LSU’s offense under first-year coordinator Matt Canada was a big hit as the Tigers rolled to victories against BYU (27-0) and Chattanooga (45-10) to start the season.

But after a 37-7 loss at Mississippi State on Saturday that would have left even former LSU coach Les Miles’ staunchest supporters shaking their heads at the offense, Canada and the Tigers have some work to do as they prepare to host Syracuse this week.

Here are three things that might help:

Get back to the run game

Not necessarily the Miles run game, but the Canada run game that was so effective in the first two games. On the Tigers’ first three possessions against State, they had run-pass balance, calling eight runs and nine passes. (The pass calls include a touchdown throw that was negated by penalty and a scramble by Danny Etling). But the run game never got into a rhythm until the fourth possession when LSU ran the ball eight consecutive times and scored its only touchdown even after a penalty negated an initial touchdown run.

Additionally, the Tigers seemed to use fewer jet sweeps than they did in the first two games. Those plays, and Canada’s willingness to throw the ball down the field, spread out the BYU and Chattanooga defenses sideways and lengthwise, opening the middle for the run game.

Derrius Guice had more than 100 yards in each of the first two games, but just 76 yards (on 15 carries) against State. The mounting deficit had a lot to do with the Tigers gaining just 133 yards on the ground (on 29 attempts), but a lack of a commitment to the run contributed to the mounting deficit.

Spread the defense and pound Guice between the tackles.

Get Myles Brennan involved

It’s not time to thrust the true freshman quarterback into the starting lineup, but he’s going to be there soon enough, perhaps even at some point this season.

Get him some quality reps Saturday against Syracuse and a week later against Troy rather than just the mop-up duty he had in the first two games. See what he can with the first-team offense against a first-team defense with the entire game plan still in play. That way, the next time it’s tempting to use him in a game situation, you have a better understanding of how he’s likely to respond.

Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

 

Instill some discipline

Yes, this issue isn’t limited to the offense but it must be addressed on offense if that unit is going to improve.

LSU has committed an average of 90.67 yards in penalties per game after three weeks; only eight FBS teams have racked up more penalty yardage.

Whether it has been a double-digit number of suspensions, a midfield altercation before the game against State or the 30 penalties LSU has committed through three games, a lack of discipline is the biggest problem facing Orgeron, his staff and players.

An offensive pass interference penalty cost the Tigers an early touchdown against State and a holding called delayed their only touchdown.

Orgeron said he’ll start benching multiple offenders.

The lack of discipline can be attributed at least in part to LSU playing a lot of inexperienced players. That means either the youngsters have to get up to speed in a hurry or the coaches might have to choose experience over talent.