Preparations heating up for Purdue defense under new coordinator Diaco

MORE: 2020 camp coverage

Bob Diaco is in West Lafayette for a reason: To stop the bleeding on defense.

The new Purdue defensive coordinator has an extensive to-do list as he assumes command from former coordinator Nick Holt. But there are a few items that are most pressing. One of those areas: reducing the number of big plays.

The linebacking unit he coaches--which is led by senior Derrick Barnes, junior Jaylan Alexander and JC transfer DaMarcus Mitchell--must play well for the Boilermaker defense to reach its goals in 2020.

"I really enjoy working with this group," said Diaco after practice on Sunday. "They are a bunch of good guys, smart guys. And they want to be good."

What will be the base defense for Diaco? Most think a 3-4 will be the standard alignment.

"This isn't some state secret," said Diaco. "People have a profile. We are in as much four down (lineman) as we are three."

Said Brohm earlier this year: "We will be very multiple in what we do. You have to come out and teach all the details of every single thing. You have to take segments of it and continue to work it in great detail and make sure we understand it. … We will be very multiple in what we do."

A 3-4, 4-3 ... whatever gets the job done for a defense that must improve after finishing 12th out of 14 Big Ten teams last season in long scrimmage plays allowed (10 yards or more) with 176. The Boilermakers allowed 211 (12th in Big Ten) in 2018 and 184 (12th) in 2017. That trend must reverse.

"We gave up way more big plays and explosive plays on defense than we ever have," said Jeff Brohm earlier in 2020. "You aren’t gonna win football games doing that. You want to be aggressive and attack, (but) you can’t give up that many big plays. We are gonna work hard to make sure to get that number down. ... That will be key."

Diaco also must find a way to generate more big plays. In 2019, Purdue was 12th in the Big Ten in sacks (23.0) and 10th in tackles for loss (72.0), while ranking 12th in the league vs. the run (192.5 ypg).

If the Boilermakers hope to post their first winning record since 2017, Diaco needs to repeat what he did last season running the Louisiana Tech's defense. Diaco helped the Bulldogs go 10-3 in his only season in Ruston, capping the year with a shutout of Miami (Fla.) in the Independence Bowl. Diaco's Lousiana Tech defense ranked 31st in the nation, allowing just over 21 points per game. The Bulldogs also had the No. 2 ranked red zone defense in the nation this past season.

Doing the basics will be key. And there is no basic skill more key to the success of any defense than tackling, which often is sloppy early in the season.

"We work on tackling every single day," said Diaco. "Some component of it. It's a very hard thing to do."

Diaco--a former Iowa linebacker under Hayden Fry--has an impressive resume. He has been a head coach (UConn) and coordinated defense at schools like Notre Dame, Nebraska and Cincinnati. His starting new again at Purdue. And Diaco knows it's a building process.

"Well, you know, we're just starting," said Diaco. "So, it's a brand new defense with brand new techniques, brand new mind-set, brand new fundamentals and jobs and language ... So, there's a lot of work that needs to be done and a lot that will be done. We are at the very beginning of a long process."

Derrick Barnes will admit it. He’s happy to be back at linebacker in the defense of new coordinator Bob Diaco.

"I'm very excited," said Barnes today after practice. "I know it's the right position for me. But, you know, like I said, wherever the team wants me to play. They put me back at linebacker ... I was excited, it just feels good to be back at my natural position ... It also helped me a lot to play d-end last year because now it's easier to study defenses."

Linebacker is the position Barnes was recruited to Purdue for coming out of Holy Cross High in Covington, Ky. He excelled coming off the edge at the "Leo" spot in the later part of 2019, finishing tied with George Karlaftis for the team lead in sacks with 7.5. Now, Barnes says he will play middle linebacker. And he has trimmed up for the assignment.

"The weight I am now is pretty good," he said.

Last season, the 6-1, 245-pound senior finished second on the team in tackles with 63 and tallied 11.0 TFLs. But Barnes' contributions will have to go beyond just tackles, sacks and TFLs. He also must lead.

"Being a guy people can depend on," said Barnes. "If they need something, they can come to me. No matter what it is, on the field or off the field."

DaMarcus Mitchell. Learn the name. He figures to be a key cog in the 2020 defense.

It's hard not to notice the 6-3, 270-pound Mitchell, who is settling into the Purdue defense after arriving in the spring from a JC.

"The atmosphere up here is way different than junior college," said Mitchell after practice on Sunday.

Mitchell was headed to play for new Boilermaker coordinator Bob Diaco at Louisiana Tech coming out of Southwest Mississippi C.C., where he played running back as a freshman. But when Diaco got the job at Purdue, Mitchell followed. The Thibodaux, La., native arrived in time to take part in the truncated spring practice season.

"DaMarcus is a great player, a great athlete," said Derrick Barnes. "He brings a lot of toughness and speed to our defense. He's going to be an impact player this year. It's going to be exciting to see."

Back in March, Mitchell often was lining up at an outside linebacker spot in the 3-4 base defense. And Mitchell fessed today after practice that he will play the CAT spot to the boundary. How would he describe himself as a linebacker?

"Wait until the 24th," said Mitchell, referencing Purdue's season-opener vs. Iowa at home on October 24. "I feel that I'm gonna be an asset to the team. Not just me, but all the other linebackers."

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