LSU head coach Ed Orgeron pulled a major coup this offseason, luring one of the nation’s best offensive coordinators to Baton Rouge. While Orgeron stands to gain significantly from the hire of Matt Canada, perhaps no individual inside the LSU program stands to gain more from Canada’s addition than senior quarterback Danny Etling.

The former Pitt offensive coordinator, most known for his ability to resurrect the careers of former SEC castoff quarterbacks Nathan Peterman and Jacoby Brissett, now has another project to mold in Etling. If the Tigers are going to make any noise next season in the SEC, Etling has got to perform better against top competition.

During Tuesday’s player interviews with the media, following LSU’s Saturday start to spring camp, Etling described what it was like being coached by Canada for the first time.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Etling said. “He’s so high intensity, he also just has such a great way to communicate what he’s trying to get across and what he wants you to do. We know we have our own things on what I think I could do better and what he thinks I could do better, that’s something that he’s really been trying to harp on me and not let me forget throughout practice, which has been great for me. I think it’s going to make me a better quarterback.”

That has to be music to the ears of LSU fans everywhere.

Heading into last season, all the quarterback buzz at LSU surrounded Brandon Harris and his offseason progress. With Harris now gone from the team, Etling will most likely be the team’s opening game starter. While Etling did struggle against some of the top competition he faced last season — most notably in losses to Auburn, Alabama, and Florida — the quarterback performed quite well given the circumstances of being thrust into action once the season had already begun.

Etling never threw more than one interception in any game last season but will need to perform more consistently (last season his completion percentage fell below 57 in three of the team’s four losses including a dreadful 45 percent against Alabama) if LSU is to survive a much more formidable schedule in 2017. Trips to Mississippi State, Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Tennessee next season won’t help matters.

Despite the woes experienced by Etling in the past, they are nothing compared to the quarterbacks Canada has helped develop at his previous stops. If the senior takes to his new coach’s instructions, LSU should finally have an efficient passing attack to complement one of the best running attacks in the SEC.

Another added bonus for the LSU faithful? The team appears to be finally moving away from its traditional I-formation offense under Canada.

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