Chief Chavis forges forward

A question for new Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis last week did not flatly state he was great coordinating the defenses for LSU and Tennessee nor that his last couple of units at Texas A&M leaked like the Titanic.

The question did not directly ask him if, at the age of 61, he was challenged and worried the game has passed him by, but it came close enough to elicit a retort.

"Well, let me say this," Chavis responded. "I've always been challenged. If I can't feel good on what we're doing in terms of being at the top of the league or at the top of the profession, then it's time for somebody else to do it.

"And hey, that day is going to come. There will be a day when it's, you know what? I can't give the kids, I can't give the program what they need. Somebody else needs to to do it. It's just not now."

The "Chief," as he has been called since he was elevated to defensive coordinator in 1995 at Tennessee from the defensive line and linebackers coach. He remained the Volunteers' coordinator until 2008, served as LSU's defensive coordinator from 2009-14 and moved to A&M to take the same position the last three seasons. He asserted why he is not ready for the retirement wigwam.

"Because it's still burning inside," Chavis said. "Not necessarily because of the last two years there, but I know I can coach. I know I can recruit. I know I can motivate. I know I can develop players. And I know that's what we're going to do.

"If I feel like if I can't do that, or somebody else feels like I can't do that, then hey, send me off into the sunset or whatever. But it's not time for that yet. It's not time. I've got a lot of football left in me. I love it. It's what I enjoy doing."

Other than defensive tackles coach John Scott, who is returning from last year's staff under Bret Bielema, head coach Chad Morris' defensive staff consists of all new members.

Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell, Arkansas' defensive ends coach in 2010-11 under Bobby Petrino and 2012 under John L. Smith, returns to Arkansas from Boise State. He coached Tennessee's defensive under Chavis 1995 to 2008, including the 1998 national champion with former coach Phillip Fulmer.

Defensive backfield coach Ron Cooper coached the secondary for Chavis under former head coach Les Miles at LSU from 2009-11. In 2017, he coached All-American defensive back Armani Watts at Texas A&M.

Chavis was asked specifically about Caldwell because of his background with the Razorbacks and in the state of Arkansas. Caldwell is a graduate of Arkansas State, where he also worked as an assistant coach.

"He was a big part of what we did at Tennessee also from a recruiting standpoint," Chavis said. "You're not gonna find a better recruiter, not going to find a better football coach anywhere in the country and not just with Steve, but with Ron Cooper, John Scott Jr. and with the entire staff that coach Morris has put together.

"I understand the model he is putting together here. It is a model that will give us the opportunity to have great success at Arkansas. The vision he has and to be able to put that together I'm really, really excited about that."

Morris and Chavis inherit a team that closed a defensively floundering 7-6 2016 campaign, blowing 24-7 and 24-0 halftime leads in season-ending losses to Missouri and Virginia Tech, then defensively flopped during a 4-8 2017 season, which closed the Bielema era. Chavis said he knows Arkansas can do better.

"Coach Morris and I talked about this when we were in discussions about this job," Morris said. I can go back to 1998 when I was at Tennessee and we played Arkansas. We were both undefeated and both fighting for an opportunity to win a national championship. We came back the second half and had a break and won the game.

"We went on and won a national championship. When we played in 2011, I told coach Morris, 'That was as fine an Arkansas football team as I have ever seen.' At LSU we were No. 1 in the country, Alabama was No. 2 and Arkansas No. 3 in the country. Not just in the SEC West, but in the country. So I've seen the caliber of teams that Arkansas can field."

After last season, the Hogs do seem a long way from their 9-3 season in 1998 under Houston Nutt when they earned a share of the SEC West title, as well as Petrino 11-2 team in 2011.

"Is there talent here to win 14 games?" Chavis asked rhetorically. "There wasn't this past year, but eventually there will be. I think that is what c has been talking about. It's a process. But there's some talent here there's no question about that. Certainly, at the end of spring practice, we'll know a little bit more about where we are."

Sports on 01/18/2018

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