Early look: What to like about No. 11 LSU in 2017
Each week, USA TODAY Sports will give a more detailed look at the teams listed on our early top 25 for the 2017 college football season.
Up next: No. 11 LSU. Ed Orgeron’s first full season in charge finds LSU trailing Alabama in the SEC West Division. But that’s nothing new. What’s interesting to consider is the Tigers’ potential should the offense quickly improve under a new coordinator.
Why No. 11?
1. Matt Canada. The former Pittsburgh coordinator should breathe life into this program’s moribund offensive attack — eventually. But even if the future looks brighter than the present on this side of the ball, it’s impossible to view Canada’s arrival as anything but an enormous upgrade compared to the Tigers’ recent past.
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The issue? This isn’t a very proven offense in terms of personnel, especially at quarterback. But there’s no doubting the talent level as a whole. And as a whole, the offense will almost certainly be better in 2017 than a year ago.
2. Orgeron’s impact. Les Miles won a national championship at LSU and played for another. In other words, he’s a pretty good coach. So it’s no knock on Miles to say that LSU pretty clearly responds to Orgeron and his energy, just as players at Southern California did during his interim stint with the Trojans in 2013.
It will be interesting to see how that carries over to a 24/7 situation — whether maintaining that level of energy is even possible, really. But Oregon’s tenure has started with solid hires, a strong if somewhat lagging recruiting class and a seamless transition from the end of Miles’ successful term.
3. Talent. Did you know that LSU has as much talent and athleticism as any program in the country? You probably did. Now imagine coaching philosophies and schemes that take full advantage of this ability — not just on defense but on offense, too. That’s something.
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But recent history suggests that talent alone is enough to lift LSU to eight or nine wins even if the offense misfires and sputters once the calendar turns to SEC play. A little tweak and polish here and there makes LSU a pretty intriguing team to consider in the chase for the College Football Playoff.
Why not higher?
1. Quarterback play. The program’s long-running concern won’t end in 2017, even though Canada’s presence bodes well for some degree of improvement in production and efficiency. The promise and high-ceiling potential is found in the younger options — such as Justin McMillan and Lindsay Scott — but the clear starter is senior Danny Etling, who should be fine for fall camp after recent back surgery.
However, it’s up for debate how far Etling can take this offense; he’ll be steady but far from spectacular, especially against the best defenses on the schedule. But here’s a look at the bright side: Just a subtle improvement in quarterback play could mean a world of difference for LSU, right?
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2. Alabama on the road. The Tigers have dropped six in a row to Alabama, the last five during the regular season, and will again be underdogs behind the Crimson Tide in this year’s West Division. So it’s pretty simple: To finish inside the end-of-season top 10 in the Amway Coaches Poll, LSU probably can’t afford to lose more than one other game the rest of the way — a possibility but not likely. Projecting LSU at No. 11 might even be a little bit optimistic, actually.
Biggest games
►At Florida, Oct. 7
►Vs. Auburn, Oct. 14
►At Alabama, Nov. 4
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Three players to know
1. DB Grant Delpit. The true freshman is set for a major role at safety after enrolling and impressing the coaching staff during the spring.
2. RB Lanard Fournette. He might not have his older brother’s combination of size and speed, but Fournette’s versatility should help him carve out some touches as one of the Tigers’ reserve backs.
3. DL Rashard Lawrence. It seems possible that Lawrence, a sophomore, will occupy a starting role up front. At the very least, he’s a key part of the Tigers’ rotation.
PROJECTING THE PRESEASON TOP 25
