LSU Football: Ed Orgeron directly contradicted what he said during the 2017 season

Earlier this week, LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron directly contradicted something he said during the 2017 season.

Prior to the start of the 2017 season, Orgeron, who had just had the interim head coach label removed, hired Matt Canada to lead the Tigers’ offense.

That decision proved to be disastrous (kind of like the decision to hire Bo Pelini to lead the defense in 2020).

Canada only spent one season in Baton Rouge, as the Tigers went 9-4 with an embarrassing home loss to Troy.

LSU and Canada mutually parted ways after the 2017 season.

Ed Orgeron contradicts statement he made after the Troy game

After LSU’s 24-21 home loss to Troy in 2017, Orgeron admitted that he asked Canada to dial back the motions and shifts in the offense (via Nola.com).

Orgeron viewed Canada’s offense as too complex.

(Canada led Pittsburgh’s offense to a top 10 ranking in 2016, helping the Panthers average 40.9 points per game.)

Apparently, Orgeron’s had a change of heart.

After the Tigers’ season-opening loss to UCLA last Saturday, the LSU head coach is hoping to see more motions and shifts moving forward.

Here’s what Orgeron said this week about what he wants to see from the Tigers offense (via 247Sports):

"On the offensive side, I want to see a variety of runs. I want to see different formations. I want to see motions and shifts. I want to see outside runs, inside runs, gap schemes and we want to play football. Let our guys run the football."

It really sounds like Orgeron doesn’t have a plan. He’s just grasping for whatever might work.

I definitely think LSU fans should be concerned about the offense this season. The Tigers have extremely talented players at all of the skill positions. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte might be the best wide receiver in the country. And Max Johnson proved late last season that he’s capable of winning big games in the SEC.

But the coaching might not be what LSU fans were hoping for.

It’s important to remember that Jake Peetz and DJ Mangas have never been play-callers before.

Peetz didn’t get the offensive coordinator job because of his reputation as a coach — he got the job because he was on the same coaching staff last season (with the Carolina Panthers) as former Tigers passing game coordinator Joe Brady.

That could end up proving to be another ill-advised hasty hire by Coach O.

This time, however, it could be the hire that gets Orgeron a permanent exit from Baton Rouge.