Fansided

SEC Football: Biggest offseason question for every team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrate winning the trophy after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrate winning the trophy after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 14
Next
Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) celebrates with guard K.J. Malone (63) and tight end Foster Moreau (84) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) celebrates with guard K.J. Malone (63) and tight end Foster Moreau (84) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

LSU Tigers, 8-4 (5-4)

Can Matt Canada turn LSU into an offensive power?

LSU had arguably the best running back in the nation at its disposal over the last three seasons in Leonard Fournette. The Tigers also boasted a ball carrier that often looked more explosive than Fournette and outrushed him last season as well, in Derrius Guice. Nevertheless, the Tigers failed to meet expectations again last year because of an offensive unit that stalled out too often. The offensive issues led to Les Miles’ firing, and coordinator Cam Cameron went with him.

New LSU head coach Ed Orgeron pledged to be more explosive offensively, and other than a pitiful performance against Alabama, the Tigers were much improved in the eight games after Miles and Cameron exited. After averaging 339.5 yards of offense and 5.75 yards per play during a 2-2 start, the Tigers rebounded to average 464.9 total yards per game and 7.1 yards per play the rest of the season. Other than the shutout loss to the Crimson Tide, LSU gained at least 420 yards in every regular season game the rest of the way.

On the surface, it appeared to be an instance of simple addition by subtraction. However, Orgeron made a move to lure Matt Canada from Pittsburgh in hopes he can help the Tigers take the next step.

In his only season at Pitt (in which he arrived without any of his own assistants — something he has repeated with the Tigers), Canada guided the Panthers into the top 10 nationally with 40.9 points per game. Pitt ranked No. 13 in the country with an average of 6.71 yards per play, which incidentally was the average LSU finished with last season.

Early results are positive. According to Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples, Orgeron said the offense had been “kicking our defense’s tail” during spring ball. Given LSU ranked in the top 10 in total defense (314.4 total yards allowed per game) last season, that’s a great sign.

Home/College Football