Can Florida absorb the loss of several key starters and win another SEC East title with a likely first-year starter at quarterback?

Lindy's preseason SEC preview is on newsstands this week and within this year's robust preview includes a portion on SEC coaches speaking anonymously about other teams.

With most of the talent in an elite secondary gone and questions elsewhere, the Gators may take a step back talent-wise according to one coach.

"They've lost a lot of good defensive players for a lot of years," one coach said. "Will there be a drop-off? Florida usually doesn't have a drop-off. Florida's in the state of Florida — they will always have good defensive players. But I think they've recruited subpar the last three years and I think it will catch up with them this year.

"I don't think Jim (McElwain) enjoys recruiting. He won't get his fingernails dirty in recruiting."

RELATED: What SEC coaches are saying about Georgia

Consecutive SEC East titles haven't impressed, one coach says, since Florida has failed to show up against chief rival Florida State and in Atlanta against the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

"Jim McElwain has been to Atlanta the only two years he's been at Florida," he said. "The problem is, his last two games of the year are against Florida State and the SEC Championship game, and he hasn't won either one. He's 0-4.

"That's when The Swamp gets full of gators. If you take Florida's teams over the last 15 years, the last two would be in the bottom third."