Monday, September 10, 2001
Bengals Notebook
Kitna gets passing grade
By Mark Curnutte and Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Last season, quarterbacks Akili Smith and Scott Mitchell had a combined passer rating of 52, compared to 89.4 for opposing quarterbacks. On Sunday, in the Bengals' 23-17 victory over New England, Jon Kitna was 18 for 27 passing for 204 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. His passer rating was 101.5.
By not throwing an interception, Kitna took a step toward an improving a weakness. He threw 19 last season in Seattle when his passer rating was 75.6.
“We had our struggles in the preseason as far as scoring points,” Kitna said. “But I preached patience that it would happen. And I still don't think we've gotten there.”
Kitna did fumble once, when the slipped out of his hands on a pass play. He wasn't hit.
“The sweat on my hands combined with the fiber and materials they use on the ball,” he said. “I have small hands anyway.”
HAPPY RETURNS: Curtis Keaton made Bengals coaches and scouts look good for keeping him over veteran Tremain Mack as the kickoff returner.
Keaton ran back three kicks for a 36.3 average, 64 coming on a return right after New England had jumped ahead 7-0 early in the second quarter.
He cut back to the left across the field and ran to the Patriots' 30. That set up a 36-yard Neil Rackers field goal.
“The people up in front of me blocked extremely well,” he said. “I didn't quite finish it the way I wanted to. I was able to make a contribution to the team, and I'm extremely happy we came away with the W.”
HOME THREE HOME: Don't call it the Jungle yet. But the Bengals are starting to give Paul Brown Stadium some teeth.
Sunday's victory was the third in a row at home, after victories over Arizona and Jacksonville last December.
“You have to win at home,” Kitna said. “We have to think 8-0 at home. (If you can do that), and sneak in two or three (victories) on the road, that's a great record.”
The fans were responsive Sunday, especially on occasions that Bengals defensive players exhorted them to make noise.
KICKERS EXCEL: Neil Rackers' new pairing with Nick Harris excelled Sunday. Rackers had his finest day as a pro, making all three field-goal attempts, including a career-best 47-yarder. This was after less than a week of practice with Harris holding. Rackers was just 12-for-21 last year as a rookie.
Rackers also boomed five of his six kickoffs into the end zone, four for touchbacks.
Harris had four punts for a 32.8-yard average, but that average was held down by a great 29-yard, coffin-corner effort that Harris landed on New England's 6-yard line.
JOHNSON RETURNS: Former punter Lee Johnson set two records in his return.
The first was the big one: the NFL's career punting yardage mark. His first punt, of 45 yards, gave him 49,473 yards for his career — breaking the mark of 49,471 set by Rohn Stark. Johnson then boomed a 76-yard punt in the fourth quarter, the longest ever by a Bengals opponent. The prior best of 74 yards was by Houston's Dan Pastorini on Oct. 24, 1976.
Johnson punted five times for a 48.8-yard average.
INJURY REPORT: The only significant injury of the day was linebacker Takeo Spikes' right shoulder. He is probable for next week's game at Tennessee.
Other injuries: guard Victor Leyva (ankle) is doubtful. Wide receivers Danny Farmer (knee) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (foot) are probable.
GOOD OMEN: In the 10 years since the Bengals last played in the postseason, winning the regular-season opener heralded relatively good seasons —at least in Bengals' terms.
They won three times and finished a combined 19-29 — 1992 (5-11), '95 (7-9) and '97 (7-9).
After their seven opening-day losses, they finished those seasons a combined 28-84. And that includes 1996, when Bruce Coslet took over for Dave Shula and finished 7-2 to salvage an 8-8 record, the Bengals' best since 1990.
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Kitna gets passing grade
