Akili Smith looks for an open receiver against the Colts in the third quarter. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        INDIANAPOLIS — After leading the Bengals to 29 points in the second halves of both preseason victories against second- and third-stringers, quarterback Akili Smith would like to see what he can do against a first-team defense.

        “Of course you want to see what you've got against a team's best,” Smith said.

        He might get his chance Saturday in the Bengals'

        preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Paul Brown Stadium.

        “We'll think about that and take a look, and we'll name a (Game 3) starter at our next press conference (Tuesday),” coach Dick LeBeau said Saturday night, after the Bengals' 22-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

        Heading into the last week of training camp, the Bengals' quarterback situation is no more settled than it was a month ago.

        Incumbent Jon Kitna appears to hold a slight edge over first-year challenger Gus Frerotte. The decision on the regular-season starter will come next week.

        Smith is the X-factor. There appears to be some disagreement even within the organization whether he is a legitimate candidate to start.

        LeBeau's comments about Smith have been positive.

        “He played like he did last week, very sound, mistake-free, made some key first downs for us,” LeBeau said. “It's obvious (by) his command and field presence that he's growing. That's a good thing. The second half is when we got all of our points.”

        Smith is 19-for-33 passing for 125 yards and one touchdown. He has led six scoring drives in the preseason.

        But there are many questions. Does Smith's performance have more to do with the Bengals' depth on the offensive line and at running back than it does with his improvement? The Bengals, behind Rudi Johnson and Curtis Keaton, have a combined 283 yards rushing in the second halves of the victories at Buffalo and Indianapolis.

        There also is some question about how Smith would react against first-team defenses in the regular season. In the second halves of preseason games, especially against teams the Bengals will face again in the regular season, opposing defenses are going to play their most basic schemes.

        But there's no denying Smith has displayed the maturity and decisiveness that were missing when he last was the starter in 2000.

        Who starts against the Saints is “up to the coaches,” Smith said.

        “Whatever the coaches decide to do, I'll go with it,” he added. “If not, I'll come in in the second half and try to do it again. If they decide to start Kit again, or Gus, I'll be happy with just getting on the field again.”

        In the first halves, with Kitna and Frerotte playing, the Bengals have scored 17 points and given up 27.

        Frerotte is 12-for-20 passing for 123 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown in two games. He was intercepted on fourth-and-10 against the Colts, who returned the ball 77 yards for a touchdown.

        “Gus did all right,” LeBeau said. “We had the one fluke play there because the head coach didn't punt the ball and let him go for it on fourth down, so you can put that one on me. The ball came out funny because he got hit.”

        Frerotte has shown the arm strength and athleticism the Bengals said they liked when they signed him to a one-year contract on May1.

        “I had three series,” Frerotte said. “Jon, what did he have, two? It's hard to decide things in three series, two series; that's not the way football is played. Football is a whole game, four quarters, and sometimes things don't happen until late in the game, until you get warmed up.”

        Kitna is 14-for-21 passing in the preseason with one touchdown and no interceptions. He has displayed command and knowledge of the offense that comes with having been the starter for 15 games.

        Kitna drove the Bengals 58 yards in 16 plays for a field goal at the end of the second quarter against the Colts.

        “Those points were important,” LeBeau said. “We were getting shut out 10-0. And at the end of the first half, we went down and got some points on the board. That leaves a real positive taste in everybody's mouth coming into halftime.”

        Kitna has avoided interceptions in the preseason after throwing 22 last season. Kitna was named the starter after the third preseason game last year, and he had two of his better performances in the first two games, both victories: 358 yards passes, two touchdowns, no interceptions.

        In two preseason scoring drives, Kitna is 7-for-8 passing on third down. “I had a good game,” Kitna said Saturday.

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