LSU lost more than just 10 talented senior starters from its 2007 national championship team. The Tigers also lost some of their best leaders, character guys who showed the way as LSU overcame two three-overtime losses and an early 10-0 deficit in the 38-34 win over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game.

The best example was defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. It's impressive enough that Dorsey swept the Lombardi, Outland and Nagurski awards and earned consensus All-America honors, but Dorsey also won the Lott Trophy, given annually to the defensive player with the best combination of athletic excellence and personal character.

Now Dorsey is gone, along with proven players such as running back Jacob Hester, quarterback Matt Flynn, receiver Early Doucet, linebacker Ali Highsmith, safety Craig Steltz and cornerbacks Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon.

"It's a different team, and to pretend that it's not is a mistake," said Les Miles, who enters his fourth season at LSU. "The good fortune of that is there are members on that team who have had great experience, who understand what a run is about, who understand playing in tight quarters, tight games and looking to make plays in those situations. But it's going to be a new cast."

At the same time, the Tigers do return 44 letter winners and 12 starters, led by linebacker Darry Beckwith, defensive ends Kirston Pittman and Tyson Jackson, defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, center Brett Helms, receivers Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd, offensive tackle Ciron Black, offensive guard Herman Johnson and tight end Richard Dickson.

The most significant area of concern is at quarterback, with heir apparent Ryan Perrilloux suspended indefinitely for violating team rules and no other quarterback on the roster with any game experience.

"When you come off a year where you achieved what we have, it is really an advantage," Miles said. "It is not the same team, but the experience was certainly a tremendous one. The attitude has been great. The weight room attendance has been good and the work there is as good as it has ever been. The guys understand what they just achieved. I think this team is very hungry to build off of the success that we were just a part of."

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