complicated. It’s very complicated,” Terry Smith cleared his stance on the Knowles’ defense.

“I think it’s a combination of all things you know, lack of past rush, lack of DBs covering. There are times we’re in man, there are times we’re in cover three, just it was a point of emphasis,” Smith said. The Lions faced off against two of the nation’s best wide receivers, Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith. They made Penn State secondary look like a sieve. Tate racked up 124 receiving yards, while Smith caught 123 yards, including two touchdowns. The highlight reel included a killer 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter and a jaw-dropping 57-yard strike in the third.

“It was key to victory. You cannot let them go beyond you. Now, credit to those guys. They are the two best guys in the country.” Penn State’s rushing defense is ranked 92nd nationally, and the Buckeyes rolled up 316 yards passing. A clear issue for the Nittany Lions is that they have failed to address under Jim Knowles. The stakes for him are even higher because of his massive $3.1 million annual contract, the highest-paid assistant in college football. The challenge got even tougher as #2 Indiana awaits them.