Sunday, September 17, 2000
Akili could learn from Brunell
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The quarterback is strong and mobile, capable of big plays from the pocket or on the run. All Akili Smith of the Cincinnati Bengals needs now is some experience, along with a good team around him.
He might get an idea of what's that like today when the Bengals play Mark Brunell and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brunell also look rattled when he first came to the league, first as a backup in Green Bay and then with an expansion team at Jacksonville. Now in his fifth year as a starter, Brunell is playing with more poise than ever before.
When does the light go on?
“It depends on the quarterback,” Brunell said. “For some, it takes a year. For some, it takes four years. I still haven't got it yet. It's slowly turning on as the years progress.”
The Jaguars (1-1) are trying to get through the first part of the season despite injuries that have left them devoid of a running game. Running back Fred Taylor is still trying to recover from a knee injury, and the offensive line has been depleted.
Brunell has had consecutive 300-yard games, including a strong performance in a 39-36 loss at Baltimore. The Jaguars gave up a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes.
Three of his touchdowns were to Jimmy Smith, whose 291 yards represented the fifth-best receiving total in NFL history.
“He's the best I've ever seen,” Smith said of Brunell. “Every ball is right in the chest. He's sharp.”
Brunell hasn't seen much of the Bengals' second-year quarterback, but what he has seen impresses him.
“I do know he's got big-play capabilities,” Brunell said. “He's very athletic, something our defense is going to have to pay attention to. When things break down, he can move out of the pocket and get a first down.”
Things have broken down quickly in Cincinnati, which made its season debut in a brand new stadium and responded with a 24-7 loss against the Cleveland Browns.
Smith, injured for most of last year with turf toe, had a 21-yard run, but was just 15-of-43 with two interceptions and seven sacks.
“He struggled because our line struggled early,” coach Bruce Coslet said. “We expect him to have his ups and downs, just like any young quarterback going through the learning process. He has a lot of talent, is very capable of making plays and we're going to keep working with him.”
That's not the Bengals' only concern.
The team lost the most games in the NFL in the '90s and didn't get off to a great start in the '00s.
Losing linebacker Brian Simmons, its leading tackler, didn't help. Running back Corey Dillon missed most of training camp in a contract dispute and ran for only 41 yards on 12 carries.
A lone bright spot was first-round pick Peter Warrick, who caught three passes for 80 yards, but also dropped three balls.
“We'll find out how resilient we are,” Coslet said.
The Jaguars are playing for the first time this year at home, where they lost only one game last year. And they are still stewing over a blown opportunity at Baltimore.
Center John Wade is expected to return to the starting lineup, and All-Pro left tackle Tony Boselli, recovering from a knee injury last year, showed how quickly he is returning to form by handling Ravens defensive end Michael McCrary.
Taylor returned to limited practice this week, but the Jaguars might not need him. They have swept the Bengals series the past two years and are nearly two-touchdown favorites Sunday.
And even without Taylor — which has meant virtually no running game — Brunell appears to be capable of carrying the load.
“The responsibility of the quarterback is to move his team, regardless of who's healthy,” Brunell said. “I don't think this year is any different.”
Perhaps it will feel that way for Akili Smith and the rest of the Bengals someday.
“I feel he's a great quarterback,” Warrick said. “We're all young, just learning day in and day out.”
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Akili could learn from Brunell