Cam - good or bad?
by Joey Martin - posted Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 @ 2:24 pm

Cam Cameron.

Good? Bad? Does it matter who is offensive coordinator?

I love the hire. I don't know if I'm crazy about Cam being such a close friend of Les Miles because is he going to be able to do things his way?

Is his way a good way?

A lot of comments I have seen about Cameron mention predictable offense.

Not good.

A lot of other comments about Cameron mention how good he is at developing quarterbacks.

Good.

My guess on both, somewhere in-between.

Cameron said at his press conference there is no downside to being a close friend of Miles' "because relationship trumps everything." He seemed shocked by all the questions about how much control he will have with Miles, saying "You guys are going to have to educate me on this."

Believe me, Cam, if the offense does not do any better than 47th in total offense last year (432.80 ypg) and 93rd in passing offense (203.2 ypg), then you will be educated. By about 100,000 LSU fans on Saturday night.

Cameron said he felt as if he will have absolute control, but will be looking for input.

"I think you can get in trouble when one guys thinks his phase is paramount over everyone else," Cameron said. "With our relationship and the way Les communicates, it will be very clear what our plan is. We will obviously adjust and adapt that plan as the game goes along. But I would be crazy to not work with Les as we are putting together game plans as the game is called. He has a natural feel for the game and that's a resource that I need personally. As an offensive coach you can get too dialed in on one certain thing that may not be in the best interest. But I know there will be communication. Whether it's four-down territory, or how the score or clock factors in. Those are all things that will be critical input. I'm looking forward to the way we are going to work together. That's what we talked about and that is what we will do. I think that is why we are going to be successful."

I'll reserve judgment for now.

I was excited when Billy Gonzales came on board.

Gonzales arrived at LSU in late 2009 where he was able to coach in the Capital One Bowl against Penn State after five years coaching the wide receivers at Florida.

Enough said.

Gonzales' impact on the passing game at LSU was evident in 2011 with the development of LSU's leading receiver Rueben Randle, who earned first-team all-SEC honors, and the emergence of true-freshman Odell Beckham Jr., who earned freshman all-SEC accolades.

But the offense still refused to click and I am guessing Gonzales become frustrated.

He moved on to Illinois for a one-year stint as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Illinois.

Gonzales was recently hired as Mississippi State's wide receivers coach. He has coached in three Bowl Championship Series National Championships at LSU and Florida, and worked with State head coach Dan Mullen for eight years at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida.

I was intrigued when Miles then moved offensive line coach Greg Studrawa to offensive coordinator and ecstatic at some of his comments last spring about opening up the offense.

Now you see why I am holding off judgment.

I watched the video of Cameron's first interview. If I wasn't looking at the tape, I would have thought it was Nick Saban talking, the way he was so low-key, very deliberate, and seems to know the game very well.

When asked about the hire, my answer right now is anything is better than what took place in 2012.

I'm glad to see Studrawa back down on the field where he can talk to the offensive linemen during the game.

Studrawa was thrown into a tough spot. My guess is he's more than happy to be back full-time the trenches.

LSU's offensive line had it's share of setbacks with injuries.

Which should have made it even more imperative to have Studrawa down on the field.

It will be interesting to see how LSU looks this spring and if that carries over to the fall.

I'm holding off on judging Cam Cameron. But my first impression is the Tigers have an outstanding offensive coordinator in the house - and more important on the field.

Time will tell.