Steve Kragthorpe would have viewed the Cotton Bowl with a more watchful eye if he knew what the future entailed.
Kragthorpe saw LSU tear apart the team he coached with for four seasons, 41-24, on Jan. 7, but little did he know he was watching his future players take on his former team.
Kragthorpe was named LSU’s offensive coordinator 13 days after the Cotton Bowl and inherited an offense that scored five touchdowns against the Aggies.
Junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson had four of those touchdowns in one of the best performances of his career.
“He played extremely well in the Texas A&M game in the Cotton Bowl,” Kragthorpe said Monday at his introductory news conference. “That’s a good platform for him to springboard off of going into spring practices.”
LSU’s quarterback situation is one of the many questions Kragthorpe will face in his first season in charge of the Tigers’ offense.
Rising senior Jarrett Lee and junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger will also compete for the position under center.
Kragthorpe said he has met with the quarterbacks and already began establishing relationships with them.
“We’ve got a good group of quarterbacks,” Kragthorpe said. “We do have an incumbent or incumbents because both of those guys have played, but the best players are going to play.”
LSU’s offense will have a smooth transition going into 2011, as wide receiver Terrence Toliver and offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale are the only starters not returning next season.
The Tigers will also keep the same offensive terminology, Kragthorpe said.
“The easiest thing for me to do is come in and learn the terms instead of teaching the terms to 80 people,” Kragthorpe said.
Kragthorpe, who will also serve as quarterbacks coach, made it clear he will not play favorites while in Baton Rouge.
“If you want seniority, go to the Army,” Kragthorpe said. “If you want to play with the best players, come to LSU.”
Kragthorpe has been known for developing quarterbacks, coaching Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck while at Boston College and Drew Bledsoe while with the Buffalo Bills.
“To me, coaching the quarterbacks is about two things — you play with your feet, and you play with your head,” Kragthorpe said. “You got to be able to make quick decisions with your head and put the ball where it’s supposed to be put.”
Former offensive coordinator Gary Crowton saw his offense’s statistics shrink since joining the LSU staff in 2007.
Kragthorpe said LSU coach Les Miles made sure their offensive theories were similar during the interview process.
“Les and I are on the same page,” Kragthorpe said. “We’ve been knowing each other for a while.”
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The two crossed paths many times during their careers, including when Miles was with the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State.
“His view of the passing game and decision making to me is what, not only mechanics, is what every quarterback needs,” Miles told a group of reporters Jan. 21. “I felt he could shortcut some of the elaborate thought process that was going on, make our guys quicker decision-makers.”
LSU’s offense was more balanced this season, recording 2,414 rushing yards and 2,023 passing yards. Kragthorpe said he wants to continue the even attack.
“We want to be a strong, powerful running football team that has the ability to be a quick-strike passing team, as well,” Kragthorpe said.
The former Louisville head coach said his strategy changes depending on the opponent.
“I’ve been in games as an offensive coordinator where we’ve thrown 56 passes, and we’ve won the game,” Kragthorpe said.
He also noted a game where he called 22 straight rushing plays for three touchdowns.
“The bottom line is [to] score points, whatever it takes to score points,” Kragthorpe said.
Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]