The quarterback situation is still up in the air with Akili Smith, Jon Kitna, and Scott Mitchell battling for the starting position. Kitna is probably the front-runner right now, but Mitchell has looked good early in training camp and is in the best shape of his career. The Bengals are really hoping Smith emerges as the best of the trio, but thus far, he continues to be ineffective and doesn't seem to completely grasp the offense.

Corey Dillon has returned as the team's starting halfback, although at one point he indicated he would rather flip burgers than play for the Bengals again. Dillon can be one of the most explosive backs in the NFL, but he is not one of the more consistent. The Bengals plan to spread the offense out a little bit which should give him more room to move.

The also plan on using more three-receiver sets, with Darnay Scott, Peter Warrick and rookie Chad Johnson on the field at the same time. Fellow rookie wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who may have been a steal in the seventh round, will give the Bengals depth while Scott continues recovering from a broken leg.

On defense, Cincinnati brought in defensive lineman Bernard Whittington because they thought his versatility would add some depth to the line, but he may wind up playing himself into a starting job at left end. They also drafted defensive end Justin Smith from Missouri with their first-round pick, and he should also be an immediate contributor on the right side.

The Bengals have a good set of linebackers, and three-year veteran Takeo Spikes may be one of the better defenders in the league. There is also a great battle brewing at right cornerback between Artrell Hawkins and Mark Roman.

Overview

The Bengals may show a slight improvement this season, but they are still the same Bengals that the rest of the NFL has learned to love having on their schedule. They don't have a clear-cut starting quarterback, and it's not likely any of the three they have will emerge as a top-notch passer this season.

With Mike Brown at the helm, I'm not sure the Bengals will ever return to respectability, but there are a few signs that indicate the future may get brighter in Cincinnati. Unfortunately for Bengals' fans, they will probably hold onto their spot at bottom of the AFC Central for at least one more year.