No doubt LSU will be different
Published 2:52 pm Sunday, August 27, 2017
OK, it seems like it was only six months ago that SEC Football Media Days convened, so it must be about time for the actual season to start.
I know I’m about August-ed out, sick of preseason, tired of Twitter rumors and Instragram prognosis and this list and that top 10, not to mention wondering what in the world LSU could be doing behind those ultra-secret closed doors.
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I’m ready to hit somebody else for a change.
No, wait. That’s what the teams do.
Mainly, I’m ready for it to … Quit. Raining. Every. Day.
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But duty calls, so you know the rules. Remain orderly. No jostling and try to keep the language semi-clean.
We’ll take as many questions as we can between thunder claps. Anything goes.
Question: How many games does Ed Orgeron have to win to keep his LSU job?
Answer: Whoa there, Boudreaux. A little early for that, huh? You ever heard of a honeymoon?
Q: Well, he fell into a gold mine, didn’t he? anything about rebuilding. You could make the case that being full-blooded Cajun helped “sell” a coach in this state. At the least everybody, even outside the state, is pulling for him. It’s too good of a story not to have a happy ending.
Q: And if he doesn’t win?
A: Everybody, even in back end of the deepest, darkest bayou, will turn on him in a minute.
Q: Can you understand a word he says?
A: I’m getting there. Funny thing is, if you listen closely between the gravel, it makes some sense. I could understand every word Les Miles said, I just never had much idea what he was trying to say.
Q: What do we call him?
A: The term “Coach O” seems to be the go-to reference. I was hoping for “Coach BéBé,” his inherited nickname (he’s something of a Cajun Jr.)
Q: But he bombed at Ole Miss, right?
A: Sure did. Went 10-25, something like 3-21 in SEC games. Admitted he wasn’t ready. They might as well have put him in charge of NASA.
Q: And LSU hired him anyway?
A: Give him credit. He may not have learned from his mistakes — we’ll see on that — but he admitted them, sought advice from his mentors, the likes of mentors Jimmy Johnson and Peter Carroll, and went about making plans for his next chance.
Q: And?
A: Tried to do too much at Ole Miss.
Q: That’s sure not what I’m hearing about him at LSU, right?
A: It’s a complete 180 turn. Different concept for sure. He’s got himself two of the sharpest, most innovative coordinators in the country, and he swears he’s going to let Dave Aranda and Matt Canada do their magic.
Q: So he’ll just run the program, recruit like crazy, then sit back and watch the games.
A: Not really. He’s still the head coach. Aranda and Canada can X-and-O all they want, they can scheme and plot until your head spins. But there are still key game decisions to be made. That’s where Orgeron will be judged.
Q: The coordinators are good?
A: You saw Aranda’s defense last year.
Q: But defense has never been LSU’s problem. What about the offense?
A: Who knows? But pretty sure it will be far, far different than anything LSU fans have seen. So far the leaks have hinted that there’s a lot of motion and exotic formations and just about anybody might end up with the ball.
Q: But Derrius Guice is the best running back in the country?
A: He’ll have plenty of work. Canada’s résumé suggests he isn’t really married (stubborn) to one system. He’s best known for fiddling with things to best take advantage of his talent. Guice won’t get lonesome, but it might be harder to key on him. Anyway, that’s the plan.
Q: But what about quarterback?
A: Can’t believe that took so long. But with Danny Etling it’s not the biggest question this year. He won’t play in the NFL, but he won’t drag the offense down either.
Q: Defense?
A: As long as Aranda is there and LSU is recruiting like LSU, defense will be fine.
Q: Who’s the breakout player?
A: Defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence. He’s the next great one for the Tigers.
Q: What’s the key game … beside Alabama?
A: Get over the obsession with Nick Saban. The last four years, beating Alabama would not have won the West for the Tigers.
Q: So?
A: At home against Auburn, the sexy pick to challenge the Tide. LSU doesn’t have many home games, better take advantage.
Q: Why did LSU agree to a deal last year that leaves it with five SEC road games and only three at home this season?
A: You’ll have to ask Athletic Director Joe Alleva that one.
{{tncms-inline content=”<ul><li> ‘O,’ CANADA: LSU’s habitually conservative offense was supposed to be updated for the start of the last season. When it wasn’t, head coach Les Miles was fired after four games. Enter Ed Orgeron, who in turn brought in hot-shot offensive coordinator Matt Canada. This year it will definitely be different. If any of the rumors of a top-secret August camp are true, Canada might be called the anti-Miles. LSU has always had some talent on offense, but the game plan always seemed to be to use it to run over people. Canada is known as an X-and-O magician, using a wide variety of formations, motion, misdirection and even spreads, all designed to get defenses off balance before the ball is ever snapped. He also believes in spreading the ball around to everybody. It all sounds good, but it’s total mind-set change for the Tigers, and how quickly they pick up the new attack could go a long way in determining the season.</li><li>LINING UP: Presumably that new-wave offense still requires blocking up front. And if there’s been a question mark during fall camp, that’s been it. The Tigers lost three starters from a year ago — originally it was two, but then Maea Teuhema was booted from the team just before camp began. Three other offensive linemen left the team for various reasons in the offseason. Will Clapp, who’s slated to move from guard to center, has practiced seldom in August. Orgeron seems pleased with his starting five, but there’s virtually no depth. It’s not as important on the offensive front as on the defensive line because teams don’t rotate as much — as long as they stay healthy. The Tigers are basically an injury away from playing freshmen up front, always a tricky chore.</li><li>ROAD WARRIORS: The SEC West is tough enough as it is — yes, Alabama is still in it, and is the odds-on favorite to win it. But the Tigers start the season with a built-in disadvantage thanks to the aftermath of last year’s awkward rescheduling after the Florida game was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Due to the storm it was played in Baton Rouge instead of Gainesville — and Florida won 16-10 — but now the bill comes due. LSU will travel to Florida the next two years, meaning that this season in the SEC the Tigers will have only three home conference games and five road games. With the season opener a neutral-site game in Houston against BYU, albeit a home away from home for LSU, the Tigers will have just six true home games.</li></ul>” id=”1017467f-666c-4c10-877a-893963d16b78″ style-type=”info” title=”THREE KEYS TO LSU’S SEASON” type=”relcontent”}}
- ‘O,’ CANADA: LSU’s habitually conservative offense was supposed to be updated for the start of the last season. When it wasn’t, head coach Les Miles was fired after four games. Enter Ed Orgeron, who in turn brought in hot-shot offensive coordinator Matt Canada. This year it will definitely be different. If any of the rumors of a top-secret August camp are true, Canada might be called the anti-Miles. LSU has always had some talent on offense, but the game plan always seemed to be to use it to run over people. Canada is known as an X-and-O magician, using a wide variety of formations, motion, misdirection and even spreads, all designed to get defenses off balance before the ball is ever snapped. He also believes in spreading the ball around to everybody. It all sounds good, but it’s total mind-set change for the Tigers, and how quickly they pick up the new attack could go a long way in determining the season.
- LINING UP: Presumably that new-wave offense still requires blocking up front. And if there’s been a question mark during fall camp, that’s been it. The Tigers lost three starters from a year ago — originally it was two, but then Maea Teuhema was booted from the team just before camp began. Three other offensive linemen left the team for various reasons in the offseason. Will Clapp, who’s slated to move from guard to center, has practiced seldom in August. Orgeron seems pleased with his starting five, but there’s virtually no depth. It’s not as important on the offensive front as on the defensive line because teams don’t rotate as much — as long as they stay healthy. The Tigers are basically an injury away from playing freshmen up front, always a tricky chore.
- ROAD WARRIORS: The SEC West is tough enough as it is — yes, Alabama is still in it, and is the odds-on favorite to win it. But the Tigers start the season with a built-in disadvantage thanks to the aftermath of last year’s awkward rescheduling after the Florida game was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Due to the storm it was played in Baton Rouge instead of Gainesville — and Florida won 16-10 — but now the bill comes due. LSU will travel to Florida the next two years, meaning that this season in the SEC the Tigers will have only three home conference games and five road games. With the season opener a neutral-site game in Houston against BYU, albeit a home away from home for LSU, the Tigers will have just six true home games.