That is not "lights out". It's bend but not break D, I assure you that is what Chavis is widely known for... go ask any Vols fan. Whether you think he is a homerun or not is beside the point, he is not going to get youa "lights out" defense... he will give you a "bend but don't break" defense. "lights out" is not his style. And if you think you had a "lights out" defense this year I must have been watching some other team.... virtually all the teams stayed on the field against LSU and were able to move the ball. If that is your thing then that is cool, but it simply is not a "lights out" defense.
When you can't stop the team and get them off the field... LSU really couldn't stop teams from moving the ball... it's bend and don't break. Look guys that is what he is... that is his style... I wish this were up for debate. Did you actually see the games this year? I assure you that is not a "lights out" defense it was "bend and don't break" defense... it's the same thing Chavis has done his whole career. Hey, I am not blasting the guy... I am blasting people that think they are going to get a "lights out" D. You certainly haven't been watching the games this year or Chavis over the last 10+ years. LSU clearly kept opponents from scoring... it was Chavis's bend and don't break... I wish there was something to discuss. What you saw this year was a typical Chavis defense.... team moves the ball but they don't give up the huge plays. If you didn't like this year, you probably are not going to like next year. If you liked this year, well you will get more the same next year.
What ever his style is it has worked well for years, he is a top DC, all you have to do is look at his history. he had the top D in the SEC in 08' and their record was 5-7, this was only his first year, the D did give more yards than I like but they were tough in the red zone, next year the D should be a lot better. John Chavis Bio - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics
...between the 20s. here's a newsflash---TEAMS DONT GET POINTS FOR YARDAGE. right. um, what? so does this mean "lights out" is fewer yds not fewer points? yes, i always prefer the opponent to score more than 16 ppg. it makes the games interesting until the very end.
:geaux: It's pretty tough to have a "lights out" defense when you don't have a "lights out" DL. Our defensive line was the weak link of the defense this year without a doubt. Not able to pressure the QB and not that tough against the run all year. Our "D" was pretty much LB's and DB's the entire season, a direct reflection of Chavis and Cooper. Haley didn't have much to work with, IMO. I've heard all the "3rd and Chavis" stuff from Vols fans, but you have to admit that The Chiefs Vol defenses were always ranked highly nationwide and usually in the top 10. I always thought Tennessee's defenses were tough when Chavis was there. And I don't see where the Vol defense was much improved this year with Monte Kiffin running the show. They were 7-5 and got their azz's handed to them several times this season. On the other hand, we lose three games by a total of 21 points which included games against #1 and #2 in the country. And go back and remember Bo Pelini's last year here in '07. The last half of the year the defense wasn't exactly shutting people down by any stretch of the word. 50 pts to Ar-Kansas, 40+ to Kentucky, 34 to 'Bama, etc. And we had better personnel overall on that defensive unit than we have now, IMO. And did you forget how tough the Chavis' Vol defense was against LSU in the SEC Championship game? If Zenon doesn't get the "pick 6" we might not win that game. The LSU offense just outscored and overpowered teams that year. I'm not sayin' The Chief is the best thing since sliced bread. The defense definitely played pretty rough in several games this year and tackling was a problem. Having said that, the difference between this year and Malveto is like daylight and dark. No comparison. The defense kept us in games this year and gave us the chance to win that wouldn't have happened last year, no doubt. I'm willing to give Chavis, Cooper and Haley more time to recruit and develop the talent to their system. We'll be much better next year.:thumb: :LSU231:
People overlook the fact that this is a new defense that the players had to learn. It was only year one and we saw drastic improvements.
True, it has gotten better..... at times However I still don't think they are very good. For some reason I get the feeling that they just haven't realized their potential just yet. Could be that they haven't figured it all out, could be we need changes on the DL to get pressure. I don't know. While I would love to think that I'm some great football genius, there has to be a reason I'm not pulling down a couple mil and wearing a headset on a sideline. That said, my letter to Santa reads: Better tackling, more pressure on the QB.
I don't think it's a coaching issue, more of a player personnel issue. What is the one thing you think of when you think of LSU defense over the last decade and hell even in the 90's? Big physical, dominant defensive tackles. We don't have that anymore. I think the defense has improved and we are right there. I can live with the yards given up as long as the scoring is kept at a minimum, for now, but we have to get some big guys who eat up blocks on the defensive line, we have been terrible against the run this season. In our losses, we gave up 193 yards on the ground to UF, 176 on the ground to Bama, and 193 on the ground to Ole Miss. We have to get back to being a dominant, physical defensive line, or these problems are going to continue.
I think the last few weeks the LSU has honestly sucked but I think a lot is a loss of focus. THe LSU D was playing much better than the last three weeks. Ive said for a while though the coaches need to teach tackling. It had gotten a lot better until the Bama game. Now its piss poor. Its the entire team but the DL and DBs are horrible. Peterson was beast, lately he is even getting beaten in pass coverage. This a guy that shut down Green outside of a few early catches and dominated Jones. All of a sudden Ole Miss and Arkansas are regularly completing passes on him. Not slamming him here, just an example of how the team has lost all focus. Which I think falls on the coaches, namely Miles who is at top. Miles doesnt have much focus or his time management wouldnt be so horrible. Id been saying the last few weeks the team is aloof like Miles. You follow your leader. The only problem I have with Chavis is the lack of aggressiveness. Ive never liked a bend but dont break scheme. We need to blitz since our DL cant pressure a DII school. Also our CBs often play too far off the WR basically giving away a slant. The D has really gone south in the Ole Miss and Ark games.
