Bengals quarterback Gus Frerotte looks to pass downfield. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Bengals look to be making progress in one area that plagued them in 2001 -- the pass offense.

        But, based on the results of the annual intrasquad scrimmage, played Saturday at Georgetown College's Rawlings Stadium and won 12-7 by the defense, the failing kicking game could haunt the Bengals again.

        Incumbent Neil Rackers, a career 59.2 percent field goal kicker, missed to the left from 48 yards. Rookie challenger Travis Dorsch, a fourth-round draft pick who has looked better as a punter, was wide to the right from 41 yards.

        The missed field goals spoiled two impressive drives. Gus Frerotte drove the offense 35 yards to the 30, but Rackers, though he hit the ball hard, hooked his kick left.

        On the next possession, Jon Kitna moved the offense eight plays to the 23, but Dorsch pushed the ball to the right.

        “The whole scrimmage, the way we moved the ball, the offense could have won that thing by making just one of those two,” Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. “They've been kicking pretty well in the practice environment. That was much closer to a game environment, and, again, it's a different rhythm, and it will take some adjustment. But we want to see the kicks go through.”

        Though LeBeau said he thought the kicking would improve, he also said, “I won't be patient with anyone who falls short of (team) goals.”

        For an offense making strides to improve the Bengals' league-worst 14.1-point scoring average, the missed field goals and two overthrown, sure-fire touchdown passes to open receivers were reminders of the frustrating 2001 season.

        The poor kicking game was a big reason the Bengals were ranked 23rd in yards but 31st (last) in points.

        Neither of the drives that ended in missed field goals Saturday was inside the 20, but the Bengals had a league-most 15 red-zone possessions last season that resulted in zero points.

        The first drive, directed by Kitna, did get into the red zone and did yield a touchdown. A 9-yard pass from Kitna to Chad Johnson opened the scrimmage, then running back Brandon Bennett broke off the biggest play of the day.

        Playing for Corey Dillon, who was held out with a sore foot, Bennett ran left, was stopped, then reversed to the right for a 47-yard gain to the 14. Wide receiver T.J.Houshmandzadeh blocked linebacker Canute Curtis to spring Bennett in the open field.

        Facing third down on the 6, Kitna threw to fullback Lorenzo Neal, who caught the pass and fell into the end zone for a touchdown.

        “It was a nice way to start,” said Kitna, who was 5-for-7 passing for 40 yards and no interceptions. “We had a couple of big runs, and that's the amazing thing about our backfield, how deep we are. Our running backs, which one of them don't you want to play?”

        Bennett ran for 50 yards. Rudi Johnson had 29 and Curtis Keaton 24.

Akili Smith gets off a pass despite defensive pressure from Jevon Langford. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        Kitna, locked in a competition for the starting job with Frerotte, drove the offense inside the red zone on the first drive of the 2001 scrimmage but threw an interception to cornerback Artrell Hawkins. Kitna threw 22 picks in his first season with the Bengals, compared to 12 touchdown passes.

        Frerotte, in his two drives Saturday, was 4-for-7 passing for 46 yards and no interceptions.

        “No, I haven't found a starter yet, but I was pleased with both of them,” LeBeau said of the quarterbacks. “They showed a lot of poise, moved the team, and those are the things we were looking for. The offense was more productive in this scrimmage than they have been in a few years, and that is pleasing.”

        Before Rackers' missed field goal, Frerotte overthrew Chad Johnson on a fly pattern on a third-and-5 play from the 30-yard line. Johnson had beaten cornerback Robert Bean down the right sideline.

        “I had the one to Chad,” Frerotte said. “The wind was going that way, I had a little too much juice on it.”

        Kitna also missed a potential big pass play. On second-and-11 from the defense's 32, Kitna overthrew Houshmandzadeh, who had beaten rookie free-agent cornerback Reggie Myles.

        Each quarterback completed a third-and-long pass. On his first drive, Frerotte was good for 18 yards to Houshmandzadeh. On his second drive, Kitna threw for 14 yards to Ron Dugans for a first down.

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