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LSU Tigers: Five Players Who Are Key To An Offensive Turnaround

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 1, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers interim head coach Ed Orgeron celebrates following a win in his first game against the Missouri Tigers at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Missouri 42-7. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

When Les Miles was fired by the LSU Tigers, it was clear that the team was going to look to change its offensive identity. The program has long had issues with consistently producing on that side of the ball, and it was time for a change.

The Tigers got off to a great start, putting up 42 points on Missouri, but they’ll get their first real test under Ed Orgeron when they go up against the Florida Gators this weekend. If the team is to continue the revitalization of its offense, it will need these five guys to produce at a high level.

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Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. Leonard Fournette, Running back

This is an obvious one. He’s out with an ankle injury for now, and is expected to miss this weekend’s game against Florida, but Leonard Fournette is the best player in the South Eastern Conference.

If the LSU Tigers are going to have any chance of upsetting teams like Alabama and Ole Miss and getting to Atlanta for the conference championship game, their star running back is going to have to really show up. Fournette needs to get to the point where he’s 100% healthy, and play to the level he did last season.

We have not seen him perform to the dominant level he has proven to be capable of, but once his ankle is ready to go, I fully expect him to come back and rack up yards.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

2. Danny Etling, Quarterback

Now that Les Miles is gone and Ed Orgeron is leading this team, the Tigers are putting a heavy emphasis on developing a productive passing game. LSU has been severely hampered by their inability to throw the football effectively in recent years, and the new staff is making the effort to change that.

The guy at the center of the new LSU Tigers offense is junior quarterback Danny Etling. Etling transferred to Baton Rouge from Purdue, and stole the job from the struggling Brandon Harris against Jacksonville State.

Since that point, Etling has completed 59 of 101 passing attempts for 649 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Last week against Missouri was the first time we have seen the coaching staff really open it up and let Etling throw the ball downfield, and while he wasn’t perfect, he did as good a job as anyone could ask.

LSU’s push at a conference title is going to be largely centered around the new-and-improved offense, and that means Danny Etling is going to have to produce. He’s shown a lot of potential, and it’s time for him to continue to progress and lead this offense.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

3. Derrius Guice, Running back

With Leonard Fournette out for last Saturday’s game against Missouri, we got our first look at sophomore running back Derrius Guice on the big stage. He did not disappoint, as he was the catalyst of a 42-point offensive explosion for the Tigers.

He rushed for 163 yards and 3 touchdowns on the night, and looked completely unstoppable. The Missouri defense kept adding guys to the box, and Guice kept running through or around them on his way to more and more yards.

Guice, in my opinion, flashed superstar potential Saturday night, and with Fournette out for an unknown period of time, LSU will need him to keep it up.

Derrius Guice will get the start this week against the Florida Gators, who have one of the best defenses in the nation. Many believe he has the ability to be a top-notch running back in the SEC, and he’ll have the chance to prove it this week.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

4. Malachi Dupre, Wide Receiver

Like I said earlier, the LSU Tigers are putting heavy emphasis on making this team more balanced on the offensive side of the football. They have proven the ability to be productive running the ball, but they still need to develop a consistent passing attack.

We saw a huge increase in pass plays against Missouri, but more importantly, we saw the Tigers throw the ball deep down the field quite a few times. We rarely saw that under Miles, and Orgeron is showing that this team is diving right in with this passing game. He’s not working in a couple things at a time, rather being aggressive and going for it all.

We saw the team take shots in their first week under the new head coach, so I imagine the staff will only get more aggressive as weeks pass. That is going to set up this talented wide receiving group with a lot of opportunities, and the team will need them to make plays with some pretty intimidating defenses coming up on the schedule.

Malachi Dupre is the best receiver on this roster, so his success will be a key factor for the Tiger offense. He has always had the potential to be a very productive player, but has never really been given an opportunity to show that. With a focus on throwing the football, Dupre is going to get his chances. If he can deliver, it will be huge for this LSU Tigers offense.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

5. Travin Dural, Wide Receiver

This one is along the same line as Malachi Dupre. In the new offensive system, receivers are going to be counted on to make plays. As the number two guy on the depth chart, Travin Dural is going to have to step up alongside Dupre and make Danny Etling’s job easier.

Dural also brings his experience to this group of talented receivers. As a senior, Dural is counted on to lead this group both on and off the field.

With the coaching change and increased workload for the position group, these receivers need Dural’s experience and leadership now more than ever. The Tigers need him to make big contributions on the field, but what he does aside from that is equally important.

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