With LSU football starting spring practice on March 11, many fans are wondering what the Tigers’ new look offense will be like under offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
“He is full speed,” said coach Ed Orgeron during a press conference on March 7. “He fits in right with us. He is very detailed in the meetings and a good guy to work with. He is always talking and texting recruits.”
Although LSU’s offense loses key players like running back Leonard Fournette, wide receiver Malachi Dupre and center Ethan Pocic next season, there is still a tremendous amount of young talent competing for a starting position.
The Departures:
With the absence of notable players like Fournette, Dupre, Pocic and tight end Colin Jeter, many of the younger players will have to “step up.”
“We lost some good guys,” Orgeron said. “Guys are going to have to step up.”
Although Fournette dealt with an ankle injury last season, he was still able to rush for 843 yards and eight touchdowns.
Dupre caught 41 passes last season for 593 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per catch and 49.4 yards per game.
He had three career 100-yard receiving games.
Jeter is another offensive player who leaves a hole for the Tigers. Jeter caught 11 passes for 157 yards last season and was a key piece in run blocking for the Tigers.
The Returners:
Senior wide receiver D.J. Chark will be the likely No. 1 wide receiver to fill in for Dupre, though Orgeron and wide receivers’ coach Mickey Joseph have no specific pecking order.
Senior quarterback Danny Etling will most likely claim the starting quarterback position for LSU this season.
“Danny is the leader right now,” Orgeron said. “He will probably end up being the leader, but we don’t know that.”
Last season, Etling threw for 2,123 yards, posting a 60 percent pass completion, and was ranked No. 6 in the Southeastern Conference in passing yards per game and pass efficiency.
Junior running back Derrius Guice will also be back for the 2017 season.
Although Guice was in the shadow of Fournette, he proved himself to be another crucial player for the Tigers and demonstrated the potential to improve his skill set.
“We are still going to run the football here with Derrius Guice as our running back,” Orgeron said. “But we are going to open up the offense, throw it down the field with multiple shifts in the formation.”
The Baton Rouge native led the SEC in rushing yards and led all SEC running backs in rushing touchdowns. He totaled 1,387 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2016 season.
Setting and breaking records became second nature to Guice last season as Guice broke Fournette’s 284 rushing yard record in a single game with 285 rushing yards. Guice also set a new program record by rushing a 96-yard run touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The New Guys:
Sophomore wide receivers Dee Anderson and Stephen Sullivan will be competing for the starting wide receiver position against Chark.
“Wide receivers are led by D.J. Chark for his senior year,” Orgeron said. “There is no certain pecking order. All of the guys are good athletes.”
Last season, Anderson averaged 18.2 yards per catch and averaged 6.6 yards per game. He played in 11 games and had a career high 42-yard catch.
Sullivan was regarded by Orgeron as one of the better athletes in the wide receiver position.
Sophomore offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry could possibly fill in for junior offensive lineman Will Clapp’s position during spring practices, but it is still uncertain who will have the center position.
Clapp will not be practicing in the spring due to a shoulder injury, according to Orgeron.
“We will try something out,” Orgeron said.
LSU junior running back Leonard Fournette (7) post game viewing the scoreboard awaiting the final score during Tigers' 16-10 Loss against University of Florida on Nov. 19, 2016, at Death Valley.
