LSU is soon finishing up what Ed Orgeron called their NFL-like “preseason” preparation soon and will then commence the full first campaign of the Coach O era. All of the talk about this team leading up to this point has been about the quarterback position mostly. We have focused on what issues the Tigers will possibly face. We can continue to run down the list of potential problems that will keep LSU from achieving anything other than a fairly decent 8-4 or 9-3 finish; a game manager quarterback with a low ceiling running the offense, a younger defense that is going to have growing pains, a thin bench on the offensive line. But instead of focusing on all of the negative that will keep the LSU Tigers from getting 10 wins or even more this season, with two weeks before kickoff against BYU, on the Alan Michael Show we utilize the POWER OF POSITIVITY and focus on what could potentially have LSU doubters saying “wow” at the end of the 2017 regular season.
I will not deny that there are issues facing LSU this season that are of concern. I have pointed many of them out myself, but when you take those deficiencies into account, you also have to realize that LSU has some pretty significant things going for their football team that other teams in the SEC simply do not have. The first obvious advantage LSU has that could make this a 10 or 11 win team is the fact that they have the absolute best defensive coordinator in all of college football. His name is Dave Aranda and in 2016 his defense gave up 16 touchdowns in 12 games. Sixteen. This was his first season in charge of the defense. Dave Aranda loses some very very talented players this season and he is playing with younger chess pieces, but they are athletic chess pieces very few defensive coordinators get to play with. Aranda gets to manipulate and move guys like Arden Key, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Devin White all over the field. It is unfair when you couple that athleticism with superior defensive schematics.
Speaking of blueprints, LSU finally has some on offense too. Matt Canda comes on to finally bring innovation and ingenuity to the LSU Tigers offense. While Canada has not coordinated in the SEC yet, this can be a good thing because his willingness to do anything if it means playing to the strengths of his players will be something LSU opponents have not seen since, well, ever! An offense that adapts and makes adjustments leaving pride and belief in one scheme by the wayside is an advantage SEC foes simply do not expect or know how to deal with when playing LSU.
Finally, the thing that nobody is talking about that could put LSU in the upper echelon of the College Football Universe is what I am calling the LSU “chill factor.” In the past couple of seasons in Baton Rouge there has been absolutely no chill; not from the players or the coaches or the money people or even the fans. Zero. The question about if and when Les Miles would be fired poisoned the atmosphere. It was an ugly cloud hovering over the team that made it impossible to win big games. This season the skies are clear and there is a love affair ready to blossom with Ed Orgeron in charge. Even if he loses big games this season, nobody is asking when Coach O will be fired. It’s a non-issue that affords a level of electric relaxation missing in Baton Rouge for some time. Great coordinators and blue chip athletes are great, but having that chill factor could be the reason we look at when the 2017 season ends, the Tigers are in the SEC Championship Game and we ask ourselves, “how the hell did LSU do it?”