re: What to expect from Ensminger's offense

This is said every damn year. If,if,if,if they would have executed on 1/9/12, they would have beaten Alabama then too. At some point you have to say, the coaches need to implement a system that can be executed competently. You can't keep trotting a failing offense on to the field and just blame players for poor execution. Every offensive coordinator believes that they have a solid plan, but common sense disagrees when it yields an anemic offense over and over again. LSU needs a complete change in philosophy that is aggressive and actually puts a responsibility on the offense to assist in winning games. They need to stop limiting themselves in the passing game, by throwing on early downs and utilize more than 1 receiver running creative routes. For once I would love to see an LSU offense that could dictate a game and play to win, rather than play to punt.

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I see some of you are still not willing to address the elephant in the room. I’m good with Ensminger. What im not good with is O “researching “ and not interviewing. Im not good with the yellow liquid LSU (specifically O, DP, Alleva) is telling me is rain.

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There have been countless threads about that. Nobody disagrees with you that the process was terrible, but regardless of how we got here, we're here now.

Ensminger has to put an offense on the field and this is about the potential strategies he will deploy. With Brennan and a talented crop of WRs, it could work out.

(sorry to play thread cop in here but it's actually an interesting discussion and pertains more to our on field success than the constant handwringing over the direction of the program)

So, are we not able to talk football here anymore?

Can we not discuss schemes, personnel, etc.?

Did Orgeron break you?

Thanks for clarifying to some simple-minded people on this board.

No competent QB wants to play at LSU, until a competent system is implemented. They go hand in hand. Implement a creative system that makes average players look better, and they will line up to sign up.

To me, the philosophy for several years was that LSU was so dominant in the run game with 3 RBs (Hill, Fournette, Guice) who could run with incredible power AND breakaway speed, why let the passing game hurt us? Thus, the passing game was largely "safe". Take some deep shots off of play action or throw some short/intermediate routes outside the hashes, but BY ALL MEANS do not risk a turnover by going over the middle. LSU figured it had a good enough defense to always keep the game close so not beating themselves with potential turnovers took priority over trying to be explosive in the passing game.

This season is different. For the first time since 2012 (when Hill took over at RB) LSU doesn't have that elite RB in the backfield. Really, it's more like 2005-2008. For as good as he was, would anyone really take Hester over Guice, Fournette, and/or Hill? One was never a threat to break a huge run. The other three were every time they touched the ball.

What LSU does seem to have though is physical freaks at WR. Sullivan and Anderson are 6'5"+. I don't care how good a CB is. That's a tough cover in man to man if LSU is throwing back shoulder/fade-stop routes. It actually worked the few times they did it vs. Bama. You also have Drake Davis who might be the most athletic of all the WR's. I don't care it he doesn't get the cerebral aspect of the game. Teach him 4-5 routes/plays, throw the ball in his direction and see if he can out athlete everyone. I don't know if there is anyone who can out-jump him when you throw in his vertical leap on top of being 6'4".

After that, LSU should have some good slot options - Dillon and the transfer from TTU. LSU could also be adding two of the top 5 freshman WR's to the mix as well (Marshall and Chase). Finally, if anyone watched him play in HS, they know that CEH can be a weapon in the passing game.

LSU is LOADED at WR, a bit lacking at RB, and has maybe their best pure-passing QB since Mettenberger. Certainly Brennan will have his share of mistakes, but I would be surprised and VERY disappointing if LSU isn't much more pass-heavy next season than they have been over the last 4 seasons. You presumably recruited these guys for a reason...now use them. I'm willing to live with a greater risk of turnovers if it brings a higher chance of an explosive offense with it. If your defense is a good as you think it could be, then they should be able to mitigate some of the effects that come from increased turnovers. LSU isn't getting to the top of the SEC by willing to be just safe on offense.

So all that would be great if it actually worked. I get that you are saying the problem here was Etling and I 100% agree....I think he (with a lot of help from Zero) is what held Canada's offense back.

I hope that Ensminger's offense will be a well oiled machine with Brennan under center....but I'm certainly not getting my hopes up.

I agree with most of your assessment, you're not beating Bama going into the game doing the same thing you've done all year for the most part. You better have some wrinkles and be proficient at them. Where I'll disagree with you a little, wr's better know all the plays/route combos/ checks, if they don't, that will kill you. Part of that cohesion is on the OC to get all the offense on the same page but after that it is on the players to "execute" the play. Part of my argument about 2016 Florida game, missed 30+ yd. field goal, fumble on 2 yd.line, player runs wrong way at the 1, fumbled kick off, need I go on. That's on the damn players, not coaches.

I actually read all of it and watched the videos and it was very informative. Thanks!