Les Miles' Best Recruit Is an Overweight 51 Year Old Man

Les Miles may have his detractors and most of the time, I have been among them, but no one can say that Les doesn't know how to recruit.  You may ask why would I write an article that says his best recruit is an overweight 51 year old man?

Because that's how old John Chavis is and he will eventually go down as the best person Les Miles has ever recruited.

If you're not a Tiger fan or a Vol, you may not understand why this was possibly the best recruit any coach made for his team this past year. 

Some may point to the play at the quarterback position last season as the reason for LSU's slide in the win column, but those in the know, could see the disaster on the horizon. 

Miles' decision last year in having co-coordinators on defense was an idiotic call that resulted in the Tigers slipping to 73rd in pass defense, and 17th against the rush.  Those numbers won't keep you competitive in the SEC.

The casual fan may comment that Tennessee sucked last year too.  Yes they did, but not Chavis' defense.  The Vols finished tied for third in the nation for total defense.  Quite an accomplishment when you figure in how long they had to stay on the field because their inept offense couldn't sustain drives.

Chavis brings to LSU order and discipline that they haven't seen since Saban.  And that's not just this author's opinion, but the opinion of the only remaining player since Saban still wore Tiger purple, 6th year Sr. Charles Alexander. 

The fact that Les has run a "loose ship" and that LSU has shown less discipline as more Saban coached players left the program is something LSU fans are tired of hearing.  Perhaps with the hire of Chavis, the Tigers may benefit from having 'Chief' John rub-off on Miles rather than the other way around.

I have met and talked with the former Alabama defensive coordinator who is now the current coordinator at Clemson, Kevin Steele and he says Chavis is the missing piece that LSU needs to become dominate again and if anyone should know Chavis, it's Steele.

Steele and Chavis have been best friends since childhood.  They are so close that both their families often vacation together.  Steele not only knows his accomplishments, but his mind-set too.

"As a coach, it was always hard playing Tennessee, because I knew John would have the defense ready and he knows me and my tendencies as well as I know his."  Steele told me. "John makes sure his players are more than well than well coached; he demands they be well conditioned too."

This is trusted information for which I know I can trust from a man who may know Chavis better than any other coach; his lifelong friend and often time adversary.

If Miles has in fact done what he said and has turned the defense completely over to Chavis, then I suspect that substantial changes in all aspects of the defensive unit will be seen quickly.  The rest of the SEC knows exactly what that could mean; trouble with a captial T.

I expect LSU to make an immediate impact in the league and contend for the SEC West title again this year and the main reason will be what a typical John Chavis defense can do; along with all that other talent Les Miles is bringing in.