By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff reporter

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Special teams performances in the preseason opener Saturday night at Tampa Bay could determine the futures of some players.

"We've got so many guys that are going to make or break, whether they make this team on special teams," coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday. "It's going to be our first chance to look at guys. There's going to be no guarantee that we'll go to the second week and look at guys. So they're going to have to make a statement."

Some players made the team in 2003, in part, because of special teams effort and production.

"I think we still have some of the standouts we had last year who are in a good competition," Lewis said. "You have a Kevin Walter, Ricot Joseph, Reggie Myles, Terrell Roberts, Frank Chamberlin, Kenny Watson, Herbert Goodman, guys who are trying to make it this way. The thing will be how they run and play the field."

The Bengals spent most of their expanded, 90-minute afternoon practice on special teams.

VISITOR: Bill "Tiger" Johnson, the second head coach in Bengals history, attended the morning practice on Tuesday.

Johnson, offensive line coach for the team's first eight seasons, had an 18-15 record in two-plus seasons as head coach. He returned in 1985 for another six-year run as tight ends coach.

FAMILIAR FACES: Four former Bengals are on the Tampa Bay roster.

They are wide receiver Danny Farmer, running back Brandon Bennett, defensive end Reinard Wilson and guard Matt O'Dwyer, who is not playing because of a pectoral injury.

NONEXCLUSIVE CLUB: Barring an injury or other problem before the regular-season opener Sept. 12 against the New York Jets, Carson Palmer will become the 25th quarterback to start a regular-season or playoff game for the Bengals.

It also would be the seventh consecutive season that a Bengals quarterback has not started two consecutive openers.

The list of starting QBs: Neal O'Donnell, 1998; Jeff Blake, 1999; Akili Smith, 2000; Jon Kitna, 2001; Gus Frerotte, 2002; Kitna, 2003; and Palmer; 2004.

NICKEL PACKAGE: Only five Bengals defensive players remain from the opening day roster in 2002: defensive linemen Justin Smith and Tony Williams, linebacker Brian Simmons and defensive backs Marquand Manuel and Kevin Kaesviharn.

Twelve offensive players remain from that same roster.

CONFIDENCE: Lewis noted Tuesday that the Bengals' first two preseason opponents, Tampa Bay and New England, have won the last three Super Bowls.

He said they are among the teams whose confidence helps them win games.

"I think it's a good competitive schedule," Lewis said. "I told our guys, 'We're going to play teams, in the first two weeks, they've been there, and there's a sense of confidence when you play against a team.'

"I can remember back to my days at Pittsburgh and playing the 49ers and the Cowboys, and there is a sense of confidence. Then I coached a team (Baltimore) that grew to that confidence. You knew you were going to win the football game."

Asked if this team has that same type of self-confidence, Lewis said, "I think we're a long way from that right now. But we get to keep working at it and determining it."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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