Front Porch FootballLSU Tigers 2021 Season Preview
Quote of the Day: “Do it the way I want. That’s it. If it’s not done the way I want, I’m going to fix it. If I see something broke, I’m fixing it. LSU’s standard of performance, the way we have done things, this reminds me a lot of the 2018 season. There’s a lot of unknowns.”- Ed Orgeron
by Brendan Paschal
2020 was always going to be tough for LSU. After one of the most successful and dominant seasons in college football history, and after losing over 30 players from the 2019 undefeated national champion, last season was destined to be a rebuilding year. Whether LSU fans understood how depleted this team was, or they were still riding the high of winning a national title, they uncharacteristically showed head coach Ed Orgeron a little grace during a 5-5 season.
Don’t expect that to last. Coach O needs to prove to fans, recruits, and himself that last year was a fluke and that he is still the man for one of the most cutthroat jobs in college football. Prior to landing on the hot seat, coaches tend to fire one of their coordinators to show they are making the proper changes. Last year, Orgeron fired both his offensive and defensive coordinators, each after only one season. He also mentioned in his opening statement on SEC Media Days that he plans to be much more involved (see our quote of the day).
Coach O compared this team to the 2018 Tigers. That team had a lot of talent on both sides of the ball but possessed an equal amount of uncertainty. Although we all lost a little bit of respect for LSU in 2020, the Bayou Bengals look to regain their reputation this upcoming season. 2021 will see a team in gold and purple with a chip on its shoulder. Expect to see Orgeron return to his core values to help LSU re-establish its identity. I’m talking a hardnose, imposing-its-will, flying-to-the-football kind of team.
Offense
LSU needs to bring back its run game. They don’t need to revert all the way back to 2015, when RB Leonard Fournette finished the season with more rushing attempts than QB Brandon Harris had passing attempts, but they need to bring some sort of balance back to this offense. Long time assistant coach and former offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger took an analyst position for the Tigers while Scott Linehan was let go after one season as passing game coordinator. Jake Peetz and DJ Mangas enter Baton Rouge as the new OC and passing-game coordinator, respectively; both came from the Carolina Panthers after serving under former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady in 2020.
Departed Starters
TJ Finley – QB – Transfer to Auburn
Chris Curry – RB – Transfer to Utah
Dare Rosenthal – OT – Transfer to Kentucky
Terrance Marshall – WR – NFL
Arik Gilbert – TE – Transfer to Georgia
Quarterback
A quarterback battle was raging all spring and summer between Myles Brennan and Max Johnson. Brennan was fighting to regain his starting position after having his 2020 season cut seven games short due to a unique abdominal injury. He appeared to be the favorite heading into August but broke his non-throwing arm when his flip-flop caught a piece of a fishing dock. Although he plans to start throwing soon, he will likely have to sit out for the duration of the season once again.
That means Max Johnson (6-5, 219) is now the man. The former four-star recruit was not anticipated to make much of an impact in 2020, but after Brennan’s injury and TJ Finley’s struggles to produce on the field, Johnson worked his way into a starting role for the last two games of the season. He led the Bayou Bengals to finish their season on an upswing, beating Florida 37-34 and Ole Miss 53-48 in epic fashion. Johnson looks to continue his win streak in 2021, but with new coordinators he could regress if Peetz and Mangas decide to start from scratch.
Running Back
“Too much of a good thing is bad” would be the motto for LSU’s running back corps last year. There was a void to fill when Clyde Edwards-Helaire left for the NFL, but instead of one running back stepping in, Ed Orgeron tried to shove three backs into one vacancy. This led to inconsistent production from Tyrion Davis-Price, John Emery, and Chris Curry. The frustration was too much for Curry, who transferred to Utah. Davis-Price (6-1, 232) and Emery (5-11, 215) both return for their junior year, but the question of who will take the majority of snaps remains.
Emery is better fit for an offense that wants to utilize the running back in both the running and passing games. He is the type of back who can extend plays on the ground and take swing routes up field quickly. Davis-Price, on the other hand, is more of a traditional running back. He is also a better pass blocker. As I sit in the comfortable air-conditioning writing this hundreds of miles away from Baton Rouge, I would choose Emery to be my premier back and have Davis-Price enter as a short yardage/change of pace player. They can be a one-two punch, but rotating players every other down is not the move.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Sophomore Kayshon Boutte (6-0, 190) will be one of the best wide receivers in the country this year. Halfway through 2020, he emerged as the Tigers’ premier target after Terrance Marshall opted-out. Boutte has a knack for getting open, catching the ball in the open field, then making defenders miss. Boutte put on a clinic in the season finale against Ole Miss and now holds the SEC record for most receiving yards in a game after recording 14 receptions for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns. With Johnson starting at quarterback, expect these two to connect early and often in the passing game.
Koy Moore (6-0, 174) seemed to adjust quickly from high school to the SEC last season, and he should take on a larger role as a sophomore. The Tigers have three other players who have shown potential but have been unable to break through to the starting roster – Jontre Kirklin (6-0, 184), Jaray Jenkins (6-4, 194), and Tre Palmer (6-0, 180). All are athletic with reliable hands, but don’t be surprised if true freshman Deion Smith (6-3, 203) surpasses them at some point during the season. Tight end Kole Taylor (6-7, 243) is a mismatch for any defense, but he will be tested as a starter now that Arik Gilbert is gone.
Offensive Line
This unit returns four of its five starters and should take a step forward. Gone is left tackle Daren Rosenthal (transfer to Kentucky), but one could argue he wasn’t much of a starter since he was frequently suspended for violating team rules. Replacing Rosenthal will be Cam Wire (6-6, 311), who saw significant playing time last season. Opposite Wire is Austin Deculus (6-6, 331), who has seen the best and the worst of LSU football during his time in uniform. The fifth-year senior’s bio states that Deculus could finish his career holding the record for most game appearances in LSU history (60). He currently sits at 49 game appearances, 34 of those as a starter.
The interior will also look familiar, with fifth-year senior Liam Shanahan (6-5, 304) snapping the ball. The former first team All-Ivy League lineman made an easy transition from Harvard to the SEC. On either side of him return Ed Ingram (6-3, 315) and Chasen Hines (6-3, 349). Hines has played since his freshman year but has never played a full season healthy. I would love to see his career end without a hiatus. If something were to happen, though, sophomore and former five-star Kardell Thomas (6-3, 326) will be ready to step in immediately.
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Defense
During SEC Media Days, Orgeron eloquently explained why his defense stunk in 2020 and what he’s doing to improve it. “We have to eliminate explosive plays. Too many explosive plays, too many missed assignments., too many busts too many receivers running down the field free, and we played a lot of man and a lot of combination of man, stuff like that. Some of it was simple. Some of it was too complicated. We’re going to simplify stuff. We want our players to have their cleats in the grass. We’re going to play a lot more zone. They’re not going to be switching off of this level, switching off of that level. We want our guys to play, keep the ball in front of us, and make plays.”
In other words, LSU is going back to the basics and relying upon their superior athleticism to make plays. One of my favorite characteristics of LSU defenses is that every defender flies to the ball. It doesn’t matter if a receiver caught a ball forty yards down the field, that nose guard is hauling ass towards the ball. We saw glimpses of this last season, but there was so much confusion in the passing game and missed assignments in the run game that you often couldn’t even see the eleven defenders hustling in the TV frame. The good news for LSU is they return players across the defense, so with a simpler scheme and experienced players, this defense will improve exponentially.
Bringing in Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator also helps take the burden off Orgeron. Coming from the NFL, Jones will implement a 4-2-5 defensive scheme, which is something new for the Tigers. They might go through a bit of an identity crisis after boasting some of the greatest linebacker talent over the past several years, but in the long run there are so many athletes on this roster that everyone will find a home one way or another.
Departed Starters
Apu Ika – NG – Transfer to Baylor
JaCoby Stevens – S – NFL
Jabril Cox – LB – NFL
Defensive Line
Going back to the basics means four down lineman this year. Inside should be led by seniors Glen Logan (6-3, 339) and Neil Farrell. Logan is known for his superior gap discipline and is one of the most experienced players on the team. He might be the most excited to add another lineman because he will no longer have to take the brunt of double teams on every single play. Farrell (6-4, 319) has now made a permanent transition to the inside but has traditionally played a hybrid position of DE/DT. He has the strength to play inside and the quickness to get to the quarterback, which should enhance LSU’s pass rush.
Of all the freshmen on the roster, one stands above the rest. Five-star recruit Maason Smith (6-6, 312) is a freak of nature, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player. It’s not a question of whether he will play, but if he will start right away. The true freshman will also be the first player in LSU history to wear the number 0, which means this kid definitely has some swagger to him.
Like defensive tackle, defensive end returns a pair of seniors as. Both Ali Gaye (6-6, 250) and Andre Anthony (6-4, 251) are threats off the edge and led the team in stats behind the line of scrimmage in 2020 (Gaye with 9.5 tackles for loss and Anthony with 5 sacks). The pass rush from the four linemen alone should be all any offense can handle, allowing the back seven to own the skies.
Linebacker
Losing a linebacking spot in the new 4-2-5 defense means only the very best will play. Damone Clark (6-3, 245) has one position locked in. Even though he took full responsibility for his lack of production in 2020, it’s clear the complexity of the defense prevented Clark from playing instinctively, and he ultimately got in his own head. When he is truly unleashed, Clark inflicts carnage on opposing offenses. Don’t be surprised if he ends the season as an All-SEC linebacker.
The second position should be taken by JUCO transfer Navonteque “Bugg” Strong (6-2, 220), who is an absolute tackling machine. In just six games played at Mississippi Gulf Coast, Strong put up 59 tackles, 5 sacks, and 11.5 tackles for loss. I understand junior college is different from the SEC, but I also understand that LSU has a knack for finding the best JUCO athletes and turning them into playmakers. He will be the judge, jury, and executioner for any ball carrier in his vicinity.
Another transfer who will see the field is Clemson transfer Mike Jones Jr. (6-2, 234). He has made a smooth transition, and coaches will create opportunities for this athletic sophomore to play at linebacker or maybe even nickelback. Senior Micah Baskerville (6-1, 231) adds valuable experience, athleticism, and consistency to a younger linebacker corps.
Secondary
By now, you may be detecting a theme – last year’s defensive struggles were not due to a lack of talent, or even experience, but rather due to a too-complicated scheme. Multiply that tenfold for the secondary. 2021 returns one of the best cornerbacks, if not the best cornerback, in the country in junior Derek Stingley, Jr. (6-1, 195). Our friend Harris Oates with DraftID writes, “Stingley is the top prospect in the SEC and could be a top 3 pick next spring. His elite ball skills are hard to find in a prospect so young, and he is clearly next in line of great LSU DBs. He had his struggles against DeVonta Smith…but who didn’t?” The preseason All-American is a lockdown corner, and smart offenses will avoid throwing the ball in his direction at all costs.
That should give sophomore Eli Ricks (6-2, 196) and junior Cordale Flott (6-1, 165) plenty of opportunities to make plays on the other side of the field. Ricks looks to build on a successful freshman year, knowing that he cannot hide behind the excuse of not understanding the scheme for any blown coverage. Flott brings consistency and experience to the cornerback position. He will certainly find his way onto the field and maybe even some starts. One freshman who has already made some noise is five-star Sage Ryan (5-11, 195). He can play almost any position in the secondary and possesses tremendous coverage skills. Jones and Orgeron will find ways to get him involved.
Safety
At safety, Todd Harris, Jr. (6-1, 195) and Jay Ward (6-1, 180) should take the starting spots at strong and free safety, respectively. Harris returns looking to build on a respectable 2020 season, while Ward will try to make a name for himself after converting from cornerback to free safety. According to sources, Ward has made a seamless transition and should make an immediate impact.
The nickel back position is the biggest question mark; depending on what kind of package we see, it could be linebacker Mike Jones or true freshman Derrick Davis, Jr (6-1, 191); Davis was ranked as the best safety in the 2021 recruiting class. Freshman cornerback Sage Ryan could play some nickel as well. This will be the one position that will likely see shuffling early in the season but solidify itself before conference play.
Special Teams
Zach Von Rosenberg’s departure hurts for two reasons. First, LSU lost a great punter. Second, the locker room lost a ton of wisdom from the thirty-year-old. Replacing Von Rosenberg will be one of the top punters in 2021 recruiting class, Peyton Todd (6-6, 212). Although built like an ACC defensive end, Todd is an excellent punter.
Both kickers from 2020 return. Cade York (6-1, 198) has demonstrated both power and accuracy as placekicker, and Avery Atkins (5-11, 214) will continue crushing balls into the endzone on kickoffs.
Trey Palmer should be the main punt returner unless Stingley wants to – then it’s his job. Fans could also see Sage Ryan return kicks or punts.
Impact Players
- Max Johnson – QB – LSU’s offensive performance depends on the sophomore. I would love to see Johnson take some risks by occasionally throwing the ball into coverage rather than playing like a game manager. This young man has potential to sling the pigskin all over the field; he just has to give himself permission to do so first.
- Derek Stingley, Jr. – CB – Stingley has the potential to be a Top 10 draft pick. I think his stats will be shockingly low, but solely because of how few opportunities he will have in coverage.
- Kayshon Boutte – WR – The next great wideout at LSU. Boutte can break ankles on his routes, and it appears that his football IQ is much higher than most sophomores.
- Damone Clark – LB – Like many fifth-year seniors on this team, Clark returned in search of redemption. He knows the kind of ballplayer he can be, but now it’s time to show the SEC how good he really is.
Schedule
Sept. 4 — at UCLA
Sept. 11 — vs. McNeese State
Sept. 18 — vs. Central Michigan
Sept. 25 — at Mississippi State
Oct. 2 — vs. Auburn
Oct. 9 — at Kentucky
Oct. 16 — vs. Florida
Oct. 23 — at Ole Miss
Oct. 30 — BYE
Nov. 6 — at Alabama
Nov. 13 — vs. Arkansas
Nov. 20 — vs. ULM
Nov. 27 — vs. Texas A&M
Conclusion
This team probably won’t win the SEC West, but they will regain their self-respect and remind the South who they are. After getting kicked in the stomach in 2020, Orgeron appears to have turned the Tigers back in the right direction. Look for this LSU team to win a game or two it shouldn’t, but also lose a game or two it shouldn’t, too.
