Akili Smith, speaking to the media Monday, was pleased to get another shot. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        After two years of searching for a free-agent quarterback, the Bengals went back to their future Monday and named one-time franchise quarterback Akili Smith their starter.

        Smith will be charged with energizing a lifeless offense when the Bengals play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

        The 0-3 Bengals have scored just one touchdown and 16 points this season.

        Bengals coach Dick LeBeau announced his decision Monday, moving Smith from No.3 and demoting three-game starter Gus Frerotte to third string. Jon Kitna will remain the backup.

        “He has a totally different style than the other two guys, and I think we need that right now,” LeBeau said of Smith.

        Smith, the third overall pick in the 1999 draft, started the first 10 games in 2000 before losing the job to Scott Mitchell.

NO OFFENSE

• The Bengals have scored 16 points in 12 quarters, three in the first half.   • Bengals quarterbacks have been sacked 11 times.   • Bengals quarterbacks have a 47.0 passer rating with six interceptions and one TD pass.

        Smith started one game in 2001, at the New York Jets, but he tore his left hamstring after passing for 35 yards and running for another 20. Surgery ended his season and prevented Smith from participating in minicamp and May workouts.

        Smith played well in the preseason against second- and third-team defenses, passing for 355 yards and running for 124.

        After watching a similar double-threat quarterback, Atlanta's Michael Vick, beat him Sunday night, LeBeau made the switch.

        “We're averaging (4.8) yards per throw, and under 10 yards (9.2) per catch,” LeBeau said. “We don't have any big plays. We want to look at this combination.”

        Smith, 3-13 as a starter, has demonstrated greater maturity as a quarterback in his recent appearances.

        “I've got another opportunity. That's all I ever asked for,” Smith said. “Hopefully, I can get some points on the board with the offense early in the game.”

        The Bengals have been outscored 57-3 in the first half and 26-0 in the first quarter this season.

        Bob Bratkowski's offense offers Smith more freedom to use his running ability than the offense of Bruce Coslet, which nearly confined Smith to the pocket and tried to make him a clone of Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson. Coslet even said in 2000 that Smith couldn't throw well on the run.

        Bratkowski's “is the offense I ran in college,” said Smith, who threw 32 TDs and eight interceptions as a senior at Oregon in 1998.

        Smith has the ability to avoid some of the 11 sacks that Frerotte and Kitna have taken this season. LeBeau said that he wants Frerotte's sprained right thumb to heal completely and said the injury affected the quarterback.

        Smith arm is stronger than even Frerotte's, and Smith is much quicker and faster than both Frerotte and Kitna.

        Naming Smith also takes some of the intense focus off the past three games. Smith is long on potential and has wide fan support.

        “He can create some space for himself, and he can scramble around,” LeBeau said. “He'll definitely give us a different look. I definitely want us to have a different tempo.”

        In 19 games, Kitna and Frerotte threw 13 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions. (Former Bengals quarterback Scott Mitchell threw three and tailback Corey Dillon one last season).

        Smith has five touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 21 career games.

        “My season begins now,” he said. “I'm not even thinking about us being 0-3. I have 13 games to go out there and prove myself and show everybody how much I've learned.”

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