By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Must win the turnover battle

The Bengals were minus-15 in 2002, worst in the AFC, and only two teams had a poorer ratio in the whole league. The Bengals were minus-7 in their preseason games.

Interceptions are the biggest problem. The defense had just nine, tied for the fewest in the NFL. Meanwhile, Bengals quarterbacks threw 22, and only three teams had more.

Jon Kitna had 16 interceptions, but for the second year in a row, many of those were not his fault. They were the result of receivers running incorrect routes or breakdowns in pass protection.

Can't allow explosive plays on defense

Marvin Lewis' great Baltimore defenses forced offenses to go on long drives to score points. They prevented big plays. That's what Lewis wants to do with the Bengals.

In 2002, the Bengals defense allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards and 11 pass plays of 30-plus yards.

The Bengals also need to convert third-down defensive stands. They were 25th in the league last year in third-down defensive efficiency.

If turnover ratio improves and the defense prevents big plays, "We're in every football game," Lewis says.

Can't mess up on special teams

In 2002, Bengals special teams yielded five touchdowns - three on punt returns, one on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and one on a kickoff return.

Other than kickoff returns and field goal percentage, the Bengals were near the bottom of the NFL in every special teams ranking: net punting average, last, 28.7 yards; average drive start defending kickoffs, last, 33.2-yard line; punt return average, second to last, 4.7 yards.

The task of turning around the special teams unit belongs to new special teams coach Darrin Simmons, who has a great supporter in Lewis.

Lewis has made it clear that a player's ability to perform well on special teams will count ahead of ability to play an offensive or defensive position.

Need to establish a downfield pass offense

The emergence of Chad Johnson as a deep threat in 2002 - he had three receptions of 50 or more yards - provides some hope. The Bengals need to go deep consistently to create more room for running back Corey Dillon.

In the past several seasons, defenses have played their strong safeties near the line of scrimmage, concentrating solely on Dillon.

The Bengals spent their third-round pick on wide receiver Kelley Washington, with the hope that Washington will provide another deep threat opposite Johnson.

The Bengals were 14th of 16 AFC teams last season with a 10.66-yard per completion average.

Must get off to a good start

The Bengals' first five games feature three 2002 playoff teams - Oakland, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Starting slowly is a major problem for the Bengals. They are 9-36 in games played before Oct. 1 since the start of the 1991 season, the dawn of their 12-year playoff drought.

A difference this season could be the improved physical condition of Bengals players. They wore down in hot weather last season, especially in the opener against San Diego.

Former Titans defensive lineman John Thornton - in his first season with the Bengals - said his former team never put together a complicated game plan for the Bengals. It was a matter of waiting for them to get tired in the second half and make a major mistake.