Nola.com: Lack of Offense the Reason for Chavis' Departure

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Sources close to LSU said former Tigers defensive coordinator John Chavis' growing frustration with the struggles of the team's offense was the primary reason he left for the same job at Texas A&M.

The sources said the contract negotiations, the Aggies offered $340,000 more annually, were a non-issue in his decision to leave LSU and that Chavis simply felt it was time to go.

Chavis' frustrations reached a crescendo this season when LSU finished first in the SEC in total defense, No. 8 in the nation and second in scoring defense. LSU was 11th in total offense and last in passing offense in the SEC, resulting in an 8-5 record, tied for the worst in coach Les Miles' 10 seasons.

In the past four seasons, Chavis defenses finished no worse than No. 15.

"(Chavis) threw his hands up and felt he'd done all he could do," one source said. "They made zero progress offensively and it became a sore point, not that he was pointing fingers, but it led to some uncomfortable feelings.

"I think the thing that still gnaws at him was the BCS championship game (in 2012 that LSU lost 21-0), where he holds Alabama out of the end zone for the longest time. He felt, 'What else could I do?'" In that game, Alabama kicked five field goals before finally scoring a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

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