INDIANAPOLIS — Dick LeBeau had been to several NFL scouting combines as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator, but this year is his first as a head coach.

        Because of their second consecutive 4-12 record, the Bengals have the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft for the second year in a row. The Bengals scored a franchise record-low 185 points and had the NFL's lowest-ranked passing offense.

        Late Friday afternoon, after spending the day evaluating top college talent, LeBeau discussed the team's needs and offseason progress since the 2000 season ended two months ago today at Philadelphia.

        Question: Which way are you leaning with your first pick?

        Answer:We've got a great choice. And in our subsequent rounds, we'll be taking top picks there. It behooves us to do a good job over here, particularly in the top end of the draft.”

        Q: You seem to have a lot of choices, a lot of different directions you could go?

        A: That's a plus, too. Whichever player really catches our eye and seems to be the best fit, we're probably going to have a spot for him. We're not going to have to create one. I think we're going to go with the guy who is the best "football player,' and I think we have enough areas of need that we can do that.”

        Q: How would you rank your areas of need?

        A: “We want to address the productivity of the offense. That would be first. And that would be in any fashion and every fashion. We need to increase our pass rush. And you're always looking for increased (defensive secondary) coverage. That's how I would rate them.

        “We obviously have to score more points. That would be our first focus. But if there's a great pass rusher there, who clearly was the better player, we would give strong support for him to be the guy.”

        Q: Has anyone emerged as the pass rusher?

        A: “My first impression is "yes.' But I must admit I'm not ready to draft today.”

        Q: How much advance work of evaluating talent have you done?

        A: “I must admit I'm a little bit behind because of the hiring of the (two assistant) coaches and the interviewing process that took place there. And we wanted to be very thorough in that. We generally would have looked at more video at this stage, but it's something we're at the catch-up stage on.”

        Q: Quarterback Akili Smith is dealing with his DUI charge in San Diego. But when do you expect to have him working in Cincinnati?

        A: “We're thinking about getting those guys here the 12th of March. We're hoping the weather will be favorable and we can get indoor and outdoor work done.”

        Q: Have you talked with Akili?

        A: “Three or four times. He's doing well. We want to make sure he's taking care of his obligations in his situation. We're trying to assist him whatever way we can there. He's been very positive. It's not your favorite type of thing you want to go through. But I think we're doing as well as possible in those areas. We're looking forward to getting him here and into our program on a daily basis.”

        Q: Who else would you like to have in?

        A: “I want to get as many of those throwing-skill people here. Much can be done between a quarterback and a wide receiver. You don't need 11 people to get real benefits. The timing of the routes, when to throw it, those types of things. We want to be able to do that part of it. It's a voluntary thing, but I think our players will be ready to do.”

        Q: Do you expect (wide receiver) Peter Warrick to participate?

        A: “Peter will be there with Akili. I feel very confident.”

        Q: Other than getting running back Corey Dillon signed, is rebuilding Akili's confidence the main offseason priority?

        A: “That's one of them, to get him up and functioning the way we saw him do as a top-rated quarterback in the collegiate ranks.”

        Q: How has your new offensive coordinator, Bob Bratkowski, faring one month into the job?

        A: “They've been going at it as full as you can go at it. At the same time, he has to get the next day's lessons prepared that night. So he's been definitely working hard. I'm very pleased. It's a very important month for us. Coming out of the combine, we will be spending time trying to determine who the best player is for us. There will be additional responsibilities.”

        Q: Do you have plans to attend private workouts that many of the top prospects will hold on their campuses?

        A: “Definitely. We will avail ourselves every piece of information we can glean on the top picks.”

        Q: When you talk about improving the offense, that covers a lot of ground, doesn't it? Offensive line, receiver, quarterback, receiver?

        A: “Absolutely. If we can get (wide receiver) Darnay (Scott) back healthy, and the reports are good, and Peter will be coming into his second year, if we can improve that area in the draft, we will be taking an area of our team and making it into a strength very quickly.

        “We had a lot of force feeding, where a lot of our young players got a lot of snaps this season who normally wouldn't. In the long run, that will be a benefit to us. You're talking about (receivers) Danny (Farmer), (Ron) Dugans, Craig Yeast.”

Offense top priority for LeBeau Would Bengals draft RB first? Would Bengals draft RB first?

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