OSU FOOTBALL Zwick has slight edge as Buckeyes begin

He's battling Troy Smith and Todd Boeckman at the quarterback position.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Justin Zwick has the inside lane on Troy Smith, but they're only on the first lap.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel anointed Zwick as the pacesetter in the race for the Buckeyes starting quarterback job. Tressel added that any early speculation about who'll take the first snap on Sept. 4 against Cincinnati would be a waste of time.
Over the weeks leading up to Thursday's start of spring practice, Tressel said he has frequently been asked, "If there were a game today, who would start?"
"If the game was today, Justin Zwick would probably start," Tressel said Tuesday during a preview of the Buckeyes' 15 spring workouts. "Troy Smith would probably play. But the game isn't today. We have 15 spring practices and both Justin and Troy will get tons and tons of reps, as will Todd Boeckman. We have three guys who I think are very capable."
Inexperienced
They are also very inexperienced. To put into perspective what the Buckeyes lost, consider that 97.3 percent of the passes and 99.1 percent of the passing yardage came from Craig Krenzel and Scott McMullen who have graduated. Zwick, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore, threw just eight passes a year ago and completed half of them for 24 yards. Smith, a 6-1, 205-pound sophomore, didn't throw a pass but returned five kickoffs for 81 yards.
"Now we have to find out when the red light goes on and we're out there on the field at Ohio Stadium, who will step up and do the things that the team needs the quarterback to do," Tressel said.
Ross has good off-season
Tailback Lydell Ross said he has never felt better heading into spring practices.
"I feel great. I've had my best winter since I've been here," said Ross, a 6-0, 220-pound senior. "Two weeks and a half of winter conditioning and I got through every one. And my focus is different. I'm focused on being the best running back in the nation. I have to. It's a must. I've got to meet my goals this year."
Ross is listed as the No. 1 tailback. He rushed for 826 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago while battling nagging injuries. Maurice Hall added 316 yards.
Ohio State's defense lost seven starters, so there are plenty of new faces vying for jobs.
Cornerback Dustin Fox doesn't look at that as a negative.
"A lot of guys have been sitting around playing behind All-Americans and All-Big Ten players for a couple years," he said. "Now they kind of have an opportunity to step up and take on those roles and they can be All-Americans and All-Big Ten themselves."