Can new faces keep LSU in contention in SEC?

The reasons to doubt LSU's ability to contend for Southeastern Conference and national titles this season start with the 11 regulars who left school early last winter to turn pro.

The Tigers, who had a school-record eight defensive players drafted, will have four new starters on the defensive line alone.

"Obviously, the number of guys that we lost last year isn't usual," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "We didn't get caught off-guard. We recruited well before this year and the years before that. But certainly when you lose that many guys, there's going to be some freshmen that are going to have the opportunity to play."

The offense has retained many of its skill players, including quarterback Zach Mettenberger, receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and Kadron Boone, and running backs Alfred Blue, Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard.

But that unit ranked near the bottom nationally in passing in 2012, so long-time college and NFL coach Cam Cameron was brought in as offensive coordinator, raising hopes that LSU will add a more dynamic passing attack to its formidable ground game into 2013.

The Tigers' first test comes Aug. 31 against TCU in Dallas.

In the meantime, coach Les Miles offers a calm, knowing smile to those who ask him how his team will handle being projected to finish behind both Alabama and Texas A&M in the SEC's Western Division.

"We have always felt we need to earn our position, and we understand that that people have an opinion that would not necessarily reflect the hard work, effort and energy of the people in this room," Miles said as he stood in a large, theater-style meeting and film room inside LSU's football headquarters. "So we like us we like us, and we like us in every game."

"I'm a lot more focused ... and I'm not letting off-the-field distractions affect me," Hill said. "I know this is a privilege and I'm so happy to be back. ... All I can do is do the right things."