Ask Mark

        All fans are saying is, give Akili a chance.

        Question, from Odies in Cleveland: Now that Akili Smith is showing he is ready to play and he has a good offensive line in front of him, why is he not being given the opportunity to win the job?

        Q, from Mike in Delhi Township: I am tired of the Akili bashing. The truth is he hasn't had a good team with a consistent offensive scheme. Now he does. If it was a quarterback competition in training camp, how can you say a third pick overall doesn't get a chance? Will Akili have the starting job by midseason?

        Q, from Charles in Smyrna, Ga.: I am so tired of every Bengals loss being blamed on the quarterback. The offense has had only one constant, and that is the running back. Put Akili in with an offensive line and see what he can do.

        Q, from Justin in Manitou Springs, Colo.: Could you please explain to me why, in three years, Akili Smith has gone from Elusive, Cannon-armed, Savior With God-given Laser Accuracy to the next Ryan Leaf? Was he ever given a chance? Will he ever be given a chance?

Akili Smith on the move against the Saints Saturday. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Q, from Benjamin in Anderson Township: Why, when Akili pulls the ball down to run, do TV and radio announcers say he does it too early, but it's the right decision when Donovan McNabb does it?

        Answer: There were about a half dozen more e-mails from Bengals fans with similar opinions of Akili Smith.

        In order, my responses are: Coach Dick LeBeau has said Smith is getting a chance and has helped himself with his preseason performances. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said Smith has made great strides but is still behind Jon Kitna and Gus Frerotte because of the hamstring surgery that made Smith miss all of May's workouts.

        Smith could start by midseason if Kitna and Frerotte both play badly and the team is out of playoff contention.

        Every organization has glowing words of praise for its first-round draft picks; the Bengals are no exception. Smith said he regrets holding out as a rookie. But he didn't play badly as a rookie.

        In his second season, just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The Bengals started two rookie wide receivers. The tight ends were ineffective. So was the left tackle. Smith got his brains scrambled from the blind side. His coach and biggest defender, Bruce Coslet, resigned after three games.

        In some ways, Smith's career has been judged on 10 starts in one of the worst seasons in Bengals history. But that stretch of 10 starts was his big chance. Will he get another one with the Bengals? Maybe.

        As for McNabb, he gets the benefit of the doubt because he has been successful. He is an outstanding quarterback who already has established himself as a winner. Smith is 3-13 in 16 starts for the Bengals.

        Q, from Jim in Harrisburg, Pa.: It's great to see everyone on Akili's bandwagon. To his credit, he hasn't blown up in two preseason games. But he has not thrown a pass longer than 10 yards. Basically, all he has done is not screw up. Have you seen anything out of Akili that shows he can be a consistent passer?

        A: Smith has a great arm, the strongest in Bengals camp. He has excellent speed and mobility. He has improved at reading defensive coverages and decisiveness in the pocket. He very well could develop into a starting NFL quarterback.

        Q, from Randy in Bethel: Is Brandon Bennett a lock at second-string tailback?

        A: Yes, and he should be. He has been productive whenever called upon.

        He's a good blocker and pass receiver, in addition to his ability to run the ball.

        Bennett also is emotionally mature. He came back from serious knee injuries, and he appreciates his opportunity. He never complains and always does what he's asked.

        That said, Curtis Keaton and Rudi Johnson have looked good in the preseason. They have potential but don't have Bennett's productive track record.

        If the Bengals released any of their three backup tailbacks, he would be picked up by another NFL team.

        Q, from Ed in Dayton: Why has Nick Harris been given the punting job, when common sense says Travis Dorsch is probably as good a punter and can kick off and place kick? Let (wide receiver) Danny Farmer be the holder.

        A: Harris, at this point, is a better punter than Dorsch. That's the biggest reason. Don't forget Harris was also a fourth-round draft pick (in 2001) by the Broncos.

        As for Dorsch, asking one man to punt, kick off and kick is asking too much these days in the NFL. Dorsch might have done well enough in the past two weeks as a kicker to let the Bengals do what they have wanted to do since the draft — cut kicker Neil Rackers. Rackers, by the way, has had the best camp of his three-year career.

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