By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

For a team that has dumped 16 players since Feb. 9 - including nine who started at least one game last season - the Bengals head into training camp surprisingly set in their starting lineup.

There appear to be few head-to-head battles for starting jobs - save punter, where rookie free agent Kyle Larson could unseat veteran Kyle Richardson; right guard, where Scott Kooistra, Victor Leyva or Larry Moore could challenge likely starter Bobbie Williams; and in the defensive backfield, where rookies Keiwan Ratliff or Madieu Williams could push veterans later in the season.

The Bengals report Friday to Georgetown College and will practice twice Saturday. They carry the weight of the franchise's 13-year playoff drought but have legitimate postseason hopes under second-year coach Marvin Lewis for the first time since the mid-1990s.

All eyes will be on first-time starting quarterback Carson Palmer and the defense, which will add three new starters to the five new starters from 2003. The defense will have to improve its rankings of 28th in points and yards allowed and 26th in first downs allowed.

The exhibition season will open Aug. 14 at Tampa Bay.

The 2004 Bengals will be young. An examination of the roster reveals a team that could have two dozen rookies or first- or second-year players remaining by the time it's whittled to 53.

A position-by-position look at the Bengals as they head into training camp:

QUARTERBACK

Starter: Carson Palmer (2 years in NFL). Backups: Jon Kitna (8), Casey Bramlet (R), Scott Rislov (R).

It's Palmer's job to lose, and Lewis has tried to reduce pressure on Palmer by improving the rest of the team.

Kitna is an ideal No. 2 for many reasons: He will help Palmer. He will be ready to play. He won't hurt team chemistry. Bramlet probably will be the third quarterback on the 53-man roster, and Rislov could be headed to the practice squad.

RUNNING BACK

TB Rudi Johnson (Enquirer file)

Starters: TB Rudi Johnson (4), FB Jeremi Johnson (2). Backups: TB Chris Perry (R), TB Kenny Watson (3), TB Skip Hicks (5), TB Herbert Goodman (3).

Rudi Johnson inherits the job, and the pressure, from Corey Dillon. Perry will be an effective change-up with his elusiveness and pass-catching ability on third down, but a Perry contract holdout is a possibility.

Watson is an intelligent, ideal team player who looked quick during spring practice. Hicks, back from an excellent season in Europe, and Goodman - possibly the fastest player on the team - will battle for the third tailback spot.

WIDE RECEIVER

Starters: Chad Johnson (4), Peter Warrick (5). Backups: Kelley Washington (2), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (4), Patrick Johnson (7), Kevin Walter (2), Maurice Mann (R), Adam Ziesel (1), Lance Young (R).

The ultra-confident Chad Johnson says the transition to Palmer will be almost seamless in terms of timing in the pass game. If Houshmandzadeh is healthy, this group is exceptionally deep and experienced and should help Palmer adjust.

Taskmaster wide receivers coach Hue Jackson will not let Johnson slip and should help Warrick elevate his game even more. Washington will challenge Warrick for playing time, if not the starting role.

TIGHT END

Starter: Reggie Kelly (6). Backups: Tony Stewart (4), Matt Schobel (3), Brad St. Louis (5).

Kelly is an outstanding blocker and positive locker-room presence. A gifted receiver, Schobel can't seem to shake a nagging hamstring injury. Stewart provides outstanding depth. St. Louis is the long snapper.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Starters: LT Levi Jones (3), LG Eric Steinbach (2), C Rich Braham (11), RG Bobbie Williams (5), RT Willie Anderson (9). Backups: G-C Larry Moore (7), G-T Scott Kooistra (2), G-T Victor Leyva (4), C Thatcher Szalay (2), Stacy Andrews (R), C Mike Mabry (1), T Pete Lougheed (R), G Alex Sulfsted (3).

Re-signing Braham and signing Moore were two of the team's most important offseason moves. There is depth in the interior of the line, but the Bengals remain dangerously thin - in terms of NFL experience - behind star bookend tackles Anderson and Jones.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Starters: RE Justin Smith (4), RT Tony Williams (8), LT John Thornton (6), LE Duane Clemons (9). Backups: T-E Carl Powell (6), T Langston Moore (1), E Elton Patterson (2), T Matthias Askew (R), E Greg Scott (2), E Robert Geathers (R), T Norris McCleary (2).

This unit has to improve against the run. The top five players are back, but the backups lack experience. The tackles have to keep offensive linemen off the linebackers, and the ends, especially Smith, must increase pressure on the quarterback.

Scott could be a major sleeper in this group.

LINEBACKERS

Starters: SLB Kevin Hardy (9), MLB Nate Webster (5), WLB Brian Simmons (7). Backups: Khalid Abdullah (2), Caleb Miller (R), Landon Johnson (R), Frank Chamberlin (4), Larry Stevens (R), LaDairis Jackson (3).

The pressure is squarely on Webster to help lift the rush defense. Hardy moves back outside, where he can better utilize his pass rush ability.

Abdullah, Miller and Landon Johnson - all fast and relatively under-sized - could push the starters and will be primary special teams players.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Starters: CB Tory James (9), CB Deltha O'Neal (5), SS Rogers Beckett (5), FS Kim Herring (8). Backups: CB Keiwan Ratliff (R) FS Madieu Williams (R), FS Kevin Kaesviharn (4), SS Marquand Manuel (3), CB Terrell Roberts (2), CB Reggie Myles (3), CB Alvin Porter (3), CB Greg Brooks (R), FS Ricot Joseph (2).

The Bengals have accumulated a group of potential starters and solid role players in the secondary. The trick in training camp will be to find the best mix. The Bengals might keep up to 11 defensive backs on the 53-man roster, based on special teams needs.

Dennis Weathersby, the second-year cornerback, is unlikely to play this season following an April auto crash in which he suffered a serious head injury.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Starters: K Shayne Graham (4), P Kyle Richardson (7), KR Patrick Johnson, PR Peter Warrick. Backup: P Kyle Larson (R).

Special teams coach Darrin Simmons has infused his kick coverage and return teams with fast, strong young players.

Larson, a member of the North team coached by the Bengals staff in the Senior Bowl, will challenge Richardson. Graham needs to improve the consistency and depth of his kickoffs. Simmons and Lewis have a number of options in the return game behind Johnson and Warrick.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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