Wait, there isn't an "I" in LSU, to begin with, is there? Well for the past decade under Les Miles there was almost always an "I" as in I-formation. That's why defensive players for the University of Alabama said they loved to play LSU. It was because they always knew what was coming.

The Tigers ran the ball approximately 65% of the time in the past 42 games when the offense was under the control of Cam Cameron. They ran the ball almost exclusively out of the I-formation. Under new offensive coordinator Matt Canada the Tiger faithful can expect a totally different look when LSU has the ball.

The book on Canada is quite simple. He likes to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers in any way possible.  That means there will be a lot of new looks and a lot of new formations for opposing defenses to figure out.

To quote NOLA.com and Times-Picayune reporter Ron Higgins,

 Finally, LSU will have a playbook worth stealing and selling to opponents.

While it is very certain that the LSU offense will have a much different presence on the field there is speculation that the man under center or in the shotgun formation might not be current starting quarterback Danny Etling. 

We certainly don't mean to imply that Ettling is already being shown the door, we just mean that Coach Canada and Coach Orgeron have made it clear the quarterback job will be contested in the spring.

You'd have to figure that Ettling would have the upper hand in the competition, especially if he has a good showing against Louisville in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. Oddsmakers in Las Vegas currently have the game as a pick 'em contest. In other words, neither team is the favorite. 

Oh yeah, one other note about Ettling and Canada. Ettling was recruited by Canada when he was the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin. Let's be real, a really good coach with an established program like Wisconsin wouldn't leave to come to LSU if he didn't think he had the pieces in place to further his resume and his career.

Still, there are going to be questions around the quarterback position. How do we know that the job will be open for competition? Let's just say that Brandon Harris, the player that was benched at the beginning of the season and who was rumored to be on his way out of LSU has decided to stick around for spring practice.  You don't need a letter from Captain Obvious to figure that reasoning out.

Before the Tigers get to spring practice there is that bowl game they will have to play. LSU fans can expect to see a few of Canada's wrinkles in place for the bowl game. They can also expect to see Danny Etling at the controls of the offense with the game kicks off at 10 AM Saturday morning.

 

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