Friday, August 11, 2000
Running backs now fighting for job
Bengals visit Atlanta tonight
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATLANTA — With Corey Dillon back, there's one less supporting role available in the Bengals' offensive backfield. All of which means the handful of players trying out as Dillon's understudy must shine in their preseason auditions. Act II is tonight in Atlanta.
Brandon Bennett will start again, as he did last Friday in Buffalo.
Sedrick Shaw and Nick Williams also will run behind the first-team offensive line.
“From a running standpoint, they had a very productive year running the ball last year, and to have the same guy back is a boost,” said Bennett, who missed all of 1999 recovering from a knee injury. “It's something I can't worry about. I've just got to come here and practice hard and do the best I can every day.”
The Bengals were sixth in the NFL in rushing in 1999 with 2,051 yards, 1,200 of them by Dillon.
Dillon, who made the Pro Bowl, reported Thursday as expected. He met the Ben gals at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for their charter flight to Atlanta.
Dillon's arrival might mean a departure for one of the running backs already in camp, but they're not going to concede roster spots without a fight.
“It may be a time when Corey may be hurt, and they need someone to come in and perform without the offense falling off,” said Bennett, who rushed seven times for 33 yards in the 21-20 loss at Buffalo in the preseason opener. “You just got to go out there and prepare yourself to be the best back you can be.”
Michael Basnight will miss his second game with a broken bone in his wrist and won't be back for eight weeks.
Rookie Curtis Keaton is expected to play in the second half.
While the Bengals' top back will be in uniform but on the bench, the Falcons'
star runner, Jamal Anderson, will make his first appearance since the second game of the 1999 season.
Anderson, who tore up his knee, did not play in the Falcons first two preseason games. He ran for more than 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns in Atlanta's 1998 Super Bowl season.
The Falcons slumped to 5-11 last season.
“A year ago at this time, Atlanta was the marquee team,” Cincinnati coach Bruce Coslet said. “They're bringing their big-time running back out of mothballs, and I'm glad about it. Jamal is a hell of a player, and you like to see these guys come back from serious knee injuries.
“So we get a chance to play against one of the really good ones and see how we measure up.”
The Bengals gave up only 123 yards rushing in Buffalo.
Cincinnati had 134 yards on the ground, and first- and second-string quarterbacks Akili Smith and Scott Mitchell were sharp, completing 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown.
Smith played the first half in Buffalo.
He'll play “probably like he did last week,” Coslet said. “I left him in. He might be doing bad, so I'll leave him in. He has to get snaps.”
Smith is looking to complete 60 percent of his passes but wants the offense to perform better inside the 20-yard line.
“We moved the football well last week, but we didn't get into the end zone on that fourth-and-one,” Smith said of a drive that ended on the Bills' 3. “We got to get that into the end zone. Then the first drive we had, we had to kick a field goal. We've got to score touchdowns. We can't settle for field goals all the time.”
Bengals Stories
McKeon may be in last year
Reds-Cubs Scouting Report
Minus Sampras, field wide open
Today's tennis schedule
Thursday's tennis results
Henman shocks Sampras
Quarterfinalists: Who are these guys?
Enqvist finds comfort zone
Martin finds new life
Tired and teed off, Kafelnikov crumbles
DAUGHERTY: No excuses for skipping Olympics
Tennis Notebook
Dusing one race from Olympics
Swim Trials Notebook
Bad knees end Phelps' comeback
Golf Course Spotlight: Majestic Springs
UC loses Land for season
Huggins joins USA staff
Ex-Bearcat to oppose Bengals
• Return to Bengals front page...
Running backs now fighting for job