Cam Cameron is one of the most respected names in football circles, having worked with all-pro quarterbacks in the NFL and serving as a head coach at both the college and professional levels. In two years at LSU, he’s delivered mixed results, and with his track record its hard to make a judgement of his stint as offensive coordinator yet.

Last year, Cameron came into a great situation at LSU, with a veteran, pro-style quarterback in Zach Mettenberger that fit his offensive philosophy. In his second season, with two young quarterbacks accustomed to a different style of play, Cameron’s offense struggled.

LSU ran the ball nearly 69 percent of the time, mostly because the Tigers couldn’t throw it, completing fewer than 50 percent of their passes over the course of 12 games.

“I think I could have done a better job. We had young guys,” Cameron said in an appearance at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club this week. “I’m evaluating how I’m teaching and try to streamline some things to help Anthony (Jennings) play better, help develop Brandon Harris.”

Related: Cameron talks quarterbacks, offensive strategy

Because of his pedigree, having worked with NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Joe Flacco, Cameron is held to a different standard when it comes to working with passers. Because of his salary — $1.3 million in 2014 — those expectations are heightened.

In 2014, there’s no doubt Cameron fell short. His two quarterbacks fit much more easily into the spread, read-option systems they played in high school, but Cameron tried to cram Jennings into a role as a drop-back passer. LSU was lucky to have a great offensive line and running back corps that could succeed in spite of the passing attack, because without that the Tigers would have been much worse than their 8-4 record.

Against Texas A&M in the regular season finale, Cameron finally showed some bend in his philosophy. LSU implemented some of the read-option sets that many teams around the SEC have been using for several years. Jennings showed off athleticism that you’d have never guessed he had after watching him look overwhelmed dropping back in the pocket from under center.

Cameron made the point in his New Orleans appearance that the traditional offensive sets benefit the NFL-caliber running backs LSU constantly has on the roster, from Jeremy Hill and Alfred Blue last year to Leonard Fournette this year. The Texas A&M game proved that LSU can mesh their power game with sets that better take advantage of the skills the quarterbacks on the roster possess, something Cameron says he’ll continue to work to find a balance of.

Part of the problem may be that Cameron and Les Miles don’t have the kind of quarterback they want to play the traditional offensive style they’ve stuck to. In 10 years in Baton Rouge, Miles has yet to recruit a multi-year starter out of high school that fit his needs. Louisiana isn’t known as a quarterback hotbed, and the decision to hire Cameron two years ago can look a bit puzzling in retrospect when you consider the kinds of prospects the Tigers have brought in over the past half-decade.

Next year is the last of Cameron’s contract, during which he’ll make $1.5 million. He has a few weeks to further adapt the offense and develop Jennings and, just maybe, Harris. He has the spring and summer to find ways to maximize the talent on hand, from a downhill runner and star in the making in Fournette to a young receiving corps to those two quarterbacks.

As Cameron’s pedigree and background suggests, it needs to start with him developing Jennings or Harris. With an offensive mind like Cameron, who despite some failures at the professional level is well-regarded for his acumen when it comes to working with passers, there simply needs to be improvement. Without that, LSU will be stuck in the mud, even with the uber-talented Fournette on board.

Cameron’s offense was a letdown in 2014. For LSU to get back to contender status, improvement will have to start there.