re: So let&#39;s attempt to settle this. Who IS the greatest defensive player in LSU history?

Posted by Mayhawman

Somewhere in the middle of SEC West

Member since Dec 2009

10297 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 9:44 am to LSUZombie

quote:
Jack Hunt

Took 5 pages

Posted by nitwit

Member since Oct 2007

12840 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 9:59 am to DecadePlusLurker

By your definition, I would argue Michael Brooks was the “best”, and Casanova ( three time first team AA) the “greatest”.

Posted by EulerRules

Member since Dec 2019

1441 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 10:17 am to DecadePlusLurker

I have to respectfully disagree with you. "Greatest: highest in quality" per definition. Since OP used it to modify a defensive player, then it means the highest quality defensive player in this context. PLAYER. Not whether or not he was kicked off the team. But we were lucky Casanova, TM7, DS, PP7, Dorsey along with all the other greats mentioned in thread were Tigers.

2 ...

Posted by SlidellCajun

Slidell la

Member since May 2019

13508 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 10:22 am to tbabino

I’d say Petersen or Matthieu but Glenn Dorsey was dominant every play, not just pass plays.

Posted by EvrybodysAllAmerican

Member since Apr 2013

12060 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 10:25 am to tbabino

If we're judging against their peers in the era they played in, its Casanova. 3x All American. Modern era you have to go with Dorsey or Honeybadger.

This post was edited on 1/3/22 at 10:27 am

Posted by Sparky321

Youngsville

Member since Sep 2016

75 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 10:33 am to tbabino

Honey Badger but....You had to like the way LaRon Landry played (old school).

LeRon Landry(LSU):
-Top 3 in career interceptions
-Top 7 in career tackles

2012 Pro Bowl
2007 NFC Pro Bowl Alternate
2007 First-team All NFL Rookie Defense
2006 First-team All-American (AP)
2006 First-team All-SEC (AP)
2006 First-team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
2006 Thorpe Award Semifinalist
2005 Third-team All-American (AP)
2005 First-team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
2005 Second-team All-SEC (AP)
2004 Second-team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
2004 SEC Academic Honor Roll
2003 First-team Freshmen All-American
2003 Second-team All-SEC (AP)
2003 Freshmen All-SEC Team

Posted by harehunter

Member since Dec 2021

28 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 10:34 am to tbabino

Peterson or Mathieu

Posted by Zilla

Member since Jul 2005

10628 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 10:36 am to harehunter

badger would get my vote but yall are forgetting how dominate Brady James was....

This post was edited on 1/3/22 at 10:47 am

Posted by saintlad74

Shreveport

Member since Sep 2016

944 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:06 am to tbabino

All were great, but it seems like Honey badger has continued that success in the NFL. Peterson has come close in the pros.

I would say based on that criteria, Mathieu.

Posted by AlwysATgr

Member since Apr 2008

19010 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:09 am to EulerRules

quote:
I have to respectfully disagree with you. "Greatest: highest in quality" per definition.

This is still in inadequate definition. Are we talking about a point in time? Or game? or season? Or career?

For a single defensive play, I would argue Marcus Spears pick-6 vs OU was the single greatest defensive play in program history. It was the difference in a championship game.

But Marcus would be way down the line in my experience(about as old as the OP) when I ponder "greatness."

I think time has to weighed and IMO, even though Honey Badger only payed two seasons, he is the all-time greatest. I have never, ever seen a player with more football instinct on defense then him.

Beyond TM:

Career: Devin White, Casanova, PP7, Michael Brooks, and Glenn Dorsey

Beyond TM and other careers:
Season DL: Lavalais ('03), Brockers ('11), Ron Estay ('71).

Season LB: Damone Clark ('21), Al Richardson ('82)

Season DB: Delpit ('18)

HM: Tre White - because he's one of my all-time favorites and best 4Y starter at CB ever.

Posted by Godfather1

What WAS St George, Louisiana

Member since Oct 2006

84704 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:26 am to tbabino

quote:
I've never seen anyone influence a game, singlehandedly,more than Tyrann Mathieu

Yeah.

He had a nose for the football. Turnover machine.

Posted by Godfather1

What WAS St George, Louisiana

Member since Oct 2006

84704 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:29 am to ATLTiger

quote:
Chad Lavalais

Loved that guy.

Him stuffing Cadillac Williams for a 5 yard loss when Auburn went for it on 4th and 1 at midfield in the 1st quarter was my favorite play of the 2003 season. It defined the defense that year.

Posted by Byron Bojangles III

Member since Nov 2012

51994 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:30 am to tbabino

quote:
Mathieu

is the best football player to ever play at LSU.

Posted by geauxskeet

Member since Oct 2009

547 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:31 am to tbabino

Casanova best player I've ever seen - started going in 1967, so anything before that...

Posted by SaintLSU

Gretna

Member since Apr 2007

3820 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:36 am to PlanoPrivateer

quote:
Mathieu there’s no debate

This

Posted by The Ramp

Baton Rouge, LA

Member since Jul 2004

12509 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:53 am to SaintLSU

Lavalais is my all time favorite
Mathieu is prolly the right answer although Dorsey is just as decorated
But if my dad was alive, he would say Cassanova

Posted by Tiger1988

Houston

Member since May 2016

28064 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:55 am to punderwood1980

quote:
TM or Devin White IMO. DW was dominant in every game it seems.

As was Michael Brooks and Warren Capone and Dr Casanova.

I saw The Candy Man play. That guy was unbelievable in college too at EVERYTHING. He would punish receivers.

Posted by Tiger1988

Houston

Member since May 2016

28064 posts

Posted on 1/3/22 at 11:57 am to EulerRules

Cannon, Capone and Robinson were ABSOLUTELY great defensive players. My Anderson was a boss in every sense of the word. Henry Thomas, Al Richardson, and on and on. Dominated for seasons? Capone.