By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Less could add up to more this season for Justin Smith.

Coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier plan to play the third-year defensive end on fewer overall snaps to preserve his strength for more obvious sack opportunities.

Smith led the Bengals with 6.5 sacks in 16 starts last year. He played in 95.5 percent of the defensive snaps.

His sack total was down from his rookie season, 2001, when he had 8.5 in 11 starts and 15 total games.

PRESEASON FINALE

Matchup: Bengals at Colts. When: 8 p.m. Friday. TV: Chs. 12, 2. Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WOFX-FM (92.5). Records: Bengals 1-2, Colts 2-1.

The Bengals used a seven-man rotation on the defensive line in their third preseason game and again will rotate players in Friday night's preseason finale at Indianapolis.

"He's not going to be in there on first and second downs sometimes in the first half," Lewis said. "The reason we're doing that is so at the end of the second quarter and end of the fourth quarter, you can get to the quarterback, and that you're fresh."

Smith is adjusting to the new rotation, made possible by three veteran free agent acquisitions in the offseason that have improved the line's depth.

One of the best-conditioned Bengals players, Smith said he would do as told, but he did admit that sitting out would be difficult.

"I like to be out there all the time, but you got to do what (Lewis) says," Smith said. "If I'm tired, it'll be good to get a blow and come back in. It helps to get rested a bit."

One of two newcomers, Carl Powell or Duane Clemons, can slide over to Smith's right end spot. Frazier said Reinard Wilson also is a candidate to spell Smith.

"We're expecting some big things from him this year," Frazier said of Smith. "He wants to play every down. That's just how he is. He's a very intense guy, and to stand on the sidelines is foreign to him. For our team, it's probably going to be better to get him fresh in the fourth quarter when we need him to get a good pass rush for us."

Lewis said the idea of spotting defensive ends - especially smaller, faster ones such as Smith - is a common practice in the NFL.

As Redskins defensive coordinator, Lewis employed the strategy with 262-pound Bruce Smith in 2002, and his sack total jumped to nine from five in 2001.

When Lewis was the Ravens' defensive coordinator, 270-pound end Michael McCrary had 49 sacks in five seasons.

The Bengals' Smith is 270 pounds and played full time almost out of necessity last season.

This yearis different, and the defensive line looks to be the most improved position group on the team.

In addition to Powell and Clemons, the Bengals signed John Thornton. Powell is better against the run, and Clemons has shown the ability to shut down the run and run down quarterbacks.

The Bengals also have seen mainstay defensive tackle Oliver Gibson make a successful recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.

Tony Williams starts at right tackle, alongside Thornton. Glen Steele is the fourth tackle, and Wilson is one season removed from a career-best nine sacks.

Another possible move would be to use linebacker Steve Foley as a pass-rush specialist. Now backing up Adrian Ross at strong-side linebacker, Foley led the nation with 18.5 sacks as a senior at Northeast Louisiana in 1997.

"Our D-line is probably ahead of some other positions right now, and it's showing," Frazier said.

The Bengals are allowing just 2.7 yards a carry through preseason games, compared to 4.0 last year when the defense was ranked 22nd against the rush.

The Bengals' 24 sacks were tied for 30th in the league with Dallas, ahead of just Arizona.

"We made some good acquisitions," Frazier said. "They really came in and shored up a position we needed some help in."

Gibson is the heaviest of the eight top defensive linemen, at 304 pounds. Steele weighs 300.

Said Lewis: "We have lean (defensive linemen). We're going to need to rotate them. Our guys are all athletic. Their quickness is their biggest asset."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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