IOWA CITY, Iowa (U-WIRE) -- An athletic defense, a potentially strong running game and exceptional special-teams play make tradition-rich Ohio State a front-runner for the Big Ten title in 2004.

Buckeye coach Jim Tressel said his young players understand that they've lost a lot of talent from last year's team, but they're anxious to prove that they can be adequate replacements. But field experience, he says, isn't something that can be taught in practice or in the weight room.

"I'm not sure that height, weight and speed is quite so important as experience and doing the things you need to do in the game of football," he said on Aug. 4 at the Big Ten kickoff luncheon. "I suppose from an athletic standpoint, I feel that we are about as good as in the last couple of years, but we've got a long way to go and a lot of areas that will have a huge impact on whether or not we are a good team."

Ohio State will rely on its ground attack until sophomore quarterback Justin Zwick settles into the offense as he tries to replace last year's team leader, Craig Krenzel. Seniors Lydell Ross and Mo Hall will receive the bulk of the carries for the Buckeyes, whose depth chart features four seniors at tailback.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Ross tallied 826 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall in a season plagued by an early shoulder injury. Hall started the first four games last year but saw limited action the rest of the way because of injuries. He underwent surgeries on both knees during the offseason but is on track to be 100 percent this fall.

The Buckeyes will look to improve on last year's disappointing 126.1 yards per game rushing average. Tressel couldn't point to one aspect that accounted for the disappointing production, but he saw improvement toward the end of the season to build on.

"We felt that the latter half of the Big Ten schedule, we did a little bit better at running the ball, but not good enough," he said.

Zwick saw action in three games in 2003 as the Buckeyes' third team quarterback, completing 4-of-8 passes for 24 yards. The Massillion, Ohio, native threw for more than 10,000 yards during his high school career -- he likes to stay in the pocket, and he has a quick release. The Buckeyes lose their top-two reception leaders from last year -- receiver Michael Jenkins and tight end Ben Hartsock -- but Tressel feels he has young talent ready to step in. Sophomore Santonio Holmes caught 32 passes for a 17.2-yard average and seven scores. The big play threat will be Zwick's go-to guy and is perhaps the team's fastest player.

Besides experience, the big question the offense must answer is who will emerge as the leaders.

"You have to have leaders wherever you're at," Ross said. "Definitely on a team like this -- Ohio State -- you have to have leaders to be successful."

On defense, Ohio State returns four starters from its stellar defense in 2003, and the Buckeyes may have two of the best defenders in the conference. Linebacker A.J. Hawk, selected by the media as the Big Ten's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, led the team with 106 tackles and recorded 13 tackles for loss.

Corner back Dustin Fox had 77 tackles and three interceptions, and he is regarded as one of the best pass defenders in the conference. The Buckeyes will need him to step up to help replace senior Chris Gamble, but Tressel may turn to a true freshman to contribute immediately. Ted Ginn Jr., one of the most touted prospects from the 2004 recruiting class, is expected to compete for playing time at corner and special teams. The 6-foot, 170-pound Cleveland native has lightning speed and exceptional cover skills.

The Buckeyes are again one of the top teams competing for the Big Ten championship, and they will be helped by a favorable schedule with home games against Michigan and Wisconsin.

"I think at a place like Ohio State, we're not going to be mediocre because we have tremendous athletes," Fox said. "We have tremendous people with great character who want to win football games. I think we have the cream of the crop, as far as talent goes, even in the country. We just need the experience, and once you get that, I think we'll be fine."

(C) 2004 The Daily Iowan via U-WIRE.