Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna throws a pass to wide receiver Darcey Levy. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The first round went to Jon Kitna, though not by much. Kitna threw the only touchdown pass during the Cincinnati Bengals' intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, keeping himself ahead in the two-man competition for the starting job.

        Newcomer Gus Frerotte also looked sharp in his first turn during the Bengals' annual audition for a passer.

        “I think it's been pretty doggone close,” coach Dick LeBeau said. “I've been pleased with both of them, and I think they both moved the team well. I think both guys acquitted themselves well.”

        They did much better than the kickers, who are the other main focus in camp.

        Neil Rackers was wide left on a 48-yard field goal attempt, then dropped his head and paced the sideline as he fumed over the blown chance. Rackers was only 29-of-49 on field goal attempts in the last two seasons, leaving the Bengals looking for a replacement.

        Travis Dorsch, drafted in the fourth from Purdue, was wide right on his only attempt, from 41 yards, wasting a prime chance to get the advantage.

        “I don't think either one of us really stood out today,” said Dorsch, who also punted twice.

        The offense looked much better than during last year's scrimmage, when everyone was learning coordinator Bob Bratkowski's system. Kitna looked smooth as he completed 5 of 7 for 40 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession.

        “We're in the second year of this thing and we haven't put hardly anything new in,” Kitna said. “We should be way ahead of last year, and I think we were.”

        Kitna threw only 12 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions last season, finishing as the NFL's lowest-ranked passer on an offense that was last in the league in scoring.

        He also led the offense into position for Rackers' missed field goal during his two series.

        Frerotte, signed as a free agent, completed 4 of 7 for 46 yards and led the offense into range for Dorsch's missed field goal. The quarterbacks alternated series and played with the same group.

        “I thought it was fair,” Frerotte said. “It worked out pretty well.”

        Both quarterbacks missed a long pass to an open receiver, and Frerotte fumbled his first snap from center. Otherwise, they were accurate and moved the offense.

        “I was very pleased with the way we moved the ball, particularly early,” LeBeau said.

        Third-string quarterback Akili Smith, who is coming off a torn hamstring, struggled during two series with primarily backups on the offense. He completed only 1 of 4 passes for three yards and scrambled once,

        Last year, Kitna threw an interception on his first series in the scrimmage, a sign of things to come. He didn't come close to an interception Saturday, and one of his two incompletions was a throw-away.

        Asked if he expects to keep his job if he plays that way during the preseason, Kitna said, “You never know about that. I'm really not trying to focus on that. Where the chips fall, they fall.”

Kickers uptight facing uprights Bengals notebook Bengals Q&A Kitna impresses in competition with Frerotte Heisman Trophy winner learning new position in NFL Redskins 38, 49ers 7

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