By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
Last year with arrival of head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher LSU’s offense became, at times, one of the most potent offenses in the SEC.
Fisher’s style of offense is both attractive and effective. Fisher has been able to comply with the trend of spread offenses by inserting three and four receiver sets, yet he has managed to balance the offense with a solid rushing attack.
“I am excited about our offense this year,” said Fisher. “I think we definitely have some guys coming back that can make some plays and can put some points on the board. But our goal, right now on offense, the thing we are striving for is consistency. We had some very good games last year offensively and we had some games where we didn’t perform as well. I think what we are trying to get our team to understand is that we need to play week in and week out, on a consistent basis.”
Consistency will be the key to LSU’s success on the offensive side of the ball in 2001. Last year, LSU moved the ball down the field with authority against W. Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. LSU amassed over 3,000 yards of total offense in those games giving the Tigers an average of 452.7 yards per game of total offense.
The offensive explosions of these games led LSU to a 7-1 record when the Tigers gained at least 300 yards of total offense, the only loss coming in Gainesville when LSU gained a hollow 341 yards on route to a 41-9 defeat at the hands of Florida.
On the flip side of this equation, LSU is 1-3 when gaining less than 300 yards of offense. In games against Houston, UAB, Auburn and Arkansas LSU averaged only 251.5 yards per game. In all fairness 251.5 yards per game is by no means a woeful performance offensively. However, in the high-powered SEC, in many cases it takes more offense than that to win football games.
“We have to keep a good balance on offense and that is what we are striving for,” added Fisher. “And to keep a more consistent offense week in and week out and not have the peaks and valleys. You can know that every week we are going to out there and know there are certain things we can achieve and kind of hang our hat on. That’s our biggest goal, keeping guys healthy, keeping things going, developing depth in the offensive line.”
The Tigers enter the season in a fashion they haven’t entered since 1998. For the first time in three years, LSU has a solidified starting quarterback. Rohan Davey will lead the Tigers into battle in 2001.
“I definitely have been waiting for this opportunity and it is definitely here,” said the senior signal-caller. “It is just a good position to be in. I consider myself the most fortunate quarterback in the country just because of the talent I am surrounded by.”
Davey is coming off a season of ups and downs. The good news is that when Davey was healthy, there were only ups. The Tiger quarterback led a gallant charge in defeating Tennessee in one of the most exciting games in recent Tiger Stadium history. He also led an impressive second comeback against Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl. Davey is healthier than he’s ever been heading into the 2001 season.
There is a three-way derby in fall camp for the backup quarterback position between Marcus Randall, Matt Mauck and Rick Clausen.
In the backfield, not much has changed since last year. The two talented Tiger running backs LaBrandon Toefield and Domanick Davis will try to cause havoc for opposing defenses.
“I’m open and I think we can be (more physical running the football). Being able to run the football a little better than we did is important,” said Fisher. “We improved from the year before, but we still need to improve and learn to control the line of scrimmage and get the ball to (LaBrandon) Toefield as much as we can, because he is a heck of a back, and Domanick (Davis) can also do some things.”
LSU took a tough hit by losing Reggie Robinson to a non-football related neck injury for the season. Even without Robinson, the Tigers still boast a very good receiving corps. Led by All-American candidate Josh Reed, LSU simply has what every team needs at the position – playmakers.
“Losing Reggie was really unfortunate, but a lot of guys have gotten in there and stepped up and they want to play,” said Reed. “It looks like they’re going to do the things they need to do to fill Reggie’s spot. I think all of the receivers have the potential to step up.”
Devery Henderson, a converted running back, is indeed a very talented athlete with the potential to make an impact at receiver. Add to the list veteran Jerel Myers and talented youngsters Jack Hunt, Corey Webster, and Michael Clayton and the LSU coaches aren’t too concerned about who will lineup at receiver in 2001.
Even if Rohan Davey runs out of receivers to throw to, that probably won’t be a problem with the slew of talented tight ends LSU has in 2001.
Seniors Robert Royal and Joe Domingeaux lead the way. Royal is an elite tight end in the nation.
“When you’ve got a few of guys who weigh 260 lbs., can block well and are fast enough to run down the field and cause mismatches that’s a luxury. We have that with so many great tight-ends here,” said Fisher.
Fisher loves to utilize his tight ends in the scheme. Royal had a huge year in 2000 catching five touchdown passes, while Eric Edwards showed enormous potential in Fisher’s system.
LSU has a couple of aces in the hole as well with youngsters Marcus Spears, David Jones and Kory Hebert waiting for a chance to play.
Fisher also likes the idea of using his tight ends as fullbacks.
“I consider fullbacks and tight ends to be basically the same thing. When you have a guy who is 235 pounds back their blocking a linebacker who is 235lbs. It’s basically an even match-up. But when you throw a tight end who weighs 260lbs. back there and he starts pounding on a linebacker at 235lbs. After a while it may get old for that linebacker,” said Fisher.
LSU has three fullbacks on the roster at the moment with Solomon Lee, Elice Parker and Ryan O’Neal. The will share time in the backfield with the tight ends. Domingeaux is the strongest candidate to be used in a blocking role at fullback. He did it last year versus Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl.
The biggest question offensively for LSU may be the offensive line.
From a physical standpoint the Tigers have an abundance of large, strong bodies, which is a very encouraging sign in fall camp.
Rob Sale, Rodney Reed and Dwayne Pierce all proved last year that they were worthy warriors in the trenches once they were inserted into the lineup. The trio will anchor the offensive line in 2001. Players are still jockeying for the other two positions.
This year LSU should have a very exciting and productive offense. The talent pool is high and Saban and Fisher’s strategies are proven.