By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PITTSBURGH - Of course, Bob Bratkowski wants to win every game he coaches. But the Bengals' offensive coordinator has additional motivation today against the Steelers.

He used to work in Pittsburgh, where he was the Steelers' wide receivers coach for two seasons.

And for one of those years, Bratkowski shared an office with Mike Mularkey, the tight ends coach.

Mularkey is now the Steelers' offensive coordinator, a job Bratkowski sought.

Despite the professional competition, Bratkowski and Mularkey are friends. Their families take offseason trips together. So needless to say, there are some bragging rights at stake today.

"When you're sitting around on vacation, it's nice to have a win to talk about," Bratkowski said. "Winning that second game last year really helped."

Last season, the Bengals fell 16-7 at Pittsburgh before winning in Week 16, 26-23 in overtime.

The coordinators talk by phone a couple of times a week, usually Monday and Friday. This morning, about three hours before the 1 p.m. kickoff, they'll go for a walk on a path near Heinz Field.

Mularkey's profile has risen since coach Bill Cowher tapped him to direct the Steelers' offense.

Pittsburgh is eighth in the league in scoring at 24.9 points per game and seventh in total offense. In his first season as coordinator, 2001, Mularkey lifted the Steelers' offense to third in total offense from 18th the year before.

"He's done an excellent job," Bratkowski said. "They've had the same offensive system in place (for many years), but Mike has added his influence, his flair."

Pittsburgh is known for its trick plays. With two former college quarterbacks playing wide receiver, Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El, Mularkey has everybody throwing passes and running reverses. And, in Kordell Stewart, the Steelers have a quarterback who used to play wide receiver.

"I still consider us a smash-mouth type of an offense," Mularkey said. "Our identity is tough and physical.

"But you've got to make it fun for the players. I was a player. It's a hard job. The first thing the players want to know when they come in is what kinds of trick plays we're going to run that week. It puts the defense in a `when?' mode."

The heart of Pittsburgh's offense is 256-pound tailback Jerome Bettis, who will make his first start today in the past month after suffering a knee injury.

But, under Mularkey, the Steelers have become a passing threat, too. Two of Bratkowski's former position players, wide receivers Ward and Plaxico Burress, have developed into stars.

Still, Mularkey wants more.

"We haven't had the killer instinct when we get the lead," he said. "Part of that is me trying to use the clock, but we need to put people away."

While Pittsburgh hasn't been able to put teams away, the Bengals haven't been competitive for much of the season.

But after scoring a total of 16 points in the first four games, Bratkowski's offense has averaged 20.5 points in the last six (that doesn't count one defensive and one special-teams touchdown). In the past four games, the Bengals' offense is averaging 23.7 points.

Overall, the Bengals are 28th in the league at 16 points per game. In total offense, they are 22nd at 309.3 yards per game.

"In the last six, we're in the top 10 or 11 in every major offensive category," Bratkowski said. "But it means nothing when you're 1-9."

Every phase of the Bengals' offense has played well in the past month and a half. Sacks are down. Rushing and passing yards are up. Quarterback Jon Kitna has nine touchdown passes and three interceptions in the past four games.

"Jon's familiarity with the offense allows him to do a lot of little things," Bratkowski said. "He knows where all the guys are supposed to be, as opposed to last year when the quarterbacks and receivers weren't on the same page."

The one stinker in the past six games for Bratkowski's offense came against the Steelers in a 34-7 loss Oct.13.

Pittsburgh's defense hasn't been as dominant this season as in year's past. It is ranked 19th overall and 27th against the pass.

"That is still a talented, difficult defense, no matter what the statistics say," Bratkowski said. "We're going to have to play well."

FIGHT AT PRACTICE: The Bengals suspended rookie offensive tackle Reggie Coleman for one week without pay for conduct detrimental to the club.

After Friday's practice, Coleman struck fellow offensive lineman Thatcher Szalay in the mouth. Szalay required a dental procedure.

Neither Coleman nor Szalay has played in a game this season.

TE SIGNED: The Bengals signed second-year tight end Tony Stewart to the active roster on Saturday.

He was on Philadelphia's practice squad and was the Eagles' fifth-round draft choice in 2001.

The former Penn State star played in three games last season with one start and had five catches for 52 yards and one TD.

E-mail: mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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