Smith faces long odds in first start

Thursday, October 07, 1999
Smith faces long odds in first start

BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Akili Smith starts a possibly long rivalry with Tim Couch Sunday.
(Gary Landers photo)
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Like rookie Ken Anderson 28 years ago, Akili Smith gets his first NFL start on Oct. 10.
Like rookie Boomer Esiason in 1984, Smith gets his first NFL start for a Bengals team that had lost its first four games and had begun spinning out of contention.
But Smith knows he assumes the starting job at what may be the most critical juncture in franchise history. Just last week, he began to understand what it meant to be a Bengal in the 1990s.
He saw the release of a popular locker room figure in fullback Brian Milne. Teammate Ki-Jana Carter learned he was on injured reserve via ESPN. And when NFL Players Association officials came to town for their annual meeting, they made it a point to let players know the Bengals are more than $2 million under the salary cap.
“It's tough to be a rookie in this turmoil that's gone on the last 15, 20 years,” Smith said. “They're looking to me to get this thing turned around. It's a big burden for me.”
But Smith's upbeat personality was what the Bengals sought as much as his rocket arm and fleet legs. On Wednesday, he said, “I really believe if we get a win, that will change the whole attitude in this locker room.”
Yet Bengals President Mike Brown and coach Bruce Coslet aren't expecting miracles. That's because they lived through the careers of Anderson, now Smith's offensive coordinator, and Esiason, now the Monday Night Football analyst for ABC.
Anderson and Esiason are the two best quarterbacks in Cincinnati history. But it didn't happen right away.
“All I remember from my first start is that I was awful and that I had no idea what I was doing,” said Esiason, who had plenty of help from the running game and defense in a 13-3 over Houston for coach Sam Wyche's first victory in six games.
“Akili's going to struggle. It won't be pretty. But Cleveland is a good game to get him in there,” Esiason said.
But Coslet likes Smith's arm and athleticism and insisted, “This isn't all doom and gloom.”
Smith relieved Jeff Blake in the second half of two blowouts and has completed just 49 percent of his 37 passes, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He made more news for the plays he didn't know than the plays he made when Coslet pulled him out of the crucial fourth quarter in the season-opening 36-35 loss at Tennessee because his 27-practice holdout limited him so much.
Smith took the blame for the loss. But Wednesday, before his 26th practice, Smith said there are no excuses now because he's so much more comfortable with the playbook. Coslet has noticed.
“It was culture shock when he saw how detailed the game plan is, how specific they are opposed to the preseason,” Coslet said. “That first week was very overwhelming, because it happened to be a very complicated Tennessee team. I think that blew him out of the water and he said, "OK, I guess I need to study a little bit more.'”
Smith knows he needs help from his veteran offensive line, and they didn't hesitate getting on him Wednesday during the morning walkthrough. Jay Leeuwenburg, who centered for Colts rookie Peyton Manning last season, didn't mince words.
“We ran a play, and the coach wanted to rerun it, and (Leeuwenburg) said, "Akili, say the play over, say it over,'” Smith said. “He made me say the play over and over again to make sure it sticks in my mind. The offensive linemen want to make sure I understand what's going on so they'll be more comfortable.”
Wyche, now a CBS analyst, doesn't remember much from Esiason's debut, except to say, “I'll take Boomer's word he was bad.” Wyche's advice is to fill Smith with confidence early in the game.
“What the coaches will do is sit down with him at the end of the week and make sure they know what plays he likes and knows best,” Wyche said. “Then you get into the game and you make sure those first plays are right down his alley and that he knows them cold.”
Dave Lapham, the Bengals' radio analyst, was in his first year in the booth during Esiason's rookie season and said: “He was horrible, but he was a confident horrible. After the game, it didn't faze him. He was ready for more.”
The Bengals are banking on Smith's Boomer-like confidence to get him through. It's one of the reasons why Wyche liked Smith best of the top five quarterbacks in the last draft. That, and the arm Smith flashed last week on third-and-long when he threw a bullet into double coverage to Willie Jackson for the first down.
“I think he knows this is his team now,” Bengals wide receiver Damon Griffin said. “Once he gets in and shows he can play, he'll be himself. He's an automatic leader. That's just the way he is. He's going to totally take control.”
Right tackle Willie Anderson said Smith, “is a born leader.” But Smith knows he has to win to take over.
“You have to lead by example,” Smith said. “Nobody's going to follow a leader that doesn't do the right things and is contributing to the team winning. If we get this game, we just continue to roll, and some people may look to me as a leader and/or they may look at some of the veterans who have been here for awhile. You've got to stay confident. Nobody doesn't want to go throughout the whole season and not win a game. We've got to be able to tighten the screws and stop making mistakes on special teams, offense and defense.”
Ken Anderson, like Esiason, tried to recall his first start Wednesday. He thought it came against Cleveland, but it was actually Miami. Smith gets Cleveland.
“Just play,” Anderson advised. “Study, prepare and just play.”

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