Jim Naveau: OSU won't find all the answers in spring

Everything you see about Ohio State spring football practice, which started earlier this week, says the Buckeyes have a lot of questions.

Fair enough. They lost 31 players - 28 seniors and three juniors who left early for the NFL from a team that went 10-3 last season.

People like James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Marcus Freeman, Donald Washington and Nader Abdallah will have to be replaced on defense by the time OSU opens against Navy on Sept. 5.

Offensively, the holes are every bit as big with the departure of Chris Wells, Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline and three offensive linemen.

That means there are a lot of questions. But how many questions ever really get answered in spring practice?

Honestly, some of the most important questions might not have even become questions yet. And some of the answers might not even be at Ohio State yet.

A year ago, quarterback did not appear to be the question that would overwhelm all others in 2008 at Ohio State.

A year ago, Terrelle Pryor had signed with Ohio State only a month before the start of spring practice. And, unlike some recruits, he did not choose to enroll early and wasn't even in Columbus at this time of year.

No doubt there are opportunities for players to impress coaches in spring practice. And there are probably some players who have fallen out of favor in spring practice almost any year.

But spring practice is a long way from September. Spring practice often goes on without key players, frequently offensive and defensive linemen, who have undergone offseason surgery to fix injuries they suffered in the fall.

J.B. Shugarts, Lawrence Wilson and Zach Boren lead a rather short list of sidelined players this spring.

Spring practice is also a time when key players, the ones who can't be replaced if they're injured, are made off limits to contact.

With only two scholarship players (Pryor and Joe Bauserman) available at quarterback and only two scholarship running backs (Dan Herron and Brandon Saine) on the roster, those guys will not be taking a lot of hits this spring.

So, who could this be a big spring for?

Start with Pryor. Even though he became the starting quarterback three games into last season, he faces some questions going into 2009.

He was a work in progress last season. Ohio State's coaches asked him to use only part of the playbook, not the whole text. There were times when he seemed uncertain of what he wanted to do and he did not exactly have classic, textbook form when he threw the ball.

Herron and Saine could also be players on the hot seat. Herron was an adequate backup, but replacing Wells, who averaged nearly 1,700 rushing over the last two seasons, is asking a lot more of him.

In high school, Saine won the state 100-meter dash title with a time faster than Ted Ginn Jr. ever ran in a state meet. But in college, the only thing quick about him during an injury plagued career has been the speed with which he has descended on the depth chart. This could be a make or break year for him.

Young receivers like DeVier Posey, Taurian Washington and Lamaar Thomas will be trying to go around older receivers like Ray Small and Dane Sanzenbacher, who hope to fill the positions held by Robiskie and Hartline.

Defensively, both cornerbacks and two of the three linebacker spots are question marks.

Chimdi Chekwa will probably start at one cornerback and the other appears to be a battle among Andre Amos, Devon Torrence and Travis Howard.

Coldwater's Ross Homan seems to have one starting linebacker job locked up. Austin Spitler has spent three years as James Laurinaitis' backup, so this spring could be big for him.

Players like Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller, who are hybrid linebackers, with some qualities of a linebacker and some of a defensive back, also hope to answer some questions.

And, finally, since Jim Tressel likes to say the punt is the most important play in football, the Buckeyes will have to replace long-time punter A.J. Trapasso.

Spring practice ends April 25 with the annual spring game.