LSU has RB Derrick Guice returning to lead an explosive ground game, but the Tigers need more from the passing attack if they’re going to be more successful in 2017 than they were in 2016.

At the quarterback position, Danny Etling returns after serving as the team’s starter last season, but he’ll be challenged by other guys hungry for their shot at the starting job this spring.

First-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada said during a Q&A with Scout.com that Etling is certainly the front-runner to open the 2017 campaign under center, but it’s still too early to count out Lowell Narcisse, Lindsey Scott and some of the other quarterbacks on LSU’s roster:

“You’ve got a guy who’s played and somebody’s got to take his job. Unless somebody takes it, then it’s his job,” Canada said. “We’re giving guys a fair shot, we’re rolling guys through there pretty readily. Again, trying to find what they do well. Part of the biggest place in the offense, we’re putting in a very large foundation to see and give everybody a chance to show what they do well and who’s the best at doing certain things. Then we’ll decide where we’re going to go from there.”

Canada said he and head coach Ed Orgeron are on the same page when it comes to the Tigers’ quarterback battle, so any decision to replace Etling will be a group effort.

However, this spring, LSU is working under the assumption that Etling, who Canada actually tried to recruit during his time at Wisconsin, will start. Still, the reps given to some of the younger quarterbacks are important in case of injury or ineffectiveness on the returning starter’s part.