This Wednesday went a lot quicker than any of Scott Mitchell's previous 10 Bengals Wednesdays.

        He's the starting quarterback and, as the result, had most of the work in practice.

Scott Mitchell has started 66 games in his career but will start his first this season Sunday in New England. He has appeared in three games for the Bengals as a reserve. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        “It went too fast. It's like there's not enough time in the day now,” said Mitchell, who will make his first Bengals start Sunday at New England. “Practice seemed like it was forever when you're not playing.”

        Mitchell, who has 66 previous NFL starts, was calm and cool throughout the day, even as the spotlight shifted onto him. He has been there before, and it shows.

        He moved effortlessly into the role beginning Monday, just minutes after learning from coach Dick LeBeau that he would replace Akili Smith as the team's quarterback against the Patriots. Mitchell spoke at length with reporters in a Paul Brown Stadium interview room Monday, and he patiently answered every question before and after practice Wednesday.

        “Overall, I felt pretty good. I like what we're doing,” Mitchell said after practice. He was one of the last four players to leave the field.

        Now he's the one talking about the opponent's defense.

        “We definitely feel like we have to throw the ball down the field on them,” Mitchell said. “Any time you can make completions and put pressure on the defense to tackle guys and keep the chains moving, you frustrate them and build confidence.”

        He's answering all sorts of questions, including ones about his age and abilities. He's 32 and in his 11th NFL season.

        “My arm has gotten stronger as I've gotten older,” said Mitchell, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 240 pounds. “I don't think I've reached that peak yet where you start going down hill. Everyone gives me a hard time about being slow. I'm not (Smith's) speed. Not many quarterbacks are. I'm not a running quarterback. I have the physical build to take the pounding, but I can also move around and run when I have to.”

        As the starter, Mitchell is now talked about by the other team's coach.

        “We know Scott Mitchell is an experienced quarterback who's had some success in the league,” New England coach Bill Belichick said in a conference call with Cincinnati reporters. “I've faced him a couple times before and seen him play well, so we have a lot of respect for Scott and the offensive team.”

        And his own coach.

        “Well, Scott definitely has the experience factor, and we're hoping that we'll benefit from that,” LeBeau said Wednesday.

        Simply put, Mitchell is starting because Smith was part of a passing attack that ranks dead last in the NFL at 107.5 yards a game. It's the third-lowest in the NFL since 1978. The Bengals have two touchdown passes in 10 games.

        There have been changes at other offensive positions designed to help the passing game. Craig Yeast now starts ahead of rookie Ron Dugans at one wide receiver spot. And left tackle Rod Jones lost his job to John Jackson before Jackson injured a hamstring.

        Offensive coordinator Ken Anderson and LeBeau have used a variety of formations and personnel combinations — two tight ends, three tight ends, three wide receivers — to try to unclog the passing game.

        Sitting Smith down, even on a temporary basis, was the most recent move.

        “One of the problems, and this is not even one person's responsibility, is that the rhythm of the passing game is not there,” LeBeau said. “Hopefully, a more experienced passer will be able to get the ball in the right areas at the right time.”

        LeBeau liked what he saw in practice.

        “He threw the ball well,” he said of Mitchell. “Good timing, and I think he'll get nothing but better with more and more snaps. I was pleased with his play.”

        Rookie wide receiver Peter Warrick is the Bengals' leading pass catcher with 30 for 338 yards. He saw differences between Smith and Mitchell.

        “Scott is a veteran and knows how to handle himself under pressure, not taking anything away from Akili,” Warrick said. “We're all young. We're trying to change it up and get something established.

        “Akili's (throws) harder. Mitchell has more of a touch. Mitchell is a veteran and knows what's going on all the time.”

        Mitchell, signed as a free agent in the offseason, played in parts of three games this year. Twice he came in after Smith was injured. In Pittsburgh, LeBeau pulled Smith, and Mitchell was 4-of-16 passing for 39 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked for a safety. For the season, he's 18-of-44 for 136 yards and four interceptions.

        His performance will be better because of the extra work this week.

        “The hardest thing that's happened to me is I just haven't gotten any (practice repetitions), and I'm not using it as an excuse, but it's really hard to go into a game when you put a lot of new things in,” he said.

        Mitchell's career has taken him from Miami to Detroit to Baltimore to Cincinnati. He's 176 passing yards away from 15,000 and eight touchdown passes short of 100.

        At the interview podium Wednesday, Mitchell was asked to reflect on his career and how the latest chapter with the Bengals fits in.

        “Well, I've been really pleased with my career and I've worked hard the whole time,” he said. “This offseason, I wasn't sure if I'd ever have a chance to play or not, and I just made a commitment to myself that no matter what happens this year or the rest of my career I was going to finish it on my terms.

        “My preparation and the way I focus on getting ready and playing each week is the right way, and that's what I did, and it's just kind of funny how things have a way of working out when you do that.”

A veteran approach SULLIVAN: Scott Mitchell Bengals notebook: Spikes' play could lead to Pro Bowl

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