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Maybe this is one of the reasons offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was fired with two games remaining in the regular season.
James Franklin knew it was possible if not likely that he could lose Manny Diaz to a head-coaching opportunity, which was confirmed Thursday when Duke hired the Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator.
Franklin also knew the Lions didn't need any offensive coaches to put away Rutgers and Michigan State in the final two games.
So rather than having to deal with searching for two coordinators simultaneously in what is the busiest month of the year -- the transfer portal, players debating an NFL future, bowl obligations and preparation and signing day upcoming -- Franklin got ahead of the process by dismissing Yurcich early.
He nabbed Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki last week and now can focus on securing Diaz's replacement.
Diaz's move to Duke makes sense.
He has a background in the south, having graduated from Florida State and spent a dozen years in the ACC, including three seasons as Miami's head coach (2019-21) before landing softly at PSU following his dismissal from the Hurricanes.
Diaz could have stayed another year at Penn State and may have gotten a better job than Duke, like Brent Pry did at Virginia Tech, but Diaz's stock would probably never be higher than it is right now.
His defense led the nation statistically this past season, and Penn State has been in the Top 10 the last two years.
But the Lions are embarking on a much more ambitious schedule in 2024, and with the infusion of former Pac-12 teams like USC, Washington and UCLA, they'll be going up against traditionally stronger offenses than just Ohio State and Michigan.
They're also losing several of their best defensive players in Chop Robinson, Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, Adisa Isaac and possibly Curtis Jacobs.
Consequently, the reality is the Lions' defense could well take a step backward next year.
Diaz leaves a positive legacy, but his unit was also culpable in failing to do its part against the two teams that continue to haunt Franklin's tenure -- Michigan and Ohio State.
There were two defensive keys coming into this season -- keeping a handle on Marvin Harrison and stopping Michigan's run, and the Lions didn't do either well enough.
That was true last year, too.
So while Diaz's body of work was credible, and the defense did keep the Lions in this year's Ohio State and Michigan games while their feeble offense did nothing, we also weren't watching the championship defensive squads of 1968-69 and 1986.
Now for the first time since his third season -- when they won the Big Ten title -- Franklin will be working with two new coordinators.
Many are speculating that Franklin will promote safeties coach Anthony Poindexter, who has been the co-defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. He could also turn to veteran assistant Terry Smith or go outside the current staff.
If he's fortunate, Franklin will find someone who did the job as well as Manny Diaz but also a DC who can help get the Nittany Lions to that ever-elusive next level.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.