Yes, it's early. But the 2000 Bengals show signs of being one of the worst offenses in team history.

        Cincinnati (0-2) has scored seven points, an average of 3.5 per game. The worst Bengals scoring year was 1993, when Dave Shula's 3-13 men scored 11.7 points per game.

        “The talent is there,” right tackle Willie Anderson said. “We just have guys that haven't played a lot together.”

        There are similarities between the '93 and 2000 teams, some eerie:

        • In '93 the quarterback was second-year man David Klingler. In '00 the quarterback is second-year man Akili Smith.

        • In '93, the top wide receivers were second-year man Carl Pickens and career backup Jeff Query, neither of whom had started a full season. In '00, the top wide receivers are rookies Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans.

        • In '93 the top running back was Harold Green, who had grudgingly signed a new contract after a Pro Bowl season. In '00 the top runner is Corey Dillon, who grudgingly signed a new contract after a Pro Bowl season. Green averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in '93; Dillon is averaging 2.5.

        • In '93 the Bengals entered their first season without some of their all-time best offensive players: Left tackle Anthony Munoz (retired) and quarterback Boomer Esiason (traded). In '00 the absent include receivers Pickens (gone to Tennessee) and Darnay Scott (broken leg) and quarterback Jeff Blake (New Orleans).

        • In '93 the Bengals kept rookie placekicker Doug Pelfrey and cut popular veteran Jim Breech, and Pelfrey struggled early (3-of-7 on field goals). In '00 the Bengals kept rookie Neil Rackers and cut popular veteran Pelfrey, and Rackers has struggled early (O-for-3 on field goals).

        Coincidence or not, it spells 3.5 points per game.

        Pickens sometimes had a sour attitude and Blake was streaky, but Pickens is the leading receiver in team history (530 catches) and Blake is third in passing yards (15,134). And, Scott is the No. 5 receiver in team history (329 catches).

        “You take away Jeff Blake and Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott and replace them with guys that have played, what, nine (NFL) games combined?” Anderson said. “It takes time. The offensive line has to take our share of the blame, too.”

        Smith has been sacked 12 times, on pace for 96 this year. The NFL individual record is 72, taken by Philadelphia scrambler Randall Cunningham in 1986.

        Somehow, the Bengals rank 21st of 31 NFL in total offense this year. But that is just in total yards.

        “We need to address the inefficiencies in our offense,” coach Bruce Coslet said. “The running game is really what bothers me.”

        The offensive line has taken heat for that, too. The perception is that Dillon has not had room to run, and opponents have blitzed frequently.

        “I would too,” Smith said, “with a second-year quarterback and two rookie receivers.”

        Anderson said the NFL has the book on Warrick and Dugans who, like most rookies, sometimes have trouble getting open.

        “Everybody in the country saw them play last year at Florida State,” Anderson said. “The defensive coordinators are a lot smarter here, and their job is to stop you. You have players who come to work every day just to stop you. That's their job, 24-7.

        “They played at a great level in college, but this is a whole different level as far as blocking, route running, getting open.”

        And what about the running game? There is only one new offensive line starter (Mike Goff), so there is no apparent lack of cohesion. But tackles Jones and Anderson admittedly have played subpar.

        Matters may not improve at Baltimore on Sunday. The Ravens rank just 14th in the league in total defense, but have four Pro Bowl players back from a unit that ranked second in the NFL last season. The Ravens have one shutout this year and beat the Bengals 22-0 in their last meeting, Dec. 26, 1999.

        Coslet was asked if any changes were needed on offense.

        “We feel that the guys that are playing are the best guys we have,” he said. “Otherwise, they wouldn't be playing.”

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