- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
1
Posted on 7/25/22 at 9:11 am to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
Casanova didn't have the number of opportunities to make plays like Mathieu did. The game is more wide open and the ball is in the air much more than it was when Casanova played. The defenses are also a lot more sophisticated and LSU had a lot of schemes to put Mathieu in a position to make a play, be it a sack or whatever.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 10:04 am to Jax-Tiger
quote:
Casanova didn't have the number of opportunities to make plays like Mathieu did. The game is more wide open and the ball is in the air much more than it was when Casanova played. The defenses are also a lot more sophisticated and LSU had a lot of schemes to put Mathieu in a position to make a play, be it a sack or whatever.
Even so there hasn’t been a defensive player on the college level in the last 30 years that would directly impact a game the way Honey Badger did.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 10:23 am to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
I did see both. Casanova was pretty much a hero at the time. Running back, defensive back, punt returner. Very exciting. Probably one of my favorite Tigers of all time. Bert Jones, Warren Capone, Joe Burroughs and Leonard Fournette are up there too. The Honey Badger was one of a kind. I don’t know of any player that I have seen be such a game changer as he was in 2011. We had just lost Peterson to the pros the year before and I was sure we would miss him. Tyrann was so unique, I wasn’t quite sure if he was a linebacker, a cornerback or a safety. I truly think he is a once in a lifetime player. It’s hard to pick between the two, Casonova played 3 years & Mathieu on 2. I’ll have to say Tommy Casonova had the better career, but Mathieu in 2011 was the best I’ve ever seen.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 11:33 am to Jax-Tiger
quote:
The game is more wide open and the ball is in the air much more than it was when Casanova played
I would also add the other advantage Mathieu had was Casanova did not have the supporting cast Mathieu had... Casanova was more like Patrick Peterson as in Offensives game planned around him...
This post was edited on 7/25/22 at 11:36 am
Posted on 7/25/22 at 11:44 am to klrstix
Casanova's first 2 years on the variety he played both RB and DB as well as punt & kick returner.
Not even close Tommy Casanova for the Win.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 11:46 am to Chipeace
quote:
It’s hard to pick between the two, Casonova played 3 years & Mathieu on 2. I’ll have to say Tommy Casonova had the better career, but Mathieu in 2011 was the best I’ve ever seen.
Exactly my thoughts.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 11:48 am to OLDBEACHCOMBER
quote:
Love both players. But Interceptions: 7 started as a RB at LSU
Still didn’t have a season to equal TM’s 2011.
No doubt though Casanova was a true great and had a longer and more productive career.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 11:52 am to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
Both were great players. But I'm going with Casanova as he never brought any embarrassment on the program like Mathieu did.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 11:58 am to I-59 Tiger
quote:
he never brought any embarrassment on the program like Mathieu did.
I think you're about to get blasted for that but I agree, except the embarrassment that HB7 caused was mostly to himself
Posted on 7/25/22 at 12:22 pm to Jax-Tiger
quote:This is a point often overlooked.
Casanova didn't have the number of opportunities to make plays like Mathieu did. The game is more wide open and the ball is in the air much more than it was when Casanova played.
This post was edited on 7/25/22 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 7/25/22 at 1:26 pm to AlwysATgr
I love em both. I watched both play. My two favorite LSU players of all time. Both incredibly exciting in their own way. Badger could force turnover and get ball and do something with it better than any other college player I have ever seen. Casanova was fast and elusive as running back, kickoff returner, defensive back and he could "lay the Wood". Big hitter!
Posted on 7/25/22 at 5:58 pm to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
Loved T.C. but Honey Badger is whole another gear.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 6:25 pm to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
Matthieu is the best defensive college football player I have ever seen.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 6:27 pm to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
Both great players; Casanova was much bigger than Mathieu.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 7:07 pm to IS_IT_GAMEDAY
Casonova hands down . Played on both sides the ball when he hit someone that usually had to go the the bench . 3 time All American . Clean cut guy and never would embarrass the university. Was also all pro . Is now an eye doctor Crowley .
Posted on 7/25/22 at 7:49 pm to tigerpawl
Casanova. I am a huge Mathieu fan. He defined the game in a different manner than any player in the past decade, but Tommy was a 3 time All American. I am older now, and so is he, and the body of work he amassed is superior. They are both every similar in many ways, but the dedication it takes to make All American for 3 years is superior in my opinion. The fact that we had them both is just amazing!
Posted on 7/25/22 at 7:51 pm to TigerBR1111
quote:
Even so there hasn’t been a defensive player on the college level in the last 30 years that would directly impact a game the way Honey Badger did.
Except go look at the number of NFL players on that defense that were really great. He was allowed to roam.
What I will give him credit for was his ability to strip the ball. He was not the defender in coverage ie lock down corner nor was he the tackler in space like Casanova. I saw both. They were different players in different systems. One had 2 Thorpe winners (Peterson won the Bednarik). Then Brandon Taylor and on and on were back there. Eric Reid, Brooks, and Simon and Easy to run free when most teams then ran at most 4 wide. Only WVU and Oregon ran 5 and up tempo as I recall.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 8:26 pm to Tiger1988
quote:
Except go look at the number of NFL players on that defense that were really great. He was allowed to roam.
You still couldn’t plug in another college defender the past 30 or 40 years or more who would have made the plays Honey Badger made. I too saw Casanova play. He was my idol growing up. The reason I wanted to play cornerback. They were both great in different ways.
Honey Badger was just more exciting to watch and more directly impacted games.
This post was edited on 7/25/22 at 8:52 pm
Posted on 7/25/22 at 9:18 pm to TigerBR1111
quote:
Honey Badger was just more exciting to watch and more directly impacted games.
And he got beat in coverage by good TEs and receivers at times. Happened in the 2011 National Championship game. He wasn’t a great coverage db like Mo and Pat Pete. He could not take a hand off and do what Casanova did on offense and he wasn’t as big or physical of a tackler. It is a push AT BEST in returns. Casanova might have been better actually. There is no comparison in size. The only difference is forcing fumbles IMO.
Page 5 of 8
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News