Mark Curnutte

The loss of 13 players to injured reserve lists has hurt a team that was not deep to begin with. And the struggles of first-time starting quarterback Carson Palmer and the rest of the offense have been overshadowed only by the consistent failure of the defense to stop the run.

THE BEST OF ...

There have been a number of individual performances worth noting in the first half of the 2004 Bengals season. MVP Right tackle Willie Anderson, a great player whose quiet, omnipresent leadership and bedrock work ethic embody everything Lewis is trying to build. Honorable mention: Kicker Shayne Graham, whose clutch field goals have kept fragile offensive momentum from cracking and made the most of 21 takeaways. Defensive player Linebacker Brian Simmons, a non-promoting steady pro who leads the team in tackles and whose 50-yard interception return for a touchdown against Miami kept the season from falling apart before it started. Honorable mention: Cornerback Tory James, whose five interceptions, forced fumble and fumble recovery have put him in the middle of several big plays. Offensive players No surprise, the Brothers Johnson. No, Rudi and Chad aren't really related, but the Bengals offense is at its best when the ball is in their hands. They've combined to gain 55 percent of the team's 2,364 offensive yards. Rookie of the Year Defensive back Madieu Williams, a future star and playmaker headed for the NFL all-rookie team. Honorable mention: Linebacker Landon Johnson, who has adjusted to playing out of position in the middle. Coach of the Year Special teams taskmaster Darrin Simmons has given the Bengals a strong kicking game. Injuries hit Simmons hardest, forcing him to plug in odd combinations and late arrivals. Honorable mention: Quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese for his detailed work with Palmer. Top free agent Center Jerry Fontenot might not play another snap, but think of where the offense and Palmer would have been without his three emergency starts. Overall, the free agent Class of 2004 has not distinguished itself, primarily because of injuries to linebacker Nate Webster and safety Kim Herring.

An inexperienced team with no margin for error is playing much better at home, where it is 3-1. The Bengals are 0-4 on the road and desperately need to win Sunday at Washington to avoid a possible winless away schedule.

The Bengals' three victories have come against teams with a combined 10-16 record, and their five losses are to teams that are a composite 24-16.

The first-half grades:

Pass offense, C-minus:

Palmer has been forced to throw too often and, until the Dallas game, faced too much pressure. He was sacked 19 times in the first seven games. The loss of wide receiver Peter Warrick hurts on third down and in the red zone. And Palmer lacks another receiving threat because of rookie running back Chris Perry's inability to get on the field.

Pass defense, B-minus:

The 10 interceptions after eight games are just four off last season's total. Tory James and Deltha O'Neal are playing well at cornerback, but the 13 sacks are off pace of the 30 for last season. The opposing passer rating of 83.8 is 17.5 points better than Palmer's. For the most part, the defense has failed to hold leads immediately after the offense scores - especially immediately before half.

Run offense, C:

There have been bright stretches, especially when the Bengals play with a lead. But the inconsistency - two games in the 50s and a third game in the 90s - have put too much pressure on Palmer and the pass game.

Run defense, F:

It is showing signs of improvement, but in six of eight games, a back has gained 100-plus yards. The long runs are becoming less frequent, but the NFL-worst 149.6 yards a game remains unacceptable.

Special teams, B-plus:

The Bengals have given up just one harmful return this season, against Baltimore. The kick coverage teams get better each week, though big plays would be welcomed in the return area.

Coaching, C-plus:

Lewis' positive approach and teaching-oriented philosophy are exactly what this rebuilding team has needed. His personnel decisions, especially on defense, are open to some criticism. He and his staff need to teach their team how to start fast each week.

Overall, C-minus:

Put them closer to average than below average because of two victories in the past three games. The Bengals are getting better, but will the individual improvement of inexperienced players translate into more than three wins in the second half?

Can Palmer consistently avoid the big mistake? Can the defense at least contain the opposing rush offense? Can the half dozen rookies playing on defense and special teams continue to grow? Can the Bengals manage to play with the lead in the second half?

Outlook:

Home games against Cleveland, Buffalo and the Giants are definitely winnable, especially given how the Bengals have developed a strong home-field advantage under Lewis. Of the four remaining road games, only the one at the 3-5 Redskins seems within reach. The final three road games will take the Bengals to Baltimore, New England and Philadelphia, teams with a combined 19-5 record.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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