🏈 John Chavis to take over the Defense at LSU

[imported_RollTideRandy]

Linky

I'm a little surprised by this move. Chavis has taken a lot of criticism from UT fans over the past five years and the Vols' defense has really struggled the past two seasons. I didn't expected Chavis to land another DC gig so soon and especially not some place like LSU.

 

[rammerjammer]

I might have a higher opinion of Chavis than others, but I think he has been the one steady thing at UT. I think his biggest problem has been a fall off in talent as a whole. They still have been able to get very talented players, but not superior talent like what they had in the 90's (and all over the field). With the offensive woes that UT went through with Kennedy and Clausen as OC...I think that put more of a burden/pressure on Chavis' defense. One thing is for sure. Both LSU and Chavis will receive and upgrade. Chavis I think will get an upgrade in talent while LSU will no doubt get an upgrade in DC IMO. I think it will be interesting to see how he does.

 

[alagator]

I'm a little surprised by this move. Chavis has taken a lot of criticism from UT fans over the past five years and the Vols' defense has really struggled the past two seasons. I didn't expected Chavis to land another DC gig so soon and especially not some place like LSU.

Let's examine the numbers for a moment.

This year, Tennessee's defense was...

~12th NATIONALLY in Rush/game (averaging the same YPC as our defense);
~4th NATIONALLY in Pass/game (we were 21st);
~4th NATIONALLY in Total Yards/game (about 7 yds/game behing our 3rd ranked unit - and they actually gave up fewer Yds/play than we did);
~10th NATIONALLY in Points/game (about a FG/game behind our 6th ranked unit);
~14th NATIONALLY in Pass Def Efficiency (one spot behind our unit).

I long for the day we can 'really struggle' year-in and year-out in such fashion.

Defense was NOT the problem in Knoxville the past few years. Which is one reason Monte Kiffin will not have the impact many believe. He will produce there, but can he really yield THAT much better results than Chavis. Chavis will be a good hire for LSU.

 

[Guest]

As if he didn't look dumb enough dressed like a pumpkin. Now he's going to be a big PB&J cajun wanna-be. :roll: :lol:

 

[Guest]

I'm a little surprised by this move. Chavis has taken a lot of criticism from UT fans over the past five years and the Vols' defense has really struggled the past two seasons. I didn't expected Chavis to land another DC gig so soon and especially not some place like LSU.

Let's examine the numbers for a moment.

This year, Tennessee's defense was...

~12th NATIONALLY in Rush/game (averaging the same YPC as our defense);
~4th NATIONALLY in Pass/game (we were 21st);
~4th NATIONALLY in Total Yards/game (about 7 yds/game behing our 3rd ranked unit - and they actually gave up fewer Yds/play than we did);
~10th NATIONALLY in Points/game (about a FG/game behind our 6th ranked unit);
~14th NATIONALLY in Pass Def Efficiency (one spot behind our unit).

I long for the day we can 'really struggle' year-in and year-out in such fashion.

Defense was NOT the problem in Knoxville the past few years. Which is one reason Monte Kiffin will not have the impact many believe. He will produce there, but can he really yield THAT much better results than Chavis. Chavis will be a good hire for LSU.

I questioned the hire as well. I didn't research the stats though. So it looks like we have less to worry about at UT but maybe more to worry about at LSU.

Then again I don't think I'll worry about either. Thanks for giving us the stats though, gator.

 

[ORANGEADDICT]

chavis was a good guy, but it had been reported he lost a lot of desire,much like the rest of the staff. Maybe a change in lattitude for him will change his attitude....i wish him luck.

 

[TerryP]

chavis was a good guy, but it had been reported he lost a lot of desire,much like the rest of the staff. Maybe a change in lattitude for him will change his attitude....i wish him luck.

I saw attitude as a big part of the problem with UT the last few years.

Interestingly enough, I've questioned the attitude and desire w/ the LSU defense this year as well.

I think he's a good DC. How good of a fit with Miles is going to be "left to be determined."

 

[bear facts]

I'm a little surprised by this move. Chavis has taken a lot of criticism from UT fans over the past five years and the Vols' defense has really struggled the past two seasons. I didn't expected Chavis to land another DC gig so soon and especially not some place like LSU.

Let's examine the numbers for a moment.

This year, Tennessee's defense was...

~12th NATIONALLY in Rush/game (averaging the same YPC as our defense);
~4th NATIONALLY in Pass/game (we were 21st);
~4th NATIONALLY in Total Yards/game (about 7 yds/game behing our 3rd ranked unit - and they actually gave up fewer Yds/play than we did);
~10th NATIONALLY in Points/game (about a FG/game behind our 6th ranked unit);
~14th NATIONALLY in Pass Def Efficiency (one spot behind our unit).

I long for the day we can 'really struggle' year-in and year-out in such fashion.

Defense was NOT the problem in Knoxville the past few years. Which is one reason Monte Kiffin will not have the impact many believe. He will produce there, but can he really yield THAT much better results than Chavis. Chavis will be a good hire for LSU.

Alagator, thanks for the numbers. I actually saw this news posted yesterday on a couple other sites and figured it had already been posted here.

It will be interesting to see what Chavis does at LSU, especially in terms of its secondary, which seemed to be LSU's Achilles' heel on defense this past season.

Of course against Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Bama, & Troy, LSU QB Lee skewed some of LSU's opposition point totals, but still the Tiger defense has been porous these past two seasons.

 

[alagator]

Of course against Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Bama, & Troy, LSU QB Lee skewed some of LSU's opposition point totals, but still the Tiger defense has been porous these past two seasons.

Just to point out something without passing any judgment.

But, do you realize that the LSU QB threw only two fewer Pick-6s than our starting QB threw TD passes.

Arguments can be made for how those numbers reflect poorly on BOTH players.

 

[rammerjammer]

Of course against Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Bama, & Troy, LSU QB Lee skewed some of LSU's opposition point totals, but still the Tiger defense has been porous these past two seasons.

Just to point out something without passing any judgment.

But, do you realize that the LSU QB threw only two fewer Pick-6s than our starting QB threw TD passes.

Arguments can be made for how those numbers reflect poorly on BOTH players.

All that shows is how stats can be skeewed. We were a running team. Probably more of a comparison is fumbles on our part as opposed to int's on theirs. We ran first and threw second. Remember JPW went several games without throwing a TD pass while we were running up and down the field on opponents, meanwhile the media was harping about no TD's thrown by JPW.

 

[TerryP]

Of course against Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Bama, & Troy, LSU QB Lee skewed some of LSU's opposition point totals, but still the Tiger defense has been porous these past two seasons.

Just to point out something without passing any judgment.

But, do you realize that the LSU QB threw only two fewer Pick-6s than our starting QB threw TD passes.

Arguments can be made for how those numbers reflect poorly on BOTH players.

All that shows is how stats can be skeewed. We were a running team. Probably more of a comparison is fumbles on our part as opposed to int's on theirs. We ran first and threw second. Remember JPW went several games without throwing a TD pass while we were running up and down the field on opponents, meanwhile the media was harping about no TD's thrown by JPW.

Take one example of LSU in that thought Doug. Just as an example, it was a pass that set up JP's sneak for a TD in overtime.

If we were inside the 10, the chances of us being able to run the ball in for a TD were very good.

The one thing JP lacked this year was those TD's that were 20+ yard TD's thrown.

17 for 24 against UT. 3 or 4 of those passes were thrown away on 3rd down attempts. No TD's thrown in the game.

I'd have to look back...but I want to say the longest pass for a TD this year was versus Auburn (close to 40 yards) and that was one of those quick strikes after Brad Lester had fumbled the ball.

 

[BamaGradinTN]

I'm a little surprised by this move. Chavis has taken a lot of criticism from UT fans over the past five years and the Vols' defense has really struggled the past two seasons. I didn't expected Chavis to land another DC gig so soon and especially not some place like LSU.

Let's examine the numbers for a moment.

This year, Tennessee's defense was...

~12th NATIONALLY in Rush/game (averaging the same YPC as our defense);
~4th NATIONALLY in Pass/game (we were 21st);
~4th NATIONALLY in Total Yards/game (about 7 yds/game behing our 3rd ranked unit - and they actually gave up fewer Yds/play than we did);
~10th NATIONALLY in Points/game (about a FG/game behind our 6th ranked unit);
~14th NATIONALLY in Pass Def Efficiency (one spot behind our unit).

I long for the day we can 'really struggle' year-in and year-out in such fashion.

Defense was NOT the problem in Knoxville the past few years. Which is one reason Monte Kiffin will not have the impact many believe. He will produce there, but can he really yield THAT much better results than Chavis. Chavis will be a good hire for LSU.

Those are pretty good numbers, but they really need to be put in perspective. (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/statistics.htm)

4th nationally in pass defense? Here were some of their opponents, with national ranking (out of 120 teams):

UCLA, 71
UAB, 75
Miss. St., 93
Alabama, 95
Kentucky, 97
Auburn, 98
N. Ill., 100
Vandy, 112
Wyoming, 114

Avg. ranking of UT opponents in pass ydg: 82nd
Avg. ranking of Alabama's opponents: 70th.

4th in total yards?

N. Ill., 84
S. Carolina, 97
Auburn, 103
Kentucky, 105
Wyoming, 108
UCLA, 112
Miss. St., 114

Avg. ranking of UT opponents in total ydg: 82nd
Avg. ranking of Alabama's opponents: 76th.

10th in scoring defense?

UAB, 86
S. Carolina, 92
Vandy, 104
UCLA, 109
Auburn, 111
Miss. St., 116
Wyoming, 120 (dead last)

Avg. ranking of UT opponents in pts. allowed: 79th
Avg. ranking of Alabama's opponents: 70th.

While Tennessee's defensive numbers were pretty good, most of the teams they played were among the worst offensive teams in the country. Only three were among the top half in passing offense and scoring. Only four were among the top half in total offense.

Chavis to LSU doesn't worry me in the least, mostly because of these numbers. 70 and 29.

70...the number of points we scored off him in the last two games.

29...The age of the kid who coached circles around Chavis in BDS in October 07.

 

[bear facts]

I'm a little surprised by this move. Chavis has taken a lot of criticism from UT fans over the past five years and the Vols' defense has really struggled the past two seasons. I didn't expected Chavis to land another DC gig so soon and especially not some place like LSU.

Let's examine the numbers for a moment.

This year, Tennessee's defense was...

~12th NATIONALLY in Rush/game (averaging the same YPC as our defense);
~4th NATIONALLY in Pass/game (we were 21st);
~4th NATIONALLY in Total Yards/game (about 7 yds/game behing our 3rd ranked unit - and they actually gave up fewer Yds/play than we did);
~10th NATIONALLY in Points/game (about a FG/game behind our 6th ranked unit);
~14th NATIONALLY in Pass Def Efficiency (one spot behind our unit).

I long for the day we can 'really struggle' year-in and year-out in such fashion.

Defense was NOT the problem in Knoxville the past few years. Which is one reason Monte Kiffin will not have the impact many believe. He will produce there, but can he really yield THAT much better results than Chavis. Chavis will be a good hire for LSU.

Those are pretty good numbers, but they really need to be put in perspective. (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/statistics.htm)

4th nationally in pass defense? Here were some of their opponents, with national ranking (out of 120 teams):

UCLA, 71
UAB, 75
Miss. St., 93
Alabama, 95
Kentucky, 97
Auburn, 98
N. Ill., 100
Vandy, 112
Wyoming, 114

Avg. ranking of UT opponents in pass ydg: 82nd
Avg. ranking of Alabama's opponents: 70th.

4th in total yards?

N. Ill., 84
S. Carolina, 97
Auburn, 103
Kentucky, 105
Wyoming, 108
UCLA, 112
Miss. St., 114

Avg. ranking of UT opponents in total ydg: 82nd
Avg. ranking of Alabama's opponents: 76th.

10th in scoring defense?

UAB, 86
S. Carolina, 92
Vandy, 104
UCLA, 109
Auburn, 111
Miss. St., 116
Wyoming, 120 (dead last)

Avg. ranking of UT opponents in pts. allowed: 79th
Avg. ranking of Alabama's opponents: 70th.

While Tennessee's defensive numbers were pretty good, most of the teams they played were among the worst offensive teams in the country. Only three were among the top half in passing offense and scoring. Only four were among the top half in total offense.

Chavis to LSU doesn't worry me in the least, mostly because of these numbers. 70 and 29.

70...the number of points we scored off him in the last two games.

29...The age of the kid who coached circles around Chavis in BDS in October 07.

OUCH! Those numbers are harsh. :lol:

Regardless of the stats, the numbers that please me the most is Tennessee's 2008 record: 5-7, with wins over UAB, Northern Illinois, Miss St., Vanderbilt, and Kentucky.

 

[BamaGradinTN]

You also have to like the fact that the lowest scoring team in the country somehow scored enough to beat them.

 

[UT4EVER]

You also have to like the fact that the lowest scoring team in the country somehow scored enough to beat them.

Chavis has not had a D Line at UT for quite some time which limited his willingness to be aggressive..... A problem he should not have at LSU.

The defense was certainly not the problem at UT in 2008.... I would argue that our defensive stats could have been better if we had an offense that contributed with field position and increased time of possession.

BTW, the 2 TD's scored by Wyoming were via the UT offense.... First TD was from an interception returned to the 3 yard line and the second TD was a "pick 6" interception.....

P.S. Very nice forum here....

 

[BamaGradinTN]

You also have to like the fact that the lowest scoring team in the country somehow scored enough to beat them.

Chavis has not had a D Line at UT for quite some time which limited his willingness to be aggressive..... A problem he should not have at LSU.

The defense was certainly not the problem at UT in 2008.... I would argue that our defensive stats could have been better if we had an offense that contributed with field position and increased time of possession.

BTW, the 2 TD's scored by Wyoming were via the UT offense.... First TD was from an interception returned to the 3 yard line and the second TD was a "pick 6" interception.....

P.S. Very nice forum here....

True about the lack of a D-line...but doesn't he have some responsibility for recruiting? If Chavis isn't going to do any better recruiting at LSU, there's no reason to expect him to have more success as a defensive coordinator.

Wyoming also outgained Tennessee in that game. They were better on 3rd down conversions, had a better pass completion pct, more yards per pass, and more yards per rush. And yes, the two Wyoming TDs were the result of interceptions, but the defense still has to rise to the challenge. Wyoming scored on the very first play. In contrast, remember when Arenas coughed up the ball to you guys on the 5 yard line early in the game? Next thing you know it's 4th and goal from the 15, you guys are kicking a FG, and the game is basically over. Momentum-wise, UT was never in the game after that.