30 Greatest Tigers of the Decade: #11 LaRon Landry
by Poseur on Jan 22, 2010 12:00 PM CST
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LaRon Landry played three different positions his freshman year: cornerback, strong safety, and then finally starting at free safety for the second half of the season. The 2003 defense was absurdly great and one of the starters on the unit was true freshman. What were the odds of that? He was second team All-SEC as a freshman and a Freshman All-American. He was a starter for a national champion as a freshman.
To say Landry blossomed isn't really accurate. He was awesome the second he stepped on campus. Sure, he kept getting better, but he was a stud right away. He made 92 tackles his sophomore year and had 3 sacks and 4 interceptions. He had five tackles for loss, so it wasn't just that he was picking up cheap tackles at the end of big gains.
He didn't make first team All-SEC until his junior year, believe it or not. His tackles dropped to 69 and he had 4 TFL's and 1 sack. He recorded 9 pass breakups and another 3 picks. Once again, Landry was everywhere. And his one sack in 2005 was that huge sack against Alabama, keying the SEC West championship. And let's face it, we were all positive he was gonna turn pro at the end of the year. He was projected as a late first round pick, but he delayed the NFL millions to return for his senior year and one more chance at a second national title ring.
He led the team in tackles his senior year with 74. He had another 3.5 TFL and 3 interceptions. Landry, simply put, was an absolute bad ass. He was a dominant free safety every season and he stayed the full four years. It's hard to imagine a more productive free safety, as he finished his career with 315 tackles (195 of them solo), 16 TFL's, 8 sacks, and 12 interceptions. Landry was also the leader of some of the best defenses to ever enter Death Valley, which is saying something. He never got that second ring, but he appeared in two BCS bowls, three January 1st bowls, and 2 SEC title games. He was named to the All-SEC team four times and an All-American team three times (Freshman AA in 2003, third team in 2005, 1st team in 2006).
That's a whole heck of a lot of hardware.
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Never forget the quote from LaFell
On the first time he met LaRon before practice — said he came up to him, shook his hand, introduced himself and very matter-of-factly stated “if you come over the middle, I’m going to kill you.”
This is the first one I really disagree with
Because in my opinion Landry was a dirty player from the moment he stepped on campus. Incredibly talented, yes. And he was a huge part of our ’03 NC defense as a freshman, which is an amazing acomplishment.
But this is about the “greatest” tigers and I think that it should include points for sportsmanship. Laron had too many blatant spears and helmet to helmet hits for my liking.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Jan 22, 2010 12:31 PM CST reply actions
Honestly,
It’s what kept him out of the top ten. On ability and actual accomplishments, he’s maybe top five. I think he is the best defensive player LSU had this decade not named Dorsey. But he does get a deduction for really being a hard player to actually LIKE. He’s sort of the anti-Hester. (and there go 50 comments)
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
Hester was the guy I was thinking of when I posted
On pure athletic ability, he’s not #18 on this list. But his intangibles, rightly imo, raised him up to that spot.
By the way I think this list is the best thing ATVS has ever done.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Jan 22, 2010 12:48 PM CST up reply actions
Well, thank you
I appreciate it. It’s been a lot of work, but it has been worth it.
Hopefully, you’ll like the top ten. There’s still some “minor” sport stars left to praise as well.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
I concur Poseur, great stuff.
I hope when you finish you will do a final, single list with links to each of the 30.
Just a suggestion, but again marvelous work!
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
That is the plan
I will close with the full top 30 +1, with some honorable mentions and maybe some closing thoughts on the decade. It really is the Golden Age.
I’m glad people are enjoying it. Just to let y’all start guessing: there are 4 football players left and then 6 others, all in different sports. Football dominates for the obvious reasons, but the entire top ten is pretty great. It’s staggering how much talent passed through the gates of LSU
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
I agree with Reed and Dorsey
I think it will be Whitworth, not Black, at OT. Given Poseur’s appreciation for the 03 defense I’m going out on a limb and saying Corey Webster will make the list.
Baseball — Greg Smith and Louis Coleman (who will be #1)
BB – Tasmin and Seimone (who will be #2)
by 4.0 Point Stance on Jan 22, 2010 4:48 PM CST up reply actions
Oh only one in baseball
Scratch out Greg Smith then. And add in Britni Sneed for softball
by 4.0 Point Stance on Jan 22, 2010 5:01 PM CST up reply actions
Your order can't be right
Glen Dorsey (most decorated LSU player ever)
Josh Reed (most decorated receiver)
Jamarcus
Ciron Black or Whitworth (I’d take Whit)
You really could do a top 30 for just football and it would be a MONSTER class!!
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
That's the order I thought of them
Not my predicted order.
And as for Ciron vs Whitworth and Webster I think they should both be somewhere in here as well.
That’s why Poseur rakes in the big bucks on this blog.
by The Bengal on Jan 22, 2010 7:16 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
10-4
but he said only four football spots left so who’s out of the top30 all together?
Dorsey
Reed
Russell
Black
Whitworth
Webster
TOUGH out for any of that six to not even be IN the top 30 much less the top 10…
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
Always thought LaRon
Actually spent too much time in the weight room actually — his senior year he was huge and looked like he lost a step a bit.
Good as he was at times, he also probably dropped more interceptions than he caught. But I also think losing him was also a big factor in the decline of Pelini’s defense.
yeah, he was dirty
all my friends hated him (non LSU fans). Especially the way he acted after the play. But, I still love him. Basically, with Landry in there, we never gave up the big play. There were no 50-60 yards TD’s on us because Landry wouldn’t allow it. One of my favorite players at LSU ever.
by Street Diction on Jan 22, 2010 12:52 PM CST reply actions
I have..
no problem with this ranking. I understand for some he was extremely hard to like, but in my opinion he is top 10 antics and all.
What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing
Landry was a stud
I can see why some people might label his intensity on the field as “dirty play,” but quite frankly, that’s what you want out of a safety/free safety. You want somebody who is always lurking in the back of the mind of receivers.
As for blatant spears and helmet to helmet hits, there is no place in sports for intentially injuring another player, with that said, this is still a contact sport played by grown men. I think a receiver or runner has as much responsibility to protect themselves as the defender has to avoid helmet to helmet contact.
by Displaced Tiger on Jan 22, 2010 2:53 PM CST reply actions
And I don't agree that he was intentionally dirty.
He played very hard (still does) and is one of the most prolific ‘hitters’ of all time but I don’t think he played with malice.
Back when I played we were taught to lead with our head (helmet), the wisdom of that day proved to be erroneous but it wasn’t malicious.
Bottom line, this guy was the pop of one of the best defenses of all time.
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
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