Best ever defensive backs - SEC | TigerFan.com

houtiger · May 24, 2009

But there can only be one number one and that’s Tommy Casanova. Here is a Gator Country look at the Best Ever defensive backs in SEC history.

1. TOMMY CASANOVA, LSU: The Walter Camp Foundation selected Casanova to their All-Century team. He is the only player in LSU history to make first team All-America three times (1969-71). Even though the two-platoon era had arrived, Casanova still played two ways. He had sprinter’s speed and terrific moves as a tailback for Coach Charley McClendon but he was as his best as a free safety where he had the speed to cover sideline to sideline. The one-high zone that you see these days? Charley McClendon had that more than 35 years ago when he put his strong safety in the box to stuff the run because Tommy Casanova was good enough to cover both sidelines all by himself. Casanova was a three-time All-Pro in the NFL, a brilliant career he cut short to finish medical school and become an eye surgeon. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

2. CHAMP BAILEY, GEORGIA: The winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player following an All-America season in 1998, Bailey distinguished himself on both sides of the ball. On offense he had 47 catches for 744 yards and five touchdowns, 84 yards rushing and 310 yards in punt and kickoff returns. He played 957 plays (547 defense, 301 offense and 109 special teams). On defense he intercepted three passes and made 52 tackles, remarkable numbers when you consider how rare it was when the ball was thrown his way. He was first team All-SEC in both 1997 and 1998 and was the seventh pick of the first round in the 1999 NFL Draft. He is a three-time All-Pro selection in the NFL.

3. JERRY STOVALL, LSU: As a two-way player for LSU, Stovall almost won the Heisman Trophy in 1962, finishing a mere 89 votes behind Terry Baker of Oregon State. Folks who saw both of them play swear that Stovall was robbed. He was an outstanding running back and pass receiver but he was even better as a defensive back where he played both corner and safety. He was the second player taken in the 1963 NFL Draft. He was a three-time All-Pro safety with the St. Louis Cardinals in a nine-year career in which he intercepted 18 passes. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
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http://www.gatorcountry.com/interim/article/the_best_ever_the_defensive_backs/

Here's one for the grasshoppers out there.

The current decade of LSU football has been the best in my lifetime, but the 60's were a lot of fun also. I felt we had a chance every time we took the field. The 1969 defense was probably the best we played for a whole season.

fanatic · May 24, 2009

Check this out. It the back of Tommy Casanova's football card, but it's printed in Spanish. WTF? I have so many questions about this. :hihi:

houtiger · May 24, 2009

With a name like "Casanova", maybe they thought he was Latin??? :hihi:

SabanFan · May 24, 2009

I saw the thread title and my response was going to be "Tommy Casanova. Next question?".

red55 · May 25, 2009

LSU got nobody at all on their best SEC linebackers list. Not even Warren Capone or Michael Brooks.

houtiger · May 25, 2009

red55 said: ↑

LSU got nobody at all on their best SEC linebackers list. Not even Warren Capone or Michael Brooks.
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I looked at the linebacker list, and I think Roy Winston and Brooks got honorable mentions. My pick would have been Mike Anderson. But, I don't have a problem with the list they put up, pretty good guys on that list. Maybe our guys were hurt by their lack of fame in the NFL following their college days.

mctiger · May 25, 2009

red55 said: ↑

LSU got nobody at all on their best SEC linebackers list. Not even Warren Capone or Michael Brooks.
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Capone, Brooks and Moonie Winston were honorable mention. On the DB list, I'm a little surprised Corey Webster didn't get an HM

houtiger · May 25, 2009

I have JaMarcus Russell, Bert Jones and Tommy Hodson as my top 3 LSU QB's all time. I didn't see Tittle play in college. I was just looking around and found this:

February 02, 2008
By Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PHOENIX -- Due to the NFL's expanded, mandated media availability, Patriots coach Bill Belichick answers more questions and does more talking at the Super Bowl than he does in a month during the regular season.

Remarkably enough, interesting insights have ensued.

Asked the other day who was the best quarterback he ever saw, this three-time Super Bowl-winning coach seemed to indicate that it might have been Bert Jones.

Bert Jones?

"That's a tough one," Belichick said. "When I was pretty young, Johnny Unitas was very impressive and I loved watching him. I grew up in Annapolis and watched Baltimore play for years and they were kind of my team. Watching Unitas and [Raymond] Berry and Lenny Moore and all the great players that the Colts had there was pretty special. Unitas was pretty good and he was a great leader. I think there are a lot more people probably qualified to answer that than I am."

C'mon, like who?

"I have had the fortunate experience to work with some outstanding quarterbacks. Certainly Phil Simms in New York was a tremendous quarterback for our football team. Tom Brady has been the same here. Vinny [Testaverde] did a great job for us at Cleveland and at the Jets and even in his role here at the Patriots. As a pure passer I don't think I could put anybody ahead of Bert Jones. I know he had a short career and the shoulder injury, but when I was there and he was just starting his career, the success that he had and his ability to throw the ball as a pure passer and as an athlete, it would be hard to put anybody ahead of Bert Jones at that point in time."

Jones was a first-round pick of the Colts in the 1973 draft, managed to hang on for nine years, made 96 starts and compiled a passer rating of 78.2. He led the Colts to the playoffs three times, including in 1975 and '76, when they lost to the Steelers, 28-10 and 40-14.
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Read more: Super Bowl Notebook: Belichick lists Bert Jones as one of his all-time QBs

I watched any game Jones played in with the Colts, and he was a joy to watch. He was let loose in the pros and showed a lot more than he was allowed at LSU. I'm glad that no less than Belichick agreed!

It may only be the greater emphasis on passing these days why I rate JaMarcus ahead of Bert, but his arm was just so impressive.

stevescookin · May 25, 2009

1972...Tiger Stadium...Ole Miss...no time left...Bert Jones to Brad Davis ...Touchdown!...Tigers Win! Tigers Win! Tigers Win.

My freshman year...Great start for the next three years !!!!

KerryS · May 25, 2009

stevescookin said: ↑

1972...Tiger Stadium...Ole Miss...no time left...Bert Jones to Brad Davis ...Touchdown!...Tigers Win! Tigers Win! Tigers Win.

My freshman year...Great start for the next three years !!!!
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I was there also, in that endzone where the TD was scored. I remember everyone stomping on the seats for what seemed like forever. I was a junior at Lee High, having just moved from Rayville. My brother was a tailback on that team.