Ask Mark

        The upside to the Bengals' 2-0 start is they're still at .500 after two bad outings.

        The downside is the excitement of the first two games makes the performances of the past two weeks — particularly the 16-7 loss at Pittsburgh — harder for many fans to take.

        Question, from Robby in Hamilton: Why did the Bengals punt with less than two minutes to go? Sure, the likelihood of scoring twice in that time is small, but why let the Steelers just run the clock out?

        Answer: This letter was one of five asking why coach Dick LeBeau punted then. His explanation: “They did what I hoped they would do, and that is put a guy back there to catch it. And I hoped he would drop the ball and we would get the football at midfield with a new set of downs and not be looking at fourth-and-10 at our own 15.

        “We needed two scores, not one score. They put the guy back there, and he caught the ball, and that was the game.”

        Q, from Deron: Is there a possibility with Brandon Bennett's pass-catching ability, could he be used in more packages like Marshall Faulk to open the offense?

        A: Bennett has been used that way in the past but clearly not with Faulk's results. Bennett had 19 receptions last season for 168 yards.

        But in the past two games, with the combination of falling behind and failing to pick up first downs, the Bengals have not had possession that much. They've been trying to get the ball in Corey Dillon's hands more often, after he had only 15 rush attempts at San Diego.

        Maybe the Bengals should look at Pittsburgh, too. Amos Zereoue's outside speed on quick pitches complemented Jerome Bettis' punishing inside game. Speedy Curtis Keaton, a former college teammate of Zereoue's at West Virginia before Keaton transfered to James Madison, might work well in a similar role for the Bengals.

        Q, from Cody in Chamberlain, S.D.: When are Mark Roman and Robert Bean going to get a chance to showcase their abilities? Why don't they play in passing situations over Tom Carter and Rodney Heath?

        A: LeBeau hinted at some lineup changes this week, and don't be surprised to see Bean in nickel coverage instead of Carter. Clearly, coaches don't have the faith in Bean or Roman that they do in Heath and Artrell Hawkins.

        Q, from Jo ann in Mount Washington: It was said that if the Bengals won, they would get a winning attitude. What happened? While other teams improve little by little, we start off great and become immediately dismal. What is the difference between the first two games and the last two games?

        A: The positive attitude is still there. The team raised its fans' expectations too high and too quickly with the upset of Baltimore. This team is better, but maybe better this season is 6-10 or 7-9 instead of the playoffs. Remember, it took the Bengals 10 years to get into this position, and it's going to take more than a year to get them out of it.
       

        Q, from Tony in Mount Healthy: Seriously, how long have you been following the NFL?

        Do you really know how pathetic the Bungals are? Obviously not.

        Among several misguided babbles in “The Edge” section in Sunday's paper - special teams, linebackers and coaching, all obviously Pittsburgh advantages — you somehow (were) convinced the Bungals are worthy.

        How starved are hapless Bungals fans who jump onto the bandwagon and scream talk of the playoffs?

        I think everyone needs a little dose of reality, including you, Mr. Curnutte.

        Let's see how much space you get for your babble in (Sunday's) paper when the Bungals are right back where they are used to being.

        I guess the Steelers aren't known for good linebackers.

        A: OK, I'll answer these in order.

        I have been following the NFL since 1971 when I was 9. I am in my second year of covering the Bengals for the Enquirer and helped cover the Chicago Bears for Gannett News Service in the late 1980s and early '90s.

        I am aware the Bengals have a 49-115 record since the start of the 1991 season and have written about that many times. I have been confronted by a few Bengals players in the locker room who don't like the critical nature of some of my analysis and my coverage of their off-field legal problems.

        As for the Steelers linebackers, they are talented football players and part of a proud tradition, one I detailed in the Nov. 25, 2000, edition of the Enquirer in a story detailing that, between the 1969 and 1998 seasons, the Steelers had at least one linebacker in 26 of 30 Pro Bowls. The story is still available in our online Bengals archives. As for the Bengals linebackers, they are as good or better than most linebacker corps in the NFL and haven't received attention because of the team's losing tradition.

        Given the records of the past 10 Bengals teams, I'm sure their loyal fans are quite starved for success.

        While I did pick the Bengals to win by two points at Pittsburgh, I don't believe that qualifies as unrealistic. In fact, I've written stories since the 2-0 start examining how a good beginning could fall apart.

        As for Sunday's paper, I'll have the same two inside pages of space I did last week. It's formatted.

        Q, from Terry: I must be the biggest Bengals fan living in Australia, and I've been following them since 1990 - their last winning season. My question is about Rudi Johnson, who had a great preseason. Do you think he'll get a chance on this team being a fourth-stringer? And if so, when?

        A: One of the Bengals' strengths is at running back, which made drafting Johnson a questionable pick in Round 4 given weaknesses in the secondary. Keaton made the team as a kickoff returner, and Bennett is a quality backup to Dillon.

        Johnson has been inactive, and he is a similar back to Dillon, big and powerful. I don't see him playing much unless one of the three tailbacks ahead of him is hurt. Lorenzo Neal is their only fullback.

        Q, from Tom: If the Bengals had Boomer Esiason at quarterback, how far into the playoffs do you think they would go, AFC Championship or Super Bowl?

        A: Neither. Esiason's leadership and experience were two reasons for the 4-1 finish of 1997. Strong quarterback play is important to winning, but it's not everything. As the team fell apart around Esiason in 1991 and David Klinger was ushered in 1992, the Bengals were 3-13 and 5-11.

        Q, from Monty: Every week, we keep hearing that Kitna is not communicating with his receivers yet. So why aren't they calling more running plays to eliminate those mistakes? You might as well use all the time going three-and-out and give the defense a breather.

        A: They're trying to win, not just give the defense a rest. But I get your point. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said Monday the pass offense will get better.

        Q, from Ken: Why don't the Bengals rush in the third quarter? Is it Dick LeBeau or what?

        A: It's not LeBeau. Believe me, he'd prefer to run the ball more often. The Bengals have played from behind in every game, which limits second-half running attempts, and the offensive line has not run-blocked as consistently well as it did last year. Dillon has many times had to make one or two moves just to get back to the line of scrimmage.

        Q, from Kory: Isn't it time to cut Neil Rackers?

        A: No. He had one bad game, and the Bengals still won. He missed a tough 51-yarder at Pittsburgh and had no attempts at San Diego. His kickoffs have been consistently into the end zone and are helping coverage teams hold down the other team's drive starts.

        Q, from Michael: Are the problems that forced Jon Kitna out of Seattle beginning to surface in Cincinnati?

        A: Coach Mike Holmgren forced Kitna out of Seattle. Kitna did have 19 interceptions last season and has four in the past two Bengals losses. Problems in the pass offense are more with the receivers learning Bratkowski's offense and running undisciplined routes.

        Kitna is an outstanding clubhouse leader and teammate, and those testimonials come from his teammates.

        Q, from Brian in Orlando, Fla.: Why does the offense not integrate more long passing, if nothing else but to keep the defense stretched? Darnay Scott had a great catch in one of their prior (games), but they have rarely thrown a ball longer than 15 yards.

        A: Bratkowski addressed this question last week. His answer is, they are trying and have called deep passes that Kitna has not thrown because the receivers were covered.

        Q, from Philip: Should the Bengals do anything to re-sign Takeo Spikes, and what are their chances?

        A: The Bengals should do everything to keep Spikes, who's in the fourth year of a five-year contract. He is a Pro Bowl-quality player who only needs a winning team to spring him into national stardom. Aside from his personality and intelligence, he has a nonstop work ethic and mental makeup that won't accept losing - unlike many players who have come through Cincinnati in the past seven or eight seasons.

        If the Bengals can win, and LeBeau and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mark Duffner stay in place, the Bengals have an excellent shot of retaining Spikes' services.

        Q, from Rich: You have stated that (LeBeau) wants to continue to develop Akili Smith into the QB role. How does a QB gain seasoning holding a clipboard on the sidelines?

        A: Some teammates questioned Smith's work habits last season, even former college teammate and ex-Bengals wide receiver Damon Griffin. Smith goes to meetings, works the game plan with Kitna and Scott Mitchell, gets a few reps in practice. Smith has all the tools - size, speed, arm strength - and he needs to bring his mental game up to that level to make the most of his physical gifts. He appears to be realizing that point.

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