LSU Football: Biggest Storylines Heading into Fall Camp
Was last season's 8-5 record the exception to the rule, or is LSU regressing as a program?
That question won't be answered until the end of November, but the college football world will get clues this August when LSU opens fall camp for head coach Les Miles' 11th season as the head coach of the Tigers.
It's an important season for Miles and his staff.
The quarterback position has been a near-constant sore spot ever since Matt Flynn brought a national title to Baton Rouge after the 2007 season. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is in the final year of a three-year deal, and another underwhelming season will almost certainly create a situation in 2016 where Miles is coaching for his job.
What should you keep an eye on this August during LSU's fall camp?
Fix The Glitch
Whether it's junior returning starter Anthony Jennings or sophomore Brandon Harris who wins the starting quarterback job this summer, the play has to improve.
Aside from Zach Mettenberger's senior season in 2013, an LSU quarterback hasn't finished higher than eighth in the conference in yards per game since Jarrett Lee finished fifth in 2008 with 170.3.
Miles hopes last season's struggles by both Jennings and Harris will be a blessing in disguise in 2015.
"Well, experience isn't something that you can just will on a guy," Miles said at SEC media days. "The good news is we have a guy who's started eight games or so, and we have a guy that's been around it now and played through two springs and been through a fall. So our quarterback play will be better, legitimately better."
LSU fans have heard that before, and at this point, it's hard to believe it until one of those guys proves it on the field.
Harris has a bit of an edge right now. Jennings was suspended indefinitely following an arrest for unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling, which has given Harris—a dual-threat weapon from Bossier City, Louisiana, uninterrupted first-team snaps during summer workouts.
"He's changed a lot. He's stepping up," said running back Leonard Fournette at SEC media days. "Brandon has improved tremendously. He's making the right reads, reading defenses and making a lot of plays."
Will those snaps be what creates separation? Miles has said Jennings will be given a chance to win the job back once his case is resolved, according to Ross Dellenger of the Advocate.
If that happens between now and fall camp, the battle between Harris and Jennings will be the most important battle in the SEC. LSU has the talent to be a division title contender if Miles can find just a little consistency from one of his signal-callers, and one of them has to earn that confidence in August.
What's the Identity?
Miles brought in former Alabama linebackers coach and Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele to replace John Chavis. The 57-year-old has typically worked in 3-4 schemes, and LSU has been primarily run and recruited for a 4-3.
What will the identity be this year?
The Tigers lost starting defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Jermauria Rasco from last year's defense—a defense that totaled just 19 sacks, second-worst in the conference. That has to change if LSU is going to contend for a division title. The secondary is second to none (or maybe "second to Florida") in the SEC, but it simply won't be as consistent as it needs to be if quarterbacks have all day to throw.
As CBS Sports analyst Gary Danielson told ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge earlier this month, new defensive line coach Ed Orgeron could help in that department.
Can Tashawn Bower be that edge threat in a more hybrid system this year? How will Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture develop inside? How will Steele mix in 3-4 looks with 4-3 personnel?
There's no shortage of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, but they all need to settle into their roles in the new scheme this summer.
A Little Help?
Fournette is getting a ton of Heisman love after rushing for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns as a true freshman a year ago.
But this is LSU—a program that typically spreads carries around to a number of ball-carriers in an effort to keep everybody fresh for a full four quarters and full 12-game season.
That could be even more of a goal for this particular LSU team because Fournette, who returned 24 kickoffs for 625 yards and a touchdown last year, could see more time on special teams this year. After all, if LSU's offense is going to struggle and Fournette can make life a little easier, why wouldn't Miles put his best offensive player back deep?
"He'll certainly get that opportunity. He sure was good last year," Miles said earlier this month, according to Dellenger.
It seems as though you can probably write his name down in ink as a consistent special teams mainstay based on Miles' comments Wednesday (via Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com):
Derrius Guice and Nick Brossette were signed as part of the 2015 class and could come in and contribute right away. Both of the newcomers are true all-purpose backs who are big enough to take the punishment between the tackles and fast enough to be dangerous in space.
Will they push sophomore Darrel Williams for primary backup carries?
"Darrel Williams has had a great summer, another, in my opinion, will be an elite back," Miles said at SEC media days.
Whether that's this year or not really doesn't matter. The trio of Williams, Brossette and Guice need to combine to be one elite back behind Fournette.
It'll be up to Miles and Cameron to figure out how that rotation is going to work in fall camp so the Tigers can hit the ground running during a critical September that includes games against division foes Mississippi State and Auburn.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93 XM 208.
Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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