Larry Leo

Apparently, when you're the Jets back-up QB you got a lot of time on your hands. The New York Jets' QB Mark Sanchez, aka Captain Butt Fumble, is rocking these cornrows courtesy of a lost bet. Sanchez tweeted this...

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"This is what happens when you lose a bet to @nickwoolery and hangout at Willie Colon's house too long! Haha #seanpaul #rows #hangtime ps- thx Dominique !"

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I wonder what bet he lost. Maybe that he'd be the Jets' starting QB? Any other bet theories out there?

During the Tigers’ bye week, we caught up with a good friend of the TigerDroppings family, former defensive back from the University of Tennessee (1993-96), Ray Austin. Ray was a 2-time All-SEC team selection, freshman All-American, and the 1993 Citrus Bowl’s “Player of the Game.” But more importantly, he played his entire colligiate career under the tutelage of defensive coordinator John Chavis. We sat down and asked Ray about the man behind the best defense in the nation. Here’s what he had to say...

So Ray, what kind of coach is Chavis? Personality etc...How does he motivate? What kind of relationship does he have with his defensive players?

Coach Chavis was very personable. He LOVED the players in the weight room. He’s not a screamer; he just talks with a tone in his voice that lets you know he is for real. He motivates you to want to win, not just for you, but for the team, for your family and for the fans. He actually used to say that a lot. He is definitely a players’ coach. When he was at Tennessee he would have personal meetings with the players. That’s not very common for a coach to do that.

What does Chavis ask of his defensive players?

“LEAVE IT ON THE FIELD” and don’t sell your talent short. If he believes you can play, you are and will be at the next level. He will put you in all the right places to produce.

Obviously defensive plans change game to game, but what is the root of his defensive schemes? What are they designed to do?

BLITZ. STUNT....and most of all TURNOVERS. The thing about Coach Chavis’ defenses is that they’re all FAST! He recruits speedsters, and I mean at ANY position, not just the defensive backs. He has enough examples in his past that he finds the right players, like: Lenard Little, Shaun Ellis, Albert Haynesworth, Al Wilson, etc.

As you watch LSU’s defense dominate this year, what has Chavis done that is his signature? Has he changed anything since you played for him at Tenn.?

No, he hasn’t changed anything to me. He’s recruited a bunch of “Tweeners.” “Tweeners” meaning: his players look like linebackers, but run like safeties, and safeties that run like corners. They’re “between” positions. Watching games this year I see a few players in that secondary that were once corners, but now are substituting as safeties. That’s Coach Chavis recruiting right there - multi-skilled players. D-backs that can run blitzes and D-lineman that can drop into coverage.

Can you break down for us what you see he’s doing with LSU’s defense?

I see a lot of bull rushes from the lineman forcing the QB’s to step up into the pocket and I see a lot of stunts or safety blitzes being successful because of that. This, to me, is successful because LSU can cover the deep ball pretty damn well. LSU’s defensive backfield is probably the best one he’s had since the 90’s at Tennessee. He has safeties that are playing in the right place, and corners that are always aggressive on the bump and run. It’s sick.

LSU has big time athletes on defense, but knowing Chavis, how is he using them to smother opponents?

Speed. When other teams know you’re loaded with speed they like to do a lot of draws, screens, and trick plays to slow that speed down. Unfortunately for other teams, LSU players are not only fast, but they’re smart. Coach Chavis LOVES smart players. Above all, LSU’s defense doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.

What were a couple of things you specifically learned from him about defensive play that you took to the NFL?

The Coach Chavis defense made me understand how to read a QB’s drop. Fans don’t understand there’s a difference in body movement on a 3-step, 5-step and 7-step drop. He made me understand combination routes. For example, if one receiver does an out, the complementary route is a curl, etc. He also taught me each year at Tennessee that you should understand all the OTHER positions. You can tell an average player from a great player. Great players know what everyone is doing or close to it. As a safety I should know what my other safety, corners, linebackers, and any stunting D-linemen are doing at all times. If I know what they’re doing, I can be that more in-tune to my job. Hence all LSU’s DB’s being in the right positions at the right time on all those turnovers they’ve had this year.

Why do you think he has been successful for so long at two big SEC schools?

He understands talent - period. He is an SEC coach because he understands what type of player it takes to play in the SEC. Versatile runners, height, weight and size doesn’t always make the best players. I’ve seen him prove it over and over.

Any good Chavis stories about the kind of guy or coach he is?

I was going into my senior year and during the off-season I was named one of the team captains. Coach Fulmer and Chavis called me into his office and sat me down. At that time, we had a STOUT defensive backfield. One of our players came off of probation and another from injury. I had started at safety for three years and the coaches called me into the office and told me how much they respected my game and how they knew we could have a great defense, but we have to do some moving around, and said to me we would like to move you to corner. Now for me, hearing this was a dagger through my chest. I felt like I had never played corner and I thought physically one of the other players would be better suited than me. But Chavis and Fulmer were high on the change and mentioned that this would make me more attractive to be drafted by NFL teams. I was very disappointed with the decision, and looked at it as a demotion. Little did I know what they were really doing, which was making me more versatile, it was a change to sharpen my skills as an athlete and separate me from other safeties. Pro-scouts knew I could play safety, but this was a chance to show them I had more to offer. Long story short, I made the All-SEC team as a corner that year and then was drafted as a corner to the New York Jets. So, as I said, Coach Chavis knows what type of players to recruit, how to use them and does what’s best for them as well as the team.

So with a game like Bama coming up, what is Chavis doing/thinking with two weeks out?

Coach is on fire right now. I know how he feels about Bama. That started way back when he was wearing orange. I guarantee he is probably like that Tiger in that cage in Baton Rouge, walking side to side, ready to go.....

(Shhhhhh) I’m cheering for LSU because of Chavis.

One final question, Chavis looks like he smells like a good steak? Does he?

No, he smells like pasta.....we used to call him "Sport Mario" after Super Mario Brothers...hahahaha...love that guy.

Austin went on to play for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. He is now an actor who has been in over 30 commercials, as well as TV shows such as Detroit 187, Prison Break and The Beast. Special thanks to Ray for taking the time to talk to us. Geaux Tigers!

Tiger has announced that he will be missing the Open Championship/British Open due to the injuries in his leg that have not healed.

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"Unfortunately, I've been advised that I should not play in the British Open," Woods said. "As I stated at the AT&T National, I am only going to come back when I'm 100 percent ready. I do not want to risk further injury. That's different for me, but I'm being smarter this time. I'm very disappointed and want to express my regrets to the British Open fans."

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Steelers WR Hines Ward won "Dancing with the Stars" this year and now the city of Pittsburgh is celebrating the win with a victory rally. The rally will take place in front of the City-County building where fans are being asked to show up wearing black and gold and bring their terrible towels.

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“City residents and the Steelers Nation have contacted my office asking for the city to properly thank our hometown hero for once-again shining the spotlight on Pittsburgh,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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Please end this lockout. Please.

On ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike In The Morning" Scottie Pippen adjusted his comments about LeBron James being the greatest player to ever play the game, better than Michael Jordan...

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"The comments that I made were basically giving LeBron some props as a player, not to dismantle any player like Michael," Pippen said after a youth camp session at the Bulls/Sox academy. "We all know that he's the greatest player that ever played the game.

"I think it was taken a little bit out of context. I felt like I was drawing more of a conclusion from the statistics more than the accolades."

"I talk to Michael all the time," Pippen said. "There was no problem between me and Michael. I think [the media] chewed into it a little too much."

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According to SI.com the Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of being sold. This breaking news is not expected to influence the Hawks' decision-making during the draft. The Hawks ownership group last month sold the Atlanta Thrashers to a group that will relocate the franchise to Winnipeg next season. The Hawks owners have spent the last two to three years seeking minority investors in the NBA team.

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was ask again and again for an autograph by a 12-year-old boy at the College World Series. When she declined the kid came back with "Fine, im gunna go home and watch your video!" and she didn't appreciate that very much. Here's the video. You can start around 2:20.


[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGfPZjxkVas#at=140[/youtube]

Watch White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen lose his mind and kick Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto's mask last night after Alexi Ramirez is called out at home in their 6-3 loss to the Cubs. Enjoy...[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdI6X9gEtc8[/youtube]

I have a feeling coming Monday morning, the media will are going to destroy him.

The Miami Dolphins QB Chad Pennington is taking this season off to recover from shoulder and knee injuries and will work for Fox Sports as an analyst.

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"I'm actually going to take this year off, get healthy and do some work for Fox Sports," Pennington told the West Virginia newspaper. "I'm going to evaluate things and see where I am physically."

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Pennington is about to turn 35, and was scheduled to be a free-agent once the lockout ends

University of Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon told the U of M online magazine michigantoday.umich.edu that the university might not be mascotless forever.

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"We're interested in doing a mascot but it has to be something that fans love, that children love and everyone can embrace," Brandon said. "So far, we haven't figured out a way to do it. Until we come up with something we love, we don't have a mascot.

"I'm struck by the fact that when opposing teams come to our stadium, and they bring a mascot, all of our young fans are lined up to see if they can get a picture taken with it, whether it's the Penn State Nittany Lion or Sparty. That's a little annoying to me. You can't get your picture taken with a Block M. Mascots are really embraced by the youth demographic, and we want to take advantage of that, for all the reasons that are obvious.

"Our history and our tradition is great for those of us who were there to experience it, or remember it. But there's a generation coming up, and you've got to connect with them and keep them excited."

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Just a thought here, but how about you fix your football program and have that represent your school to younger generations? Again, just a thought.

Any suggestions of what that new mascot should be?