Maybe Mitchell's numbers last season weren't stellar, but the offense rarely imploded under his direction. Silly penalties were kept to a minimum. Costly turnovers were down. Finally the Bengals, thanks to Dick LeBeau, are lining up with the players who give the team the best chance to win today. Too many times in the past the Bengals have waited, and waited and waited for tomorrow.
Tomorrow never comes.
Just think of Corey Dillon's rookie season. He was clearly the best running back on the team in preseason, but Bruce Coslet stubbornly played Ki-Jana Carter for the first 8 games. Then Dillon gets his chance and runs for 123 yards against the Steelers. Based on production, it should be Kitna. Mitchell, then Smith.