After finishing a disappointing 5-5 in 2020, the LSU Tigers are poised to rebound in 2021.

There is optimism around the program, as LSU features several young standouts on both sides of the ball and an intriguing potential quarterback battle between Max Johnson and Myles Brennan.

The Tigers will also return their entire starting offensive and defensive lines.

Another reason to feel optimistic for LSU in 2021 is its new coaching staff. Head coach Ed Orgeron made wholesale changes to his staff just one season after winning the national championship.

Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger retired from on-field coaching, paving the way for Jake Peetz to come to Baton Rouge as offensive coordinator. Joining Peetz is passing game coordinator DJ Mangas.

Both new offensive coaches worked under former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers.

On the defensive side of the ball, Orgeron replaced Bo Pelini after just one season and hired Daronte Jones to replace him.

Jones comes to LSU after five seasons in the NFL. He spent the 2015 season with former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda at Wisconsin.

These coaching moves could make or break LSU in 2021, and ESPN recently listed each top-25 team’s biggest offseason question. And, for LSU, it was the coaching staff.

The question that faces LSU this offseason is the same it faced last offseason: Will Ed Orgeron surround himself with a winning coaching staff? Granted, the dismantling of the 2019 Tigers staff was a result of winning a national championship, whereas the 2020 Tigers barely managed to finish at .500, but the result was the same as a slew of coordinators and assistants left or were shown the door. Orgeron is clearly trying to recreate the magic of 2019 by hiring Joe Brady disciples Jake Peetz and DJ Mangas to lead the offense, while former Dave Aranda assistant Daronte Jones was tabbed to serve as offensive coordinator. On paper, they make much more sense than the decision last offseason to bring in Bo Pelini and Scott Linehan, but only time will tell if Orgeron pulled the right levers this go-around.

A big reason for these hires was familiarity. Orgeron wanted an offense that closely resembled Brady’s in 2019. Defensively, Aranda vouched for Jones and that was important for Orgeron.

If the Tigers struggle again in 2021, Orgeron could be the one on the hot seat.