Two quarters into the Bengals' abysmal 34-6 loss to San Diego, season-ticket holder Bob Wells began questioning the viability of quarterback Gus Frerotte.

        “On second-and-26, we're doing running plays. Do we not trust our quarterback? Why not put in (Jon) Kitna or (Akili) Smith to pass?” said Wells, of Fort Mitchell, Ky.

        Said Chris Kahle of Dayton: “Yeah, we should let Smith do the job, because he's done it before. We should've kept Kitna and Smith, with Scott Covington for backup.”

        Frerotte was 18-for-31 passing for 198 yards and an interception in a clunker opener that inspired more boos than cheers from the home fans. He rushed for a team-high 14 yards, was sacked four times and engineered the only NFL offense that didn't produce a Game 1 touchdown. But the Bengals are standing behind their new quarterback.

        Sunday afternoon, an incensed Dick LeBeau said neither Frerotte nor the offense was “given a chance.” On Monday a somber LeBeau alluded to roster changes, part of his preseason promise to shelf non-productive players without hesitation.

        Frerotte remained in LeBeau's favor during the San Diego debacle.

        “I did not, in that game, ever consider changing quarterbacks,” LeBeau said.

        The Bengals finished last in NFL scoring and dropped to the league's bottom in yards per game, rushing offense and passing offense.

        Frerotte's debut was marked by a delay-of-game penalty after a first-quarter TV timeout. The Bengals offense then dissolved under San Diego pressure, yielding only 15 offensive yards in the first half and 36 yards in the game.

        Frerotte took Sunday's offensive stats personally.

        “I have to get better and I have to work harder - study, or whatever. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do whatever I can to get this team on the right track,” he said.

        Backup quarterback Jon Kitna, who threw a team-record 22 interceptions last year and lost the starting job in the preseason, thought Frerotte played well, all things considered. Kitna said the Bengals' 10-0 first-quarter deficit shattered most players' expectations for the opener and set the tone for the rest of the game.

        “I don't think I would've played any differently than Gus. As a competitor you always say, "I would've done this' or "Maybe if I was in there it would've been different.' I thought he did everything in his power,” Kitna said. “It's one of those games that happens to you once or twice a year, where they always have the perfect defense called for what you're running. It just sucks that it was the home opener.”

        Kitna did not play, nor did inactive reserve Smith. For Smith to be rendered active on a game day, the Bengals would have to relegate either Frerotte or Kitna to inactive.

        Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said it's not likely the backups will play any time soon. Frerotte, who is nursing a swollen right thumb, is expected to start Sunday at Cleveland.

        “We're not considering any kind of (roster) changes at this time,” Bratkowski said. “Those things occur over time, not over one game.”

        Offensive tackle Willie Anderson said Frerotte showed good leadership against San Diego. Anderson said the line's inability to make holes for halfback Corey Dillon, who rushed for only 10 yards on nine carries, was the real key to the Bengals' offensive demise.

        “The bottom line is, we have to search for an identity,” Anderson said. “Are we a running team or a passing team?”

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