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Monday, October 08, 2001

It was Friday, which meant the Cincinnati Bengals and their premier running back, Corey Dillon, were 48 hours away, and Steelers defensive coordinator Tim Lewis didn't like what he was seeing.

"I didn't feel like we were preparing well," he said. "Over the years, some people have referred to them as the 'Bungals.' I kind of got the impression that's what our players were thinking."

Lewis knew his players needed a push and he needed a gimmick. He turned Hollywood director and put in a highlight tape of Dillon.

The results speak for themselves.

Properly motivated, the defense came up with a second consecutive outstanding afternoon and -- wonder of wonders -- the offense contributed an improved performance. As a result, the Steelers had themselves a 16-7 victory in their first regular-season game at Heinz Field.

Dillon, who has had games of 246 and 278 yards in his career, was a non-factor. He carried 19 times for 64 yards -- with only 9 yards in the second half -- as the defense kept the Bengals without a score until less than five minutes remained.

Lewis said: "I took some plays from the day he ran for 278 yards against Denver [last year] and tried to impress on them that if they didn't stay in their gaps -- if they tried to play peekaboo with the linemen -- he was going to make them wrong and he could do it to the tune of 278 yards. That made them very focused about what they had to do."

It was the second win forged by the defense and, aside from a monumental lapse against Jacksonville, it might be three.

During a 12-minute period in the second quarter of the season opener against the Jaguars, the defense disintegrated and allowed three touchdowns. Other than those three drives, the Steelers allowed the Jaguars 110 yards the rest of the game.

They totally dominated Buffalo last week, holding them to three points. It was much the same against the Bengals, despite the presence of Dillon and big-play receivers Darnay Scott and Peter Warrick.

"Barring a major injury, we can be one of the top five defenses in the league," cornerback Dwayne Washington said.

Lewis wasn't ready to make such a proclamation but believes the capability to be outstanding is there.

"We have some big-play potential," he said. "We have guys with great speed and very good rush ability."

Rookie inside linebacker Kendrell Bell is such a player.

"He's a tremendous athlete," Lewis said. "He's very strong, very powerful. He can run. He's not well-versed in our defense yet, but athletically and football-wise, he's as good as I've seen at that age."

Bell made an impact on the Bengals' first series of the game.

The Bengals had moved for two first downs in four plays after the kickoff and were at their 36. On the next play, Bell broke through the Cincinnati line and threw quarterback John Kitna for a 9-yard loss.

"It was a tone-setter," Coach Bill Cowher said.

It wasn't the only one.

When the Bengals had moved to the Steelers' 33 in the second quarter, cornerback Chad Scott got under a bad pass by Kitna, intercepted it and returned it 26 yards.

Defensive end Aaron Smith threw Kitna for a 6-yard loss in the third quarter.

But it wasn't so much the big play as the constant dominance. The Bengals managed only 68 yards in the first half, as the Steelers were taking a 10-0 lead. They could add only 21 more yards in the third quarter.

Only in the fourth quarter, with Kitna passing superbly, did the Bengals move the ball successfully. They went 81 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown that put them within six points.

On their next and final possession, they threw three incompletions and punted.

Although the Bengals scored 21 points against the mighty Baltimore defense, they're not a top offense. Neither, for sure, is Buffalo.

Asked how good the defense he captains is, linebacker Earl Holmes said: "I don't know right now. It's too early. Guys are just getting comfortable. I'm in a new position. Bell is in a new position. Things are starting to come. The young guys are studying film. We're executing out game plans."

Yes, it's early and there are more difficult games ahead. But except for those 12 minutes, the defense has done just about all anyone has a right to expect.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.