
The LSU Tigers decided to move on from head coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan after the loss to the Texas A&M Aggies, and a media circus has ensued.
Lost in all of this, the Tigers still have four games to play this season. No one has doubted the talent that this roster has had, but they have seemed completely mismanaged.
Frank Wilson will step in as the interim head coach, with a chance to right the ship. If he can bring some stability, LSU should realistically have a chance in every game from a talent standpoint.
There are three people on the team that stand out with the most to gain from this change. Unsurprisingly, they are all on the offensive side of the ball.
While it hasn't been all Sloan's fault that Nussmeier hasn't played up to expectations this year, he certainly hasn't helped things.
The offense has looked completely out of sync throughout games. It feels like there was no plan outside of trying to get the wide receiver screen game going. When that wouldn't work, opening up other avenues of offense, there was no 'Plan B.'
If Nussmeier is really back to full health, perhaps new play-caller Alex Atkins will be able to get more out of the quarterback's tools.
The next person with a lot to gain is Atkins himself. He was once one of the fastest-rising names in college football.
Over his first two years as the offensive coordinator of the Florida State Seminoles, he led two top-20 offenses. That third year, the Seminoles started 1-9, and Atkins was one of the coaches that they moved on from.
The Tigers brought him in as the offensive run-game coordinator and tight-ends coach at the start of the year. Now, he gets the chance to call plays for his most talented offense yet.
If he can turn this offense around, he'll have plenty of job offers for next season. He may even just stay the offensive coordinator for the new hire, depending on who it is.
Berry has felt like one of the most misused players on offense. He'll break off a big run and then be forgotten about for long stretches.
During the last game, for example, Berry scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the second quarter. He had eight rushes for 53 yards in the first half. Despite the offense flailing, he had just one carry for three yards in the second half.
With the running backs coach taking over as interim coach and the run-game coordinator calling plays, there should be increased opportunity for the five-star freshman.