LSU Football: Tigers offensive approach won’t be changing without Joe Burrow
By Zach Ragan
LSU football is coming off one of the most prolific offensive seasons in college football history.
LSU football averaged 48 points per game last season (which led the nation), their quarterback tossed for over 5,600 yards and three wide receivers had at least 13 receiving touchdowns.
It was one of the most prolific offensive seasons in college football history.
2020, however, is a new season. And nearly all of the Tigers’ offensive production from 2019 is gone.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire were all first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tight end Thaddeus Moss was an undrafted free agent.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was expected to be the centerpiece of LSU’s offense in 2020, elected to opt out of the 2020 season in late August.
On top of the lost talent, the Tigers also lost passing game coordinator Joe Brady, who received a lot of credit for LSU’s offensive outburst in 2019 (Brady left Baton Rouge to take a job as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator).
With all of the production that LSU lost, it would be wise to expect a different offensive approach in 2020, right?
Well, not exactly.
LSU football won’t be changing their offensive philosophy
LSU is still a very talented team, despite all the talent they lost from last season.
But that talent is largely unproven.
Wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr, who was the Tigers’ third-leading pass-catcher last season, has the most experience of any of LSU’s skill position players. Outside of Marshall, the offense is built largely around inexperienced talent.
However, the Tigers are still going to approach the 2020 season with the same aggressiveness that they did in 2019.
“That is just the DNA of this offense. You know what we are going to do, but at the end of the day, are you going to stop us? We may have some tweaks, but we are going to keep being LSU and keep doing what we do,” said Marshall recently (via 247Sports).
Myles Brennan may not have much experience. But he has a big arm. And he has wide receivers that can get down the field in a hurry.
The Tigers are still going to attack opposing defenses through the air. They aren’t going to suddenly start being conservative just because Burrow, Jefferson and Chase are gone.
I know a lot of folks are down on LSU this season. And I think that’s a mistake.
Next. Joe Burrow's parents almost missed for NFL game. dark
The Tigers won’t be as dangerous on offense as they were last season, but they’ll still be one of the better offensive teams in the SEC.