Orgeron: New OC Canada's offense 'is kicking our defense's tail this spring'
LSU will be stepping into a new light this fall, as first year head coach Ed Orgeron brought in offensive coordinator Matt Canada to revolutionize the Tigers' offense.
Known for their power run game during Les Miles' tenure as head coach, many felt the Tigers neglected their talent at receiver by not throwing the ball down field or finding ways to use their athletes on the outside.
Now, with Orgeron in as head coach and Canada controlling the offense, higher point totals are expected to come, helping to complement an always stingy defense.
“His offense is kicking our defense’s tail this spring,” Orgeron said to Andy Staples of SI.com. “It’s causing problems.”
LSU ranked 59th in total offense in 2016, but that was thanks in large part to its 21st-ranked running game. When just looking at passing, the Tigers ranked 101st.
That was fine when playing against weaker competition, as LSU could bully its way in the run game. However, when facing an equal or stronger team, such as Alabama, it was easy to shut down the run game and not have to worry about being beaten by the pass.
That is what Orgeron is hoping will happen now with Canada on board, as teams will have to respect both the run and pass equally.
“Feed the ball to the playmakers in space and let them make plays,” Orgeron said of his philosophy.
Last season at Pitt, where Canada was offensive coordinator, seven players rushed for over 100 yards, while six players had at least 20 receptions.
On LSU, five players went over 100 yards rushing, but just three players had 20-plus receptions.
Canada is known for getting every drip of talent out of his players and will now have four- and five-star players to work with.
"He gets the most out of his players. He always has. He got the most out of some 5’9” guy that ran a 4.8 40, and he still somehow got that guy to catch 77 passes,” new Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said of himself on when Canada was the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois in 2003. “If that guy can do that to me, who is just an average football player with average speed and a big heart, he can do that with the athletes and the people he’s going to work with down at LSU."
Tiger fans will get their first look at Canada's offense this Saturday, as LSU holds their annual "National L-Day Game" at 8:00 p.m. EST.