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LSU Football: 3 fixes Tigers must make before 2020 season

By Jake Mitchell

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers leads his team onto the field before the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers leads his team onto the field before the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 05: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers looks to throw ball against the Utah State Aggiesat Tiger Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 05: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers looks to throw ball against the Utah State Aggiesat Tiger Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

3. Replace last year’s offensive production

The word “replace” may have a bit of a negative connotation when talking about the fixes that need to be made, but this is a situation born purely out of necessity. 2019’s LSU offense was record-breaking, and now, the key people responsible for it are gone.

Joe Burrow, along with his 6,039 yards and 65 touchdowns, have moved on to the NFL. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the man who introduced this offense to the bayou, has returned to the pros as well.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson, responsible for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns, will leave for the draft, along with tight end Thaddeus Moss, who had  570 yards and delivered over and over on the College Football Playoff stage. Even tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire and four offensive linemen will leave for the NFL as well.

Now offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, along with his new running mate Scott Linehan, are tasked with replacing the Tigers’ number one player at every offensive position group.

Myles Brennan is the likely quarterback. He saw action in ten games last year and completed 60 percent of his throws while compiling 353 yards and a touchdown. He’ll be handing off to a group of running backs that will include Chris Curry, John Emery and Tyrion Davis-Price. All three backs saw action a season ago, but Curry was the number two back down the postseason stretch.

The remaining weapon from a year ago will be the go-to player in 2020. Wideout Ja’Marr Chase had 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, and those numbers could go up now that he is the clear number one guy on the outside.

Replicating the production of 2019 is an impossible task. The numbers that LSU put up last year were historic, and they had a perfect storm of circumstances. However, this is a unit that can still be a very good one in 2020.

The Tigers don’t have a great deal of experienced and proven talent on the offensive side of the ball, but they have recruited at a high level. Brennan has had two years to learn and grow without being thrust into high-pressure situations, and there is a wealth of talent around him.

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