This season was a very necessary one for the LSU Tigers. Longtime head coach Les Miles was dismissed midway through the season and Coach O would be thrust into the role as head coach. He was able to rally the troops and turn their season around, ending with a convincing victory over the Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
Here’s a look back at the season that was for the Bayou Bengals.
Best Moment: LSU Dominates Lamar Jackson
Maybe it’s because this just happened, but you can’t ignore the fact that they were able to dominate a team with a Heisman Trophy winner. You saw Lamar Jackson, who had been putting up videogame numbers, look human for what seems like the first time in his collegiate career. The Tigers front seven made the Cardinals offensive line look like they were a junior varsity team. The offense was clicking and able to put up some points. At the end of the day, the Tigers had been missing one thing and that was a complete game. This was that complete game and a good beginning to the Coach Ed Orgeron era.
Worst Moment: One Second
One second can change everything. On the fourth week of the regular season, one second wound up changing the course of LSU’s football program. It was a classic example of poor clock management by Les Miles and cost him his job. However, it needed to happen because if it didn’t we wouldn’t be talking about the Citrus Bowl and how this team rallied around Ed Orgeron. The Auburn loss was a necessary evil if the Tigers want to make it to Atlanta in the near future.
MVP: Danny Etling Knight in Shining Armor
One of the biggest talking points from last season was the ineptitude of Brandon Harris. Word was coming out of the Manning Passing Academy was that he underwhelmed with his passing ability. Then the Wisconsin game happened and fans worst fears were realized and Harris was pulled in favor of the Purdue transfer during the Jacksonville State game. He may not have looked like Drew Brees on the field, but what he was able to do was serviceable especially when Ensminger was promoted to offensive coordinator. Overall, Etling helped this team find some form of passing game that had been missing for a long time from the Tigers gameplan.
Breakout Player: Run Guice Run
I could put both Derrius Guice and Etling as MVPs, but what the sophomore running back did on the field without Leonard Fournette. Guice is a player that is performing at a level many fans knew he could and has become a better back because of his being pushed to the front of the line. Look at his performance against Texas A&M; he broke Fournette’s single-game record only a few games after he set the record. The position is actually going to be better than what it was this season, barring an injury to Guice in 2017.
Play of the Year: White Punt Return TD
Tre’Davious White had an up and down season, especially on special teams. However, when he is able to get things going, he is incredible. Look at his punt return for a touchdown. He started out going backwards about ten yards but it turned into six points. It was an insane play that should’ve ended with the Tigers deep in their territory and showed his ability to make lemonade out of lemons.
Looking Forward to 2017:
The first full season under Coach Ed Orgeron will be trying one for fans of the purple and gold. The quarterback position will be a clean slate under Matt Canada so there’s no real idea who will be leading the way in 2017. You’re losing several defensive stars like Kendall Beckwith, Davon Godchaux, and several others that could affect this team with the tough schedule of SEC opponents. Also, a lack of recruiting in the linebacker position could come back to haunt them unless they start a big push as the calendar gets closer to National Signing Day. 2017 will be an interesting one for the Tigers, but the biggest thing that LSU fans need to have is patience.
-Clint Domingue