Ask Mark

Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte answers email from readers:

Bengals fans are thinking about quarterbacks, the draft, the poor showing by the defense and the team's long-term future.

Question, from Cody in Glen Dale, W.Va.: Do you think the Bengals will stick with Jon Kitna? It took me a while, but I am now a Kitna supporter. I think the Bengals should keep him and draft a cornerback or another defensive player.

Answer: Team president Mike Brown is impressed with Kitna's play and has said such a performance (nine touchdown passes, three interceptions in the past four games) has earned him more playing time.

The Bengals desperately need another defensive lineman who can stop the run.

Here's a plan: If they get the No. 1 overall pick, trade down for an additional pick in the first and second rounds. Take a defensive tackle, a cornerback and a quarterback (in that order), and let Kitna go into the 2003 season as the undisputed starter. Kitna will provide more production next season than any newcomer and will be an outstanding mentor to a young QB.

Q, from Casey in Lexington: What has happened to the defense, which was supposed to be the team's strength?

A: Start with the season-ending injury to under-rated outside linebacker Steve Foley in training camp. He was especially good at defending the run.

Rookie free safety Lamont Thompson could not grasp the defense well enough to start. That forced coaches to move a strong safety, Cory Hall, to free safety.

You ask a difficult question. Even the defensive players and coaches have a hard time coming up with an answer.

Middle linebacker Brian Simmons warned in training camp that the defense could not rest on its No. 9 ranking of last year. Maybe the defense thought it was automatically going to be as good as it was last season.

Q, from Ken in Eynon, Pa.: At the start of the season, I never would have imagined the defense would be so pathetic. Who are the top defensive linemen and cornerbacks available in the draft?

A: William Joseph (Miami, Fla.), Jimmy Kennedy (Penn State), Rashad Moore (Tennessee) and Nick Eaton (Clemson) are four of the top defensive tackles that should be available in the first two rounds.

Draft gurus project as many as four cornerbacks going in the first round: Terence Newman (Kansas State), Eugene Wilson (Illinois), Andre Woolfolk (Oklahoma) and Kevin Garrett (SMU).

Q, from Brian in Columbus: I have been a Bengals fan for a long time. I am 19 and too young to remember a winning season. All I have are highlights and stories. Do you think the Bengals will have a winning season before I retire in 50 years?

A: The answer is up to one man, Mike Brown. If he finally realizes that a 54-132 record over 12 seasons means his system does not work, and makes significant organizational changes, then, yes, you will see a winning season.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com