It was designed as a gesture to show how far Ohio State senior Steve Bellisari has come as a quarterback, but instead wound up demonstrating how far he has yet to go.

New coach Jim Tressel called Bellisari to the stage before OSU began spring practice and threw him a softball in front of the assembled media.

Gimme the three basics for an Ohio State quarterback, Tressel said.

"Eliminate turnovers, make big plays and get first downs," Bellisari answered, looking over at Tressel for confirmation.

Tressel dropped his head, then reminded Bellisari that answer No. 3 should have been, "Make good decisions."

"I told him I wanted him to be able to complete 67 percent," Tressel said. "He took that literally."

Everyone laughed, but the irony was lost on no one: Bellisari making a too-quick wrong decision when charged with making a good one.

Ohio State fans have not only seen that before, they've seen it so often they have nightmares about it.

There's Bellisari, fading to pass in the third quarter against Michigan, throwing virtually without looking into the flat -- right to the Wolverines' Julius Curry, who goes 50 yards for the touchdown that dooms OSU to defeat.

There's Bellisari, with the Buckeyes in a 17-7 fourth-quarter hole at the Outback Bowl, throwing into coverage for another pick that gives South Carolina possession in OSU territory and the momentum to drive for a clinching touchdown.

With a record of just 12-9 as a starter, a career completion percentage under 50 percent and 25 touchdown passes against 22 interceptions, Bellisari is an easy target to blame for the Buckeyes' failure to finish above fourth place in the Big Ten the past two seasons.

Certainly, Ohio State's recent swoon can't all be laid at Bellisari's shoes.

In fact, most of the blame wound up on former head coach John Cooper, who was fired after that 24-7 loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, clearing the way for Tressel to leave Youngstown State and take over in Columbus.

He spent most of his time at YSU with the team's quarterbacks, directing that program to four national championships in his 15 seasons, with offenses that differed significantly each title season.

A college quarterback himself, Tressel won't change his habit of working with the quarterbacks at OSU.

But in Bellisari, he might find a challenge unlike any he has faced previously.

"The thing with every one of our seniors, and Steve is a senior, is that they really have to rise above any performance level they've ever shown,'' Tressel said. "When you look back at good teams, you see teams that have seniors who came out of nowhere -- 'Man, I didn't know he was that good.' That has to be the case with Steve.

"Instead of being a guy who is very good part of the time, Steve has to be very good all the time ... We want someone there who makes good decisions, doesn't turn the ball over and makes big plays.

"There is no question in my mind, because I've seen it on film and now I've seen it live, that Steve Bellisari can make big plays. But I have not seen the level of decision-making, both on film or live, that we need to see.''

That's scary, since Bellisari is about the only known commodity on the Ohio State offense.

Tailback Derek Combs and wide receivers Reggie Germany, Ken-Yon Rambo, Chad Cacchio and Vaness Provitt are gone, as are starting guards Mike Gurr and Tam Hopkins and right tackle Henry Fleming.

Second-team All-Big Ten center LeCharles Bentley will anchor an offensive line that benefits from a sixth season of eligibility granted to Tyson Walter, a three-year starter at left tackle who sat out last year with a hip infection.

OSU also gained an additional season's eligibility for former Prop 48 recruit Joe Cooper, a co-captain last year and the team's second-leading tackler.

He and Courtland Bullard give the Buckeyes two experienced players on the edge to team with second-team all-league middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm.

Those three and returning safeties Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey figure to form the foundation for new coordinator Mark Dantonio's defense.

"We're further along on defense, just because of our experience," Tressel said. "I really think we have some guys who can make plays, so I'd be disappointed if we're not really good on defense.

"Overall, I really don't have a measuring stick yet for how good we can be. ... In some areas we're going to be very, very solid. But in other areas, we have to get moving."

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