By JON SPENCER
Mansfield News Journal

COLUMBUS - They're breaking in a new defensive coordinator, looking for new starters at 14 positions and dealing with the loss of 26 seniors who were 25-2 over the past two seasons.

Other than that, it's business as usual for the Ohio State football team as spring drills begin Thursday, culminating with the annual Scarlet and Gray scrimmage in Ohio Stadium on April 24.

"It's tough but exciting," senior fullback Branden Joe. "Spring is a gruesome time ... we're placed in certain situations to see how we react and to create an identity for us since we lost so many seniors."

The transition period the Buckeyes are facing is both terrifying and tantalizing from a coach's perspective, as well.

"Spring is a little bit of fundamental technique working along with experimentation," coach Jim Tressel said. "We'll step back and see where we are and make sure we teach the fundamentals because we're young. Yes, we're young, but I also think we're talented."

The biggest challenge may be replacing four members of the starting offensive line and re-energizing the running game behind Joe and incumbent tailback Lydell Ross. Yet most of the media and fan attention is focused on the quarterback derby between sophomores Justin Zwick and Troy Smith.

Zwick is listed No. 1 on the two-deep roster, but at this point the pecking order has not been chisled in cement.

"If there were a game today, Justin would start and Troy would probably play," Tressel said of the battle to succeed two-year starter Craig Krenzel. "Both will get tons and tons of reps, as will (freshman) Todd Boeckman. I think all three guys are capable."

Tressel will choose the quarterback that best follows his three commandments: Make good decisions, avoid turnovers and create big plays.

"The word I have used for quite some time is, who will emerge?' " he said. "The quarterback has to not only show you flashes he can get it done, but do it over time.

"Justin has the edge, conceptually, in the passing game. Troy's edge is showing he can step up and make something happen when things don't go the way they're drawn up. We need two guys to do both of those things.

"I'm as anxious as anyone to see how they step up."

Defensive end Simon Fraser, linebacker A.J. Hawk and defensive backs Dustin Fox and Nate Salley are the only returning starters on a defense that adds transfers Anthony Schlegel (Air Force) and John Kerr (Indiana) to a strong mix at middle linebacker.

Hawk and middle linebacker Mike D'Andrea will see little if any contact this spring. Hawk, who showed All-America potential last season, is recovering from knee surgery and D'Andrea from shoulder surgery.

"We're not looking around saying, what are we going to do? It's not like that at all," said Fox, who with Fraser will be the only senior starters on defense. "We're excited to have new faces playing, but we're still going to do the same things.

"Guys feel like we're going to live up to expectations as we always have. We're always going to stop the run. People are going to step up and get that done, one way or another."