After a mediocre 2020, Orgeron aims to right the ship quickly at LSU

Not long ago LSU football coach Ed Orgeron was making a case to be mentioned alongside Alabama’s Nick Saban.

Now, he has to be careful not to be mentioned alongside Gene Chizik.

Orgeron was riding high in 2019 after leading LSU to an undefeated national championship season. Then he endured a lackluster campaign that was stained by five losses.

The same thing happened to Chizik. He coached Auburn to an undefeated national championship in 2010. The following year Auburn suffered five losses. Chizik was then fired after a 3-9 disaster in 2012.

Orgeron doesn’t figure to get fired in 2021, but LSU previously has fired national championship winning coach (hello, Les Miles) who never posted fewer than eight wins in a season.

That would suggest LSU must be significantly improved for Orgeron to avoid the proverbial hot seat. Count on LSU to finish better than last year’s 5-5 showing. How much better is the real question.

Stellar receiver Kayshon Boutte and an experienced offensive line head a group of eight offensive starters. Yet, there remain questions at quarterback where senior Myles Brennan and sophomore Max Johnson are competing.

Brennan passed for 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns in three games before sustaining an abdominal muscle tear that prematurely ended his 2020 season.

Johnson passed for 1,069 yards and 8 touchdowns in six appearances.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

All American Derek Stingley and his defensive teammates should benefit from a change at defensive coordinator.

Also, LSU uncharacteristically has concerns at running back. Former five-star prospect John Emery has yet to live up to the hype. Tyrion Davis-Price led the Tigers in rushing last season with a mere 446 yards.

There are even more concerns on defense, where the Tigers were among the Southeastern Conference’s worst last season.

Cornerbacks Derek Stingley and Eli Ricks are All-American caliber, defensive end Andre Anthony and linebacker B.J. Ojulari can provide a strong pass rush and newcomers Navonteque Strong and Mike Jones are counted on to boost the linebacker corps.

However, optimism for a return to LSU’s usual defensive form is mainly based on former Minnesota Vikings secondary coach Daronte Jones taking over at defensive coordinator for Bo Pelini, whose schemes were woefully ineffective. LSU had the SEC’s worst pass defense in 2020.

Upgrading pass defense will be the first step in keeping Orgeron out of any conversations that include Chizik.

LSU Tigers

• Coach: Ed Orgeron
• 2020 record: 5-5
• Postseason result: Self-imposed bowl ban

Returning starters:  Offense (8), Defense (9)

Area of strength: Although LSU was dead last among SEC in pass defense in 2020, the secondary still projects to be elite. Blame the scheme, not the players. Cornerback Derek Stingley is an All-American and Eli Ricks is an All-American candidate. Safety is deep with Todd Harris and Jay Ward leading the way.

Area of concern: It seems odd for LSU to have uncertainty at running back. The Tigers typically are loaded there. But the leading rusher last season was Tyrion Davis-Price with 446 yards. John Emery and others figure to get action in a running back by committee approach.

Significant losses:  WR Terrace Marshall (NFL second-round draft pick), LB Jabril Cox (NFL fourth-round draft pick), S JaCoby Stevens (NFL sixth-round draft pick), QB T.J. Finley (transfer to Auburn).

Key additions: LB Navonteque Strong (junior college transfer), LB Mike Jones (transfer from Clemson), S Major Burns (transfer from Georgia), S Sage Ryan (five-star signee).

Top three players

• Kayshon Boutte, WR: Looking to build on an outstanding freshman season in which he averaged 16.3 yards on 45 catches with five touchdowns. He accomplished that despite struggles at quarterback.
• Derek Stingley, CB: Largely considered the top cornerback in the nation. A projected high first-round draft choice, he has All-American credentials. Stingley has six interceptions and has been credited with 20 passes broken up in his two seasons.
• B.J. Ojulari, DE: A big-time pass rusher off the edge. Ojulari had an impressive freshman season in 2020. He posted 4 sacks, was credited with 3 quarterback hurries and forced a fumble.

2021 schedule

• Sept. 4 at UCLA
• Sept. 11 vs. McNeese
• Sept. 18 vs. Central Michigan
• Sept. 25 at Mississippi State
• Oct. 2 vs. Auburn
• Oct. 9 at Kentucky
• Oct. 16 vs. Florida
• Oct. 23 at Ole Miss
• Nov. 6 at Alabama
• Nov. 13 at Arkansas
• Nov. 20 vs. ULM
• Nov. 27 vs. TEXAS A&M

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