Reports: Cam Cameron to be LSU’s next offensive coordinator

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Former Baltimore Ravens coordinator in line to take over Tiger offense

By CODY WORSHAM
Tiger Rag Editor

Cam Cameron will be hired as LSU’s offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports and current and former LSU players.

On Friday, CBSSports.com cited an anonymous source who said Cameron had already accepted the job, but as of late that afternoon, neither side had signed a contract. LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette also tweeted Friday that no announcement would be made regarding LSU football.

Tiger freshman receiver Avery Johnson and former Tiger offensive lineman Josh Dworaczyk both tweeted the news on Friday, as well. BBI’s Derek Ponamsky said on 104.5 ESPN’s “Sports Today” radio program that the move was imminent.

Cameron, who was fired from the same position with eventual-Super Bowl champs Baltimore on Dec. 10, will likely take the job in an official capacity toward the end of this week or the beginning of next week, after the LSU staff returns to campus from a break.

It is expected that current offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa will return to his duties as offensive line coach. Quarterbacks coach Steve Kragthorpe, whom Studrawa took over for in 2011 after Kragthorpe was diagnosed with Parkinson’s just months after his hiring, could move into an administrative position with the program.

A long-time friend to LSU head coach Les Miles, Cameron was fired from Baltimore after a 31-28 loss to Washington, primarily because of his stubbornness and refusal to accept input from others on the staff, sources around the team said. The team was 9-4 at the time, but the offense was flustering, and many Ravens fans praised the decision to fire Cameron.

“Cam was doing a heck of a job here,” Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the firing. “He did a heck of a job here for a long time. I believe that and I also believe that right now at this time, the timing says that this is the best thing and this is what we’re going to do.”

Cameron, who hired Harbaugh as an assistant while head coach at Indiana in 1997, later credited Harbaugh for making what he called “the hardest decision of [his] life.”

“It was a brilliant move,” Cameron told the New York Times. “Everyone on the team took a look in the mirror after that.

“We were inconsistent. And if I’m in charge, I’m saying: ‘Why are we inconsistent?’ We need to get the team’s attention.’”

Cameron took the Baltimore OC position in 2008 and was instrumental in the development of 2013 Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Under Cameron, Flacco threw for a franchise-record 13,816 yards and 80 touchdowns in his first four seasons. The two combined for 44 wins, an NFL record for QBs in their first four seasons.

“Listen, Cam has done so much for my career,” Flacco said when Cameron was fired. “He brought me here and trusted me enough to bring me here. I was definitely stunned.”

Before the Baltimore stint, Cameron also worked with Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers in San Diego from 2002-2006. Under Cameron, both made Pro Bowl squads, and Cameron’s 2006 offense led the NFL in scoring.

Cameron’s head coaching stints include a 2007 spell with the Miami Dolphins, who went 1-15. Cameron was also head coach at Indiana from 1997 to 2002, when he was replaced by former LSU headman Gerry DiNardo. Both DiNardo and Cameron, who coached with Miles at Michigan from 1987 to 1993, stood in Miles’ wedding.

The LSU offense has finished 85th, 86th, 86th, and 112th in total offense over the last four seasons.

Cody Worsham is the editor of Tiger Rag and a graduate of LSU journalism. Follow him on Twitter by CLICKING HERE, or email him at cody@tigerrag.com.