BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Without naming them, coach Bruce Coslet hinted that Jay Kirchoff or Brad Costello could make the team as a kickoff specialist if either one proves he can put the ball within or close to the end zone.
Coslet was unhappy with the Bengals' shallow kickoffs last year, when their opponents began drives at an average of the 30.4-yard line. That tied for the AFC's next-to-worst figure. Placekicker Doug Pelfrey, whose job is safe, handled the kickoff chores in 1997, after he and punter Lee Johnson shared that duty in 1996.
"I'm not really comfortable with either (Johnson) or Doug kicking off, to tell you the truth," Coslet said. "We can't allow opponents to start at the 30-yard line every time."
Kirchoff, who failed to stick with three NFL teams from 1993-95, specializes in kickoffs, while Costello, an undrafted rookie free agent from Boston University, is primarily a punter.
Coach's eye
Offensive line coach Paul Alexander pulled aside guard Mike Goff during the morning "skills" session to refine the third-round draft choice's footwork.
"If you're a young guy, you have to do it perfectly, or they'll beat you," Alexander said. "Especially until you get your feet wet a little bit."
With Scott Brumfield (left knee) sidelined through possibly the preseason and starting right guard Ken Blackman (lower back) still recovering, Goff worked frequently with the first team. "He's eager," Alexander said. "He's a great guy, and he's going to be a terrific player."
QB watch
Though Neil O'Donnell's efforts to grasp the offense continue, he displayed nice touch on his passes in Sunday afternoon's workout, completing three softly thrown balls up the sidelines.
Welcome, rookie
Running back Corey Dillon rudely introduced cornerback Artrell Hawkins to the NFL, flattening the rookie from the University of Cincinnati while churning down the left sideline toward the end zone in an 11-on-11 drill.
Lightning strikes
As the Bengals' equipment manager, Tom Gray is accustomed to keeping inventory. But he still doesn't know the extent of the losses he and his wife, Bridget, suffered when lightning struck their Loveland home last Sunday.
Gray said he was sleeping and Bridget was watching television when the home alarm suddenly sounded and the TV blew out. "I didn't know if it was a fire or a burglar," he said.
After checking around the house, Gray noticed a scorched spot about three feet in diameter on the ceiling in an upstairs bathroom. When he called 911, an operator demanded, "Get out now!"
Call it divine providence or an electrical quirk, but though all power was off in the house, the Grays managed to activate their automatic garage door to remove their car.
Gray dashed back into the house to retrieve his wallet and keys, which was a risky move. He said that about three minutes after the 911 operator delivered her warning, the roof burst into flames. "I thought we had a little problem, but I didn't think it was going to be like that," Gray said.
The Grays, who haven't finished inspecting their remaining belongings, must wait four to six months before the house is restored.
Injury report
Brumfield tried to remain upbeat about the partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which will sideline him from four to six weeks.
"I'm hoping it (his return) will be sooner," said Brumfield, who overcame a spinal cord concussion he suffered on Nov. 3, 1996. "The last couple of years it seems like I've had more than my share of injuries."
Quick outs
Hall of Famer-in-waiting Anthony Munoz, a former Bengals left tackle, attended Sunday's practice with some Moeller High football coaches and his son, Michael, who attends Moeller.
Nose tackle Adrian Luster, who disappeared from the team last Wednesday, will be dropped from the roster if he doesn't report to camp today.
Quotable
Cornerback Jimmy Spencer, on doubling the pleasures of fatherhood with his second son, eight-week-old Jevon Avery Spencer:
"I have a lot more joy. There's nothing like having two boys. It's just wonderful."
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