It seems to me that a Bishop who can't attract and inspire men for the Priesthood, can't attract them for the Permanent Diaconate either.
I don't have any data to back me up, but it seems the priesthood and the diaconate are parallel lines. They would flourish or languish for the same reasons. They would go up or down in tandem.
It would be a good thing to study more about.
For a small diocese, Knoxville has, I think, pretty good numbers of both priests and deacons, and more of both "in the pipeline," in seminary/ training.
May I advise you to re-read the posted article?
These bishops who can't inspire single men for the priesthood are now advocating married priests. If that fails, what's next, womyn priests?