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Ohio State's questions limited to defense
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COLUMBUS (AP) -- In a brief respite from another scorching August workout, Jim Tressel hesitated when asked to look back on his first five years as Ohio State's head coach.
"I have a hard time reflecting on anything that's history right now, other than what play we should have called against Texas," Tressel said.
A year later, the Longhorns are still on the Buckeyes' minds and in their heads.
The presence of Texas on the schedule -- and just about everybody from Ohio State's offense of a year ago -- are two of the constants heading into what promises to be a weird, wild season.
Last year's 25-22 loss to Texas on a late touchdown, in the second game of the season, put a serious dent in Ohio State's hopes of playing for the its second national title in four years. The Longhorns went on to run the table, finishing No. 1 for the first time since 1969.
The teams meet again on Sept. 9, this time in Austin. Vince Young won't be there for the Longhorns. Neither will just about everybody from Ohio State's staunch defense.
The Buckeyes head into the 2006 season led by an offense that features quarterback Troy Smith, wideout Ted Ginn Jr. and tailback Anthony Pittman.
Smith posted huge numbers last fall, accounting for 27 touchdowns, completing 63 percent of his passes with 16 TDs and four interceptions.
He played his best in the final two games of the season -- a last-minute 25-21 comeback win over Michigan and a dominating 34-20 victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. His average over those two games: 23-of-33 passing for 321 yards.
It wasn't so long ago that people referred to him as "the running quarterback" and backup Justin Zwick as "the passing quarterback."
"I don't laugh at it," Smith said of that label. "But I remember. I don't forget any of that. And that's what makes me work as hard as I do because I never want that to come up again."
Ginn, perhaps the fastest Ohio State player ever, must cross the threshold to being the Buckeyes' No. 1 receiver after Santonio Holmes departed early for the NFL. Ginn has made his name as a volatile kick returner, who tossed in an occasional big play as a receiver or runner. Much, much more is expected of him this year.
"You've just got to concentrate, work hard and have fun," he said of his three-step approach to assuming Holmes' spot as the go-to receiver.
All Pittman did a year ago was rush for 1,331 yards in a breakout season.
"When people defense us, they have to be a little bit nervous about where those guys are," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said of the Buckeyes' Big Three.
Three starters and several others with lots of experience are back on the line, along with wideout Anthony Gonzalez -- who made the acrobatic catch that helped set up the winning score against rival Michigan.
"People say how great our offense is," Smith said. "Within our unit, within our core group of people, coaches and everything, I know that the standards are going to be high for our offense. And we have to live up to them."
The only two starters back on defense are linemen Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson, but it's not as if the cupboard is bare.
"I'm not discouraged at all with our defense," said Tressel, 50-13 overall and 30-10 in the Big Ten during his tenure in Columbus. "We have good staff, we have good leaders, you always want to be good up front. Now we need experience in the back seven."
John Kerr, with very little playing time since leading Indiana in tackles four years ago, will likely fill one linebacker spot. Marcus Freeman and James Laurinaitis -- son of "The Animal" of professional wrestling fame -- are penciled in for the other two spots.
"We know what people are saying about us, but we really don't pay attention to that," Laurinaitis said of those questioning the defense.
Despite those missing on defense, many Web sites and preseason magazines count the Buckeyes among the top three or four teams in the nation.
"You can't help but acknowledge it," Tressel said of the high expectations. "It helps you appreciate people's respect for Ohio State. It also reminds you that we haven't done anything in 2006 and there's a good bit expected, so we'd better get to work."
