The renaissance of LSU football began with the hiring of Nick Saban as coach for the 2000 season.
Saban coached the Tigers for five seasons before leaving to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Les Miles replaced Saban and enjoyed a mostly successful 11-plus year tenure which ended four games into the 2016 season.
Ed Orgeron was named the interim head coach when Miles was fired. At the end of the regular season, Orgeron was named the permanent head coach.
A lack of a productive offense made it difficult for Miles to keep up with Alabama over the past five seasons. Orgeron must make sure his new coordinator develops an efficient offense.
There have been four full-time offensive coordinators in the past 17 seasons – Jimbo Fisher, Gary Crowton, Greg Studrawa and Cam Cameron. Steve Kragthorpe was hired as Crowton’s replacement, but he had to resign the position when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Studrawa was the interim offensive coordinator for one season before being given the job on a permanent basis. Studrawa was dismissed one year later and Cameron was hired. Cameron was fired along with Miles in late September this year. Steve Ensminger was the interim offensive coordinator.
The statistics indicate that LSU offenses were not consistently strong beginning with the 2000 season. The Tigers averaged four offensive touchdowns per game in six of the 17 campaigns – two under Fisher (2001, 2006), two under Cameron (2013, 2015) and one under Crowton (2007) and Studrawa (2011).
In two seasons, LSU averaged 200 yards per game rushing and passing – 2007 under Crowton and 2013 under Cameron. In three years, the Tigers completed 60 percent of their passes and had a 2-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio – 2003 under Fisher, 2011 under Studrawa and 2013 under Crowton.
On two occasions, LSU had a 2,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver – 2003 under Fisher (Matt Mauck, Justin Vincent and Michael Clayton) and 2013 under Cameron (Zach Mettenberger, Jeremy Hill and Jarvis Landry/Odell Beckham).
In three of the five years in which the Tigers completed 60 percent of their passes, Fisher was the offensive coordinator – 64 percent in 2003, 60 percent in 2005 and 67 percent in 2006. Mauck was the No. 1 quarterback in 2003 and JaMarcus Russell was the No. 1 quarterback in 2005-06.
Here are LSU’s year-by-year offensive statistics from 2000-16 broken down according to the coordinators.
JIMBO FISHER (2000-2006)
2000
127.7 rushing yards per game
248.5 passing yards per game
52% completion rate
3.3 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: LaBrandon Toefield – 187 carries, 760 yards, 5 touchdowns
Top passer: Josh Booty – 309 attempts, 153 completions, 49 percent, 2,231 yards, 17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions
Top receiver: Josh Reed – 74 catches, 1,223 yards, 11 touchdowns
2001
153.2 rushing yards per game
309.4 passing yards per game
58% completion rate
4.1 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: LaBrandon Toefield – 230 carries, 992 yards, 19 touchdowns
Top passer: Rohan Davey – 420 attempts, 248 completions, 59 percent, 3,791 yards, 21 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Top receiver: Josh Reed – 108 catches, 1,979 yards, 9 touchdowns
2002
196.9 rushing yards per game
153.1 passing yards per game
48% completion rate
2.7 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Domanick Davis – 193 carries, 931 yards, 7 touchdowns
Top passer: Marcus Randall – 181 attempts, 87 completions, 48 percent, 1,173 yards, 7 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Top receiver: Michael Clayton – 57 catches, 749 yards, 5 touchdowns
2003
185.7 rushing yards per game
232.6 passing yards per game
64% completion rate
3.9 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Justin Vincent – 154 carries, 1,001 yards, 10 touchdowns
Top passer: Matt Mauck – 358 attempts, 229 completions, 64 percent, 2,825 yards, 28 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
Top receiver: Michael Clayton – 78 catches, 1,079 yards, 10 touchdowns
2004
193.8 rushing yards per game
201.8 passing yards per game
56% completion rate
3.3 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Alley Broussard – 142 carries, 867 yards, 10 touchdowns
Top passer: Marcus Randall – 162 attempts, 102 completions, 63 percent, 1,269 yards, 9 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Top receiver: Craig Davis – 43 catches, 659 yards, 1 touchdown
2005
150.1 rushing yards per game
224.0 passing yards per game
60% completion rate
3.3 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Joe Addai – 187 carries, 911 yards, 9 touchdowns
Top passer: JaMarcus Russell – 311 attempts, 188 completions, 61 percent, 2,443 yards, 15 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
Top receiver: Dwayne Bowe – 41 catches, 710 yards, 9 touchdowns
2006
165.8 rushing yards per game
251.7 passing yards per game
67% completion rate
4.2 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Jacob Hester – 94 carries, 440 yards, 6 touchdowns
Top passer: JaMarcus Russell – 342 attempts, 232 completions, 68 percent, 3,129 yards, 28 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Top receiver: Dwayne Bowe – 65 catches, 990 yards, 12 touchdowns
NOTES: Justin Vincent was the only 1,000-yard rusher under Fisher. . .LSU never averaged 200 rushing yards per game. . .The Tigers averaged 200 passing yards per game in all of Fisher’s seasons except 2002. . .In only three years did the No. 1 quarterback have a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio – Rohan Davey in 2001, Matt Mauck in 2003 and JaMarcus Russell in 2006.
GARY CROWTON (2007-10)
2007
214.1 rushing yards per game
225.3 passing yards per game
58% completion rate
4.6 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Jacob Hester – 225 carries, 1,103 yards, 12 touchdowns
Top passer: Matt Flynn – 359 attempts, 202 completions, 56 percent, 2,407 yards, 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions
Top receiver: Early Doucet – 57 catches, 525 yards, 5 touchdowns
2008
166.8 rushing yards per game
201.3 passing yards per game
53% completion rate
3.7 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Charles Scott – 217 carries, 1,174 yards, 18 touchdowns
Top passer: Jarrett Lee – 269 attempts, 143 completions, 53 percent, 1,873 yards, 14 touchdowns, 16 interceptions
Top receiver: Brandon LaFell – 63 catches, 929 yards, 8 touchdowns
2009
122.8 rushing yards per game
181.8 passing yards per game
59% completion rate
2.6 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Charles Scott – 116 carries, 542 yards, 4 touchdowns
Top passer: Jordan Jefferson – 296 attempts, 182 completions, 62 percent, 2,166 yards, 17 touchdowns, 7 interceptions
Top receiver: Brandon LaFell – 57 catches, 792 yards, 11 touchdowns
2010
185.7 rushing yards per game
155.6 passing yards per game
58% completion rate
3.0 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Stevan Ridley – 249 carries, 1,147 yards, 15 touchdowns
Top passer: Jordan Jefferson – 209 attempts, 118 completions, 57 percent, 1,411 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Top receiver: Terrence Toliver – 41 catches, 579 yards, 5 touchdowns
NOTES: The offensive production decreased after Crowton’s first season. LSU averaged 4.6 touchdowns per game in 2007, but never averaged more than 3.7 touchdowns per game over the next three years. . .Crowton did have three 1,000-yard rushers – Jacob Hester in 2007, Charles Scott in 2008 and Stevan Ridley in 2010. . .Only one starting quarterback completed 60 percent of his passes and had a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio – Jordan Jefferson in 2009.
GREG STUDRAWA (2011-12)
2011
202.6 rushing yards per game
152.5 passing yards per game
62% completion rate
4.0 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Michael Ford – 127 carries, 756 yards, 7 touchdowns
Top passer: Jarrett Lee – 167 attempts, 104 completions, 62 percent, 1,306 yards, 14 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Top receiver: Rueben Randle – 53 catches, 917 yards, 8 touchdowns
2012
173.7 rushing yards per game
200.5 passing yards per game
58% completion rate
3.2 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Jeremy Hill – 142 carries, 755 yards, 12 touchdowns
Top passer: Zach Mettenberger – 352 attempts, 207 completions, 59 percent, 2,609 yards, 12 touchdowns, 7 interceptions
Top receiver: Jarvis Landry – 56 catches, 573 yards, 5 touchdowns
NOTES: The offense underachieved in Studrawa’s second year when it scored just 3.2 touchdowns per game. . .In neither of Studrawa’s two years did LSU have a running back who gained 800 yards. . .Jarrett Lee, the starter for most of the 2011 campaign, completed more than 60 percent of his passes and had nearly a 5-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
CAM CAMERON (2013-15)
2013
202.3 rushing yards per game
251.0 passing yards per game
63% completion rate
4.6 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Jeremy Hill – 203 carries, 1,401 yards, 16 touchdowns
Top passer: Zach Mettenberger – 296 attempts, 192 completions, 65 percent, 3,082 yards, 22 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Top receiver: Jarvis Landry – 77 catches, 1,193 yards, 10 touchdowns
2014
224.5 rushing yards per game
162.9 passing yards per game
50% completion rate
3.2 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Leonard Fournette – 187 carries, 1,034 yards, 10 touchdowns
Top passer: Anthony Jennings – 227 attempts, 111 completions, 49 percent, 1,611 yards, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions
Top receiver: Travin Dural – 37 catches, 758 yards, 7 touchdowns
2015
256.8 rushing yards per game
180.4 passing yards per game
54% completion rate
4.1 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Leonard Fournette – 300 carries, 1,953 yards, 22 touchdowns
Top passer: Brandon Harris – 277 attempts, 149 completions, 54 percent, 2,165 yards, 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Top receiver: Malachi Dupre – 43 catches, 698 yards, 6 touchdowns
NOTES: A case could be made that the 2013 offense under Cameron has been LSU’s best since the start of the 2000 season. Of course, that offense was filled with players who started games in the NFL – wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, guard Trai Turner, tackle La’El Collins, quarterback Zach Mettenberger and running back Jeremy Hill. . .The passing game’s effectiveness under Cameron declined after his first year. Anthony Jennings completed 49 percent of his passes in 2014 and Brandon Harris completed 54 percent of his passes in 2015. . .Thanks to Leonard Fournette’s outstanding year, the Tigers averaged 4.1 offensive touchdowns per game in 2015.
CAM CAMERON/STEVE ENSMINGER (2016)
2016
238.1 rushing yards per game
187.6 passing yards per game
59% completion rate
3.5 offensive touchdowns per game
Top rusher: Derrius Guice – 157 carries, 1,249 yards, 14 touchdowns
Top passer: Danny Etling – 240 attempts, 144 completions, 60 percent, 1,906 yards, 9 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
Top receiver: Malachi Dupre – 34 catches, 454 yards, 3 touchdowns
NOTES: The offensive production increased after Ensminger took over for Cameron after the first four games. However, the Tigers scored just a total of ten points in losses to Alabama and Florida with Ensminger as the offensive coordinator.