The wait is almost over.

LSU’s offense featuring new passing game coordinator Joe Brady’s new system will make its eagerly anticipated debut against Georgia Southern on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

Granted the Eagles – though a very good Sun Belt Conference team – won’t present the stiffest challenge that the offense will face this season, but first impressions are important.

If Brady is going to have the kind of impact the Tigers are hoping for and the team is going to live up to its No. 6 preseason ranking, the offense should be humming in the opener.

Here are 5 things we have to see out of LSU’s new-look offense in Week 1:

1. Looking like they’ve done it before

Even though this is the first time that Joe Burrow and his teammates will operate this offense in a game, the scheme is built on pace and efficiency.

So the Tigers need to substitute efficiently, get to the line and get the ball snapped with plenty of time left on the play clock. Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger needs to get the plays called quickly and decisively, and Burrow needs to make his choices just as quickly and decisively.

2. Being balanced

LSU isn’t going to live up to preseason expectations unless the new passing game is a productive part of a balanced offense.

Head coach Ed Orgeron wants to be evenly split between the run and the pass and the Tigers can easily go 4 or 5 deep with talented running backs.

Orgeron said freshman John Emery Jr. has been “everything and more that we thought about in recruiting.”

He added that Emery and fellow freshman Tyrion Davis-Price “were the two best backs in the country.”

But both are behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Lanard Fournette and even with Chris Curry on the depth chart.

That’s a lot of backs who figure to get touches in the opener.

If LSU can run effectively, pass effectively and make Georgia Southern wary that either can be effective in just about any situation, the offense will be off to a good start.

3. Using the RPO effectively but only occasionally

The Tigers plan to use more run-pass options with Burrow, who was effective running it late last season.

It’s a nice wrinkle that Burrow is capable of running productively and it can keep defenses off-balance. But LSU has too many talented running backs and wide receivers to expose Burrow to more than the occasional hit.

4. Better pass blocking

The Tigers’ pass blocking wasn’t up to par last season and improvement there will be a key to this season.

Orgeron said LSU will use a lot of 5-man pass protection because Brady plans to get backs, receivers and tight ends out in pass routes, leaving the blocking mostly to the linemen.

“(The) offensive line has to improve,” Orgeron said.

At his weekly news conference Monday, Orgeron still wasn’t ready to name a starter at left guard. Adrian Magee and Chasen Hines are still battling at the most questionable spot on the line.

Regardless of who starts Saturday, the line should be able to handle Georgia Southern’s front.

5. Receiving by committee

The Tigers don’t have a stable just at running back, they have another among the receivers.

But last season Justin Jefferson was the only consistently productive receiver. He’s back and will draw a lot of attention at least until others can make defenses pay for doubling him.

Sophomores Terrace Marshall Jr. and Ja’Marr Chase are the top candidates to break out as big playmakers alongside Jefferson.

Additionally, Stephen Sullivan and Thaddeus Moss should make the tight end a more consistent pass-catcher in Brady’s scheme.

In this game, Burrow should have a lot more targets to choose from than he had last season.