Reinard Wilson pauses during Wednesday's workout. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Reinard Wilson ambles toward Georgetown College's practice field, his head high and his shoulders strong. It's his sixth NFL season, his sixth Bengals training camp. He's different from the Wilson drafted 14th overall in 1997 - older, more experienced - but still grounded by the two staples he has always known: football and farming.

        Wilson's work ethic evolved from his rural upbringing in Lake City, Fla. He doesn't take it for granted. A week into Bengals training camp, the defensive end still wants to be better, stronger, faster.

        And, he hopes, more consistent.

        Coming off the heels of his most productive season with a revived Bengals defense, the 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive end plans to resume his brand of stingy pass-rushing while adding to his 2001 team-high nine sacks, a franchise best since John Copeland's nine in 1995.

        “You always want to do better than you did last year,” Wilson said about his future. “Anywhere from 10 (sacks) or more would be good to get. But it depends on how well our offense does, too. If our offense scores more points, it's more time for the opposing offense to catch back up and get more opportunities.”

Reinard Wilson (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Wilson is keenly aware of opportunities, having harbored high career hopes upon leaving Florida State in 1997 known as “Big Country” and the school's all-time sacks leader (35.5). He has struggled to duplicate the success since, recording nine total sacks in his first two seasons at linebacker.

        Wilson's highlights dwindled in 1999 and 2000. He didn't start in 29 games, playing mostly on passing downs, and averaged three sacks a season.

        Wilson mounted a comeback last season, starting the first five games until he suffered a mild concussion and first-round draft pick Justin Smith took over. But second-year Bengals defensive coordinator Mark Duffner was confident Wilson would bounce back, and he did, playing in all 16 games.

        “I had the opportunity to coach against (Wilson) at Florida State when I was at Maryland,” Duffner said. “That's one of the reasons we drafted him to join the Bengals - we had the kind of high expectation that he would be a good pass rusher. He ... has an intense desire to make plays.”

        Under Duffner, last year's Bengals defense produced its best numbers in more than a decade. It allowed its fewest points (309) since 1989 and its fewest yards per game (302) since 1983. It set a franchise record for sacks with 48. For the first time in franchise history, five players - Wilson, Smith, Brian Simmons, Takeo Spikes and Tony Williams - had five or more sacks.

        For Wilson, the success is intertwined with relief. He has undergone heavy scrutiny as a former top draft pick, but now he shrugs about his struggles.

        “Sure, it's disappointing. But you actually have to look at it otherwise and see what opportunities you have to make something happen,“ Wilson said. “You look on both sides of it. If you are out there every down and something isn't happening, you have to look at yourself and say, "What's the problem?”'

        More reps, more playing time and a talented defensive line have propelled Wilson back into the spotlight, and Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau anticipates paralleled consistency this year.

        “Reinard's led our team the last couple years in sacks and he was part of our defense getting up to where we wanted to be, sack-wise,” LeBeau said. “I see no reason, with his youth, that it shouldn't continue to grow. We're looking for even more production from Reinard.”

        Wilson accepted a three-year, $4.5 million contract in March and successfully underwent minor left shoulder surgery in May. He sat out of Tuesday's afternoon practice with a strained groin but was back Wednesday.

        Wilson doesn't fold when the going's tough, and the tough is what he doesn't forget, Duffner said.

        “He's grown up all his life as a farmer, working in tobacco fields as a young lad. In the heat of the day, all summer long, he worked with different farmers,“ Duffner said. “Even now, we'll drive along the road and he can still tell you about any plant there is, in terms of farm plants.”

        Wilson sees it another way.

        “I believe in myself, getting on or off the field,” he said. “I make the best of it.”

Wilson steps up in sack race Kitna refocuses in QB competition Autographs, fireworks tonight Bengals Notebook: Rookies adjust to camp NFL Notebook: Dallas mum on Smith's future

Dodgers 11, Reds 5
Reds Box, Runs
Rare Wagner card found - maybe
White activated; Reitsma sent down
Getting Kearns out is almost a no-no
Reds Notebook: Chen's confidence up
Beltre leads Dodgers out of homer slump
Marlins 8, Cardinals 5
Mariners 5, Tigers 2
Red Sox 2, Angels 1
Contenders tweak rosters at deadline
Arbitrator could OK contraction
Louisville 6, Indianapolis 3
Ex-UC star Blount becomes a Bull again
Alleged Russian mobster charged with fixing Olympic skating
FBI investigated during Games
Schedule of Tennis Events
Ailing Kuerten hopes to play here
'Mom' Mandlikova easing back into tennis
Sampras encouraged by another victory
Tennis Masters Canada Results
Metro softball newcomers learn on the run
Local courses host U.S. Amateur qualifiers
U.S. Amateur Qualifier Tee Times
12-year-old growing up fast in LPGA events
Golf Tip with Bob Gilder

• Return to Bengals front page...