Wednesday, August 08, 2001
Bengals Notebook
LeBeau uses bench to emphasize point
By Bill Koch
Enquirer contributor
GEORGETOWN, Ky. Bengals coach Dick LeBeau isn't your typical screaming, madman football coach who barks himself hoarse when things go wrong, but he has a way of getting his point across.
After running back Brandon Bennett fumbled and Tremain Mack mishandled a kickoff last Saturday against the Chicago Bears, both were relegated to the bench for the rest of the game.
It was not a coincidence.
We want ball security, LeBeau said Tuesday. We want focus and we'll do what we have to do to draw attention to the focus that we are looking for.
I'm not judging either one of those players. I'm only saying that if we turn the football over, it makes it very difficult for us to be successful. If we can underscore that a little bit, we're not against that.
SCRAMBLING AKILI: Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski doesn't want to see quarterback Akili Smith rely exclusively on his running to move the offense, but he had no problems with the decisions Smith made against the Bears. Smith ran five times for 34 yards, including a run of 8 yards for the team's only touchdown.
I spent the last two years with Kordell Stewart, said Bratkowski, who was Pittsburgh's wide receivers coach. I know that can be such a threat. But at the same time, you don't want a quarterback that drops back, looks at one guy and takes off. (Smith's) decisions of when he ran, I couldn't argue with any of them.
EVER VIGILANT: Special teams coach Al Roberts sprung into action Tuesday when he noticed a fan taping a seven-on-seven drill.
I don't like that camcorder, Roberts yelled to the fan in the bleachers. I love you, but I don't like that camcorder.
The fan shut off his camera, left the complex, and the Bengals' secrets were safe for another day.
CAMP SCHEDULE: The team will practice from 7-9 p.m. today. The Georgetown College complex will open to the public at 6. On Thursday, the Bengals will leave for Detroit. The complex will not reopen to the public until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
MUSEUM PITCH: Linebacker Takeo Spikes, who sat out Tuesday's workouts with a tender ankle, posed on the field between sessions to be photographed for a poster, a joint promotion for the Museum Center, Coca-Cola and the Bengals. The poster will be given away as part of Community Night at the Aug. 25 preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium.
INJURY UPDATE: Bennett, who rushed three times for 19 yards against the Bears, has a broken little finger and pulled tendon on his left hand. He said he will forego surgery for now because it would put him out of action for too long. ... Spikes' (ankle) status was downgraded from probable to questionable for Friday's game. Defensive end Kevin Henry (elbow) has been upgraded from questionable to probable. Tight end Sean Brewer (hamstring), tight end Marco Battaglia (knee), offensive tackle Freddie Moore (knee) and fullback Nick Williams (knee) are out.
SNAP COUNT: Smith was the quarterback for 16 plays during the afternoon workout. Jon Kitna was in for 14 plays, followed by Scott Mitchell with 12.
GONE: The Bengals waived strong safety Jared Lee, a rookie free agent from Brigham Young.
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