By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Chad Johnson sprinted off the line at the snap against rookie cornerback Keiwan Ratliff.

Nick Ayers runs with the ball on the second day of minicamp. Click here to view a photo gallery from Friday's practice. (Ernest Coleman photo)

Johnson, the Bengals' Pro Bowl wide receiver, faked with his head and shoulders to the outside to set up a sprint move toward the middle of the field.

But before Johnson could hit high gear, he ran into Ratliff, and the two players fell to the grass in a tangle of limbs. Johnson, shocked, hopped up to see who had knocked him down.

Ratliff, also back on his feet, stood his ground when Johnson launched into a verbal barrage.

The collision, which took place Friday, the first day of the Bengals' three-day rookie mini-camp, illustrates the new attitude in the team's defensive backfield.

The Bengals invested three draft picks on defensive backs - Ratliff, safety Madieu Williams and cornerback Greg Brooks - in the hopes of turning a long-time team weakness into a strength.

The Bengals were ranked 24th in pass defense in 2003 at 212.6 yards a game. Inability to stop the pass consistently was a major reason the Bengals were 28th in the NFL in yards and points allowed last season.

Quarterback Carson Palmer noticed the aggressive demeanor of the team's young defensive backs.

"Ratliff was in Chad's face a couple of times," Palmer said. "They're not backing down."

No way, said Ratliff, who has shown quick feet and football smarts during the mini-camp.

"I wanted to be physical," Ratliff said of covering Johnson. "It was my first one-on-one experience, and it just happened to be a Pro Bowl wide receiver. They probably would have called pass interference, but right then I would have taken that pass interference just to show him I wasn't going to be a pushover."

Bryce McGill from Fresno State keeps cool with water during rookie minicamp. (Ernest Coleman photo)

The Bengals' goal to improve their pass defense led to a personnel makeover. Gone are former cornerback starters Artrell Hawkins and Jeff Burris. In are former Denver Pro Bowler Deltha O'Neal, former Ravens starter Alvin Porter and rookies Ratliff and Brooks. Williams, drafted No. 56 overall - the choice acquired from New England for tailback Corey Dillon - probably will take Marquand Manuel's roster spot at safety.

"The young dudes, the DBs, are real good, they're all real competitive," Johnson said. "They're all out there talking back, so that's going to make it fun."

Johnson had an on-going war of words with Porter throughout practice that turned into a playful wrestling match in the locker room.

Porter, who will turn 27 Monday, is a three-year pro with 33 games played and five starts in Baltimore. He was signed as a free agent in January.

"I was rusty," Porter said when told he looked sharp in practice.

Defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle had scouted the rookie defensive backs before the draft. The practice Friday was his first close look at Porter.

"He was in good position and made several plays during practice," Coyle said.

"Those are the type of guys we are looking for, guys who will compete. He's going to make the offense earn what they get, and he's not going to give anything away."

Another goal is to increase the interception total. The Bengals' 14 interceptions in 2003, good for just 20th in the NFL, were nonetheless the team's most since 1996.

Ratliff had nine last season at Florida. Williams had seven in two seasons at Maryland and grabbed two during the mini-camp practice Friday.

"When the ball is in the air, you run to the ball," Williams said. "That's one thing I've always prided myself on. You never know what happens, the ball might be tipped, and you can get a lot of interceptions that way."

O'Neal had nine interceptions in 2001 for Denver to make the Pro Bowl. He may start the season opposite steady Tory James.

Brooks had nine interceptions in the last three seasons at Southern Mississippi. Good pass defense in the secondary starts with attitude.

"You have to have the mentality of being confident at this position," Brooks said, "which is one of the hardest to play on the field."

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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