By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

TAMPA, Fla. - Chad Johnson made his first Pro Bowl in 2003 and set a single-season franchise record for receiving yards.

Peter Warrick had career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

The wide receiver corps played a major role in Jon Kitna's 3,591 passing yards, the most for a Bengals quarterback since Jeff Blake's 3,624 in 1996.

But the biggest improvement the team's wide receivers make this season might not show up statistically in the passing game.

It could show up most directly in the rushing numbers of Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry, Kenny Watson and the rest of the running backs.

First-year wide receivers coach Hue Jackson is emphasizing downfield blocking.

"They're playing more physical and more aggressive," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said of the receivers. "They're playing more violent. This is a violent game. You're going to experience some violence and have to play violently. And I don't mean that in a negative term. It is a violent game, and you have to play high energy, a lot of quickness, and be ready for contact and give contact.

"Any time receivers get to that mentality where they're good blockers, they're good running after the catch and it makes them more aggressive to the ball in the air."

Johnson seems ready to better last season's numbers of 90 catches, 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Warrick well could be the key to the pass game. He continues to be limited as he recovers from surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee.

He did not play in the preseason opener Monday night against Tampa Bay and continues to miss alternating practices.

"We'll see how he feels," coach Marvin Lewis said. "We're in no hurry to see what Peter can do. We know what Peter can do."

Warrick's ability to pester defenses as a slot receiver has opened up the deeper routes for Johnson. Warrick and Johnson make each other better.

Warrick is frustrated by his limited work so far in training camp.

"Pete wants to go and play and do everything," Lewis said. "But there's going to have to be that process to do it (recovery) the right way."

Kelley Washington and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are battling for the third spot, and Washington appeared to gain an edge Monday night with two catches for 58 yards, while Houshmandzadeh couldn't get his feet down in bounds for a touchdown and let a well-thrown pass from Carson Palmer bounce off him for an interception.

"Kelley continues to improve. He and T.J. have had a great competition, and it's fun," Lewis said. "And I think both guys are different guys than they were up here last year. They're better players now. More confident players, faster (and) doing the little things better."

Said Washington: "We've got a good mix."

Veteran Patrick Johnson has been limited by injury, but other receivers have made an impression on Lewis so far in camp.

"I like the fact that (rookie) Maurice (Mann) is back and got through practice; it's good to get him back and playing," Lewis said.

"And over the last week, Kevin Walter has really improved as a wide receiver. He still has such a large chunk of what we do special teams. He has kind of picked that up where he left off."

Walter led the Bengals with four receptions against the Buccaneers. He and rookie free agent Jamall Broussard have been getting a lot of work in the slot in Warrick's absence.

"We've got to get him healthy," Bratkowski said of Warrick. "We don't know how his knee is. We hold out high hopes that he's going to come back like he was last year. He's struggling with it."

Injuries are part of football.

"As coaches, we have to prepare for every scenario," Bratkowski said.

"We're preparing right now, moving guys around right now, giving them experience at different spots, in the event (Warrick) doesn't come back right when we want him to."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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