CLEVELAND — Bruce Coslet was promoted from coordinator in 1996 to take over a listless 1-6 Bengals team.

        He finished 7-2 that seasons and was the toast of Cincinnati. Players applauded his can-do attitude, the discipline he instilled, the focus he gave the team. But he lost 37 of his next 51 games, and after an 0-3 start this season, resigned.

        In has stepped Dick LeBeau, promoted from defensive coordinator. He has not had Coslet's immediate success, winning only one of his first four games. But the 2000 Bengals are saying of LeBeau the same things the 1996 team said about Coslet.

        Maybe that's why owner Mike Brown is relatively reserved about LeBeau's job, even after a stirring 31-21 Sunday against Denver.

        “We're happy with the job Dick has done,” Brown said. “He's gone about things in a way that has kept the spirit up. Everybody's working hard.

        “But I'm not going to get into comparisons.”

        LeBeau, at 63, the oldest rookie head coach since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, is not an interim coach. But Brown will not say whether LeBeau is coming back next season.

        So while his future and ultimate success as a head coach are still murky issues, LeBeau clearly has had a positive effect on the team.

        Since taking over Sept. 25, LeBeau has made three changes in the starting lineup, banned music from the locker room, instituted running after every practice and re-established Cincinnati as a rushing team.

        LeBeau's first actions were to make players run sprints after practice, silence the blaring clubhouse stereo and prevent players from sitting on their helmets.

        In his first game, with offensive coordinator Ken Anderson calling the plays, LeBeau started two tight ends and immediately emphasized the run.

        Corey Dillon, who had not been a factor the first three games, ran 22 times for 110 yards. Cincinnati scored for the first time in two-plus games and led at halftime before losing. Dillon was getting the ball fewer than 14 times a game under Coslet. He's getting it almost 19 times a game under LeBeau.

        “That's the mold he wants for this team,” Dillon said.

        When the Bengals fell behind Cleveland in the opener, Coslet abandoned the running game and passed the ball 43 times.

        “Coach LeBeau is a defensive coach, so we're playing more a field-position, time-possession kind of game,” fullback Clif Groce said.”

        LeBeau has tried to take the pressure off second-year quarterback Akili Smith, who has struggled all year. He has removed one of two rookie wide receivers, Ron Dugans, from the starting lineup. The team's only non-rookie wide receiver, Craig Yeast, now starts opposite star rookie Peter Warrick.

        “It's reality,” Groce said. “You've for a Pro Bowl running back (Dillon) and a rookie quarterback and two rookie wide receivers. Who are you going to go to? It's only logical.”

        LeBeau has started veteran second tight end Marco Battaglia twice. LeBeau has had Anderson orient the game plan away from rookies toward more experienced players such as Dillon, Battaglia and first-string tight end Tony McGee. All of Coslet's game plans focused on the wide receivers.

        “LeBeau's attitude is smash-mouth football,” Smith said. “Guys have been responding to that.”

        LeBeau has changed the lineup. He benched high-priced left tackle Rod Jones in favor of bargain-basement veteran John Jackson because Smith was getting pressured and sacked from his blind side. But LeBeau's people skills have shone through. He sat Jones down without trashing his confidence.

        “We have a good relationship. He doesn't lack confidence in his decisions,” Jones said. “Coach LeBeau still talks to me. He doesn't shy away. He makes sure my knee is OK. He's always, "Stay positive, keep working.”'

        The highest-profile demotion was that of cornerback Artrell Hawkins, a three-year starter and high-round draft pick who now plays behind a former free agent, Rodney Heath.

        Hawkins declined to talk about the demotion, but Hawkins has thrived in a new role, outside cover man on the punt coverage team.

        “Coach LeBeau doesn't criticize his players publicly,” Groce said. “He doesn't destroy players. Look at Artrell now. He's playing like a Pro Bowler on special teams.”

        Still, the demotions have gotten other players' attention, even if they've been handled professionally.

        Said Dillon, “Right off the bat he told us if we're not performing, he's going to put somebody else in there. You've got to respect that.”

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