Friday, November 16, 2001
Bengals' receivers way ahead of last season
By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI - The biggest difference in the Cincinnati Bengals this season can be measured in catches.
The least-effective receiving corps in franchise history has blossomed into a respectable unit. The Bengals have eight touchdown catches — two more than they had all last season — and their offense is no longer a one-man show.
Instead of just stopping running back Corey Dillon, defenses now have to consider the possibility that the Bengals (4-4) can pass.
“We're becoming whole, aren't we?” receiver Darnay Scott said. “We're becoming a team.”
They weren't much last season, when Dillon ran for a franchise-record 1,453 yards but the quarterbacks threw for only 1,946 yards. The Bengals started last season with inexperienced Akili Smith at quarterback and rookies Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans at receiver.
It was such a disaster that the Bengals overhauled the offense in the offseason, brought in quarterback Jon Kitna and invested two more draft picks on receivers. Chad Johnson was chosen in the second round and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the seventh.
Scott returned from a broken leg that sidelined him all of last season, and Warrick and Dugans have a year's experience to draw upon.
The result is a receiving corps that has depth and versatility, two things that were lacking last year.
“We have a dynamic group of receivers,” Kitna said. “We don't have a bunch of straight-line guys. We have some guys that can make guys miss. We have guys that like to work in the middle.
“The common thing is, they are all really tough. They don't seem to mind getting hit. They don't seem to mind hitting. We have the right mix right now.”
Scott's left leg is still a little weak, but he's running well enough to give the Bengals the long-pass threat that was missing last season. Warrick, who is dangerous after catching the short pass, leads the team with 40 catches.
Johnson was emerging as one of Kitna's favorite third-down targets when he broke his collar bone Oct. 14. Dugans has 13 catches — third-most among the receivers — and Houshmandzadeh took over when Scott got a concussion last Sunday and had a team-high six catches.
Things are no longer grim when one receiver gets hurt.
“The great compliment to these guys is I've had to throw them around at different positions, and they've proven they can learn more than one spot,” receivers coach Steve Mooshagian said. “They're very versatile.”
They're also developing an identity that was missing last season, when little went right in the passing game. Asked to single out what he likes most about the group, Scott harped on its unity.
“We stick together no matter what,” he said. “When one guy gets mad, everybody makes sure he's cool instead of just walking away from him. It's like everybody is a brother.”
The thing that most impresses opponents is the way the receivers are blocking for Dillon, who is on pace for more than 1,300 yards. The Bengals are trying a slightly different approach this season: They'll spread out an opposing defense by putting a lot of receivers on the field, opening lanes for Dillon. The receivers then pick off linebackers and defensive backs that represent the last line of defense.
It's working.
“Somebody got their receivers together in a meeting and talked to them about how important it is to block in the running game,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. “They're blocking as good as I've ever seen a Cincinnati group of receivers block.”
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Bengals' receivers way ahead of last season 
