LSU football begins spring practice on March 11, and fans will finally get a taste of the true beginning of the Ed Orgeron era.
There are also a number of questions Tiger fans hope to have answered sooner rather than later, the most pressing of which lies in the infamously inconsistent quarterback position.
Who will be under center for the Tigers in the Fall?
The quarterback position was a constant plague for LSU when former coach Les Miles was at the program’s helm.
The starting quarterback was almost never set in stone at the beginning of spring practice under Miles, and it looks like that will once again be a big question for the program this Saturday.
Senior quarterback Danny Etling has a clear advantage to be the Tiger signal caller this fall, mainly because he poses in-game experience that the rest of the roster lacks.
Sophomore quarterback Justin McMillan has only attempted one pass in his career, and redshirt freshman Lindsey Scott has yet to see the field.
Newly-signed quarterbacks Myles Brennan and Lowell Narcisse are highly touted quarterback prospects with great potential, but they will most likely have to undergo a learning curve as they transition from the high school ranks to division-one college football.
Nevertheless, new offensive coordinator Matt Canada claims the quarterback position is “a wide-open spot,” so we’ll see how it plays out.
What will LSU’s offense look like under Canada?
One of Orgeron’s first moves after being named head coach was hiring Canada as the new LSU offensive coordinator.
Canada previously served in the same capacity at the University of Pittsburgh, and many are wondering what changes, if any, will be made to LSU’s previous pro-style offense.
The answer will largely depend on who wins the Tigers’ starting quarterback gig.
In an interview on ESPNU, Canada said he’s “happy with the pro-style offense” but also emphasized that “we [LSU] want to run the ball.”
Since the Tigers have both pro-style pocket passers along with dual-threat quarterbacks on the roster, Canada’s offense could go a number of different ways.
Who will step up on the defensive line?
Junior end Arden Key will be taking a leave of absence this spring due to undisclosed personal reasons.
Last season, Key recorded a team-high 14.5 tackles for losses, 12 of which being sacks.
His void will have to be filled if the Tigers want to enjoy the same amount of defensive success they did last season. So, look for players like senior defensive linemen Frank Herron and Christian LaCouture to step up in Key’s place.
After missing the entirety of last year because of a knee injury he suffered last August, LaCouture will be looking to make a big impact this spring to kick off his senior campaign.
Herron will have to step into a larger role in what will also be his final season after recording six total tackles last season.
Despite the leadership that LaCouture and Herron will undoubtedly provide, Key was a big piece of the LSU defense last year. The Tigers may be lacking on the defensive line if Key is not on the roster in the fall.
What will LSU’s defensive backfield look like?
Along with the defensive line, the Tigers will need someone to fill big shoes in the defensive backfield.
LSU will be without two big playmakers, cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Jamal Adams, who are both moving on to the NFL Draft.
Although Tiger fans will certainly miss the way White and Adams harassed opposing wide receivers, LSU has a number of players who could step in and continue the “DBU,” tradition.
Senior Ed Paris and juniors Donte Jackson and Kevin Toliver II have the talent and experience to take White’s role at the cornerback position.
The safety spot is shakier in terms of depth, but senior John Battle is most likely the Tiger to fill in for Adams.
Battle is the only safety on LSU’s roster that has seen significant playing time, and his experience should be beneficial to his underclassmen counterparts.
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron addresses the crowd at Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel on Feb. 1, 2017.
