GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Five observations on the 2003 Cincinnati Bengals, gleaned from training camp practices of July 31:

	Palmer

1. There will be times, like when Carson Palmer throws the ball as well as he has in the opening week of camp, that coach Marvin Lewis is going to be want to abandon his developmental blueprint for the Heisman Trophy winner and just cast the first-rounder to the wolves. But the smart money says that Lewis, who seems to see the big picture with estimable clarity, will overcome the temptation. Lewis spent considerable personal time with Palmer before the decision to make him the first overall choice in the draft. And the investigation of Palmer, on and off the field, was a thorough one. After all, this is a team whose history includes ill-advised first-round quarterback picks such as Jack Thompson, David Klingler and Akili Smith. The astute Lewis wasn't going to make that kind of mistake. Well, at least we think not, since Palmer has yet to throw a single pass with the blanks removed from the shotguns. So far, in camp, Palmer has been very good, both from a physical and mental standpoint. But even if he throws for a zillion yards in the preseason, and completes every pass, Palmer isn't going to be the opening day starter. In fact, if the Bengals are 2-10 in December and going nowhere, Palmer might not get out of his warmup togs. The stock answer from Lewis is that Palmer will play "when he's ready to play." That probably means 2004. Barring an injury, Jon Kitna will open on Sept. 7 against the Denver Broncos. And at least nominally, Shane Matthews will be the No. 2 guy, for now. Lewis is a smart guy. He knows that he's on a honeymoon, has drawn rave reviews for bringing stability to one of the NFL's most rudderless ships, and isn't going anywhere. Sometimes, and this is one of them, a team drafts the so-called "quarterback of the future," and really means it.

2. Looking for a "sleeper" type wide receiver for your fantasy football team? You might consider, maybe in the middle or late rounds of your draft, Bengals fourth-year veteran and former first-round draft choice Peter Warrick, who has been a disappointment in his three previous seasons. But the Cincinnati wide receiver you'll want to snatch up early is Chad Johnson, who is coming off a 2002 campaign in which he quietly posted 69 catches and 1,166 yards, and who has been terrific in camp so far. Johnson is the cousin of that guy with the same surname, the more celebrated member of the family tree who plays down in Tampa Bay, but this might be the season in which Chad's number outdistance those of Keyshawn. His 16.9-yard average in '02 was second-highest in the NFL among players with at least 60 receptions but, because he basically plays in anonymity with a low-profile team, not many people took notice. What made his 2002 numbers more eye-opening is that he had just five catches for 78 yards in the first four games of the season. A third-year veteran, Johnson plays with some degree of élan and will still freelance on occasion, but he is a hard worker who really wants to be good. He has deep speed, run-after-catch skills and the ability to make his cuts without throttling down. It will not be surprising, if the Bengals can stick with one quarterback all season, for Johnson to register 80-85 catches in 2003. As for Warrick, the new staff seems to better comprehend his limitations, and is attempting to fashion a role that better fits him, which probably means he will work more out of the slot. Coordinator Bob Bratkowski is a holdover coach and has to assume some culpability for Warrick's modest three-year output. But he seems now to have a handle on how to better utilize the wideout. Warrick has always lacked linear speed and the physical dimension to line up outside. So the slot position, where he could work against one-on-one coverage and use his quickness, seems a better fit. In his defense, Warrick was portrayed by past staffs as more than what he really could be. He didn't help himself by being a brooder at times and stubborn about some little things, like the fact he needed contact lenses to see the ball better. The only problem at present is that the wide receivers who were supposed to line up opposite Johnson are currently injured or absent. Third-round pick Kelley Washington of Tennessee remains unsigned. Third-year veteran T.J. Houshmandzadeh is nursing a hamstring pull but should return soon.

	Thornton

3. Defensive tackle John Thornton, one of the several key veteran free agents signed this spring to upgrade that side of the ball, is tossing people around and looks like he might be ready to fulfill the physical potential he flashed with the Tennessee Titans on occasion. For some reason, Thornton, a four-year veteran, often gets overlooked when people talk about the Bengals' busy offseason of roster refurbishing. In this league, you should never ignore an active defensive tackle like Thornton, a guy who is capable, when he gets things cranked up, of being a real force. Thornton has some power, gets his hands on people and redirects them, and is also quick into the gaps. Veteran linebacker Kevin Hardy, who is making the switch to the middle spot, has performed well to date. Free agents Carl Powell and Duane Clemons will battle for the starting job at left end. (Educated guess: Look for the quicker Clemons to claim the spot.) And Tory James gives the Bengals the kind of big, physical cornerback the Bengals have been seeking seemingly forever. But Thornton, because everything starts inside with defense, might be the biggest difference-maker in the Marvin Lewis scheme. Prying him away from the Titans was a tremendous move. Why more teams didn't demonstrate interest is inexplicable. If Oliver Gibson can come back from an Achilles injury that limited him to nine games in 2002, the Bengals could have a very good tackle rotation. Thornton and Tony Williams would be the starters, with Gibson and Glen Steele in reserve. Truth be told, there aren't many defenses in the NFL with that kind of veteran tackle quartet.

4. Despite staging a camp-long holdout, and not signing until the eve of the 2001 season opener, defensive end Justin Smith posted a franchise rookie record 8½ sacks two years ago. But the former first-rounder seems to have regressed a bit and might need to develop some counter moves to be a consistent sack threat again. Smith surprised left tackles in '01 with his explosive first step, and closing speed, but they have caught up to him now. And his bag of pass-rush tricks simply isn't deep enough yet. At just 270-275 pounds, Smith gets ridden upfield too often and doesn't have the strength or technique to fight his way back inside. His dropoff in sacks last year, to 6½, wasn't precipitous. And no one will every question Smith's motor, competitiveness or desire. But last year, he seemed to hit the wall at times, even more so than as a rookie. It might actually benefit Smith and the Bengals if he was better paced, since he participated in 95.5 percent of the defensive snaps in '02, and that might better maximize his pass rush skills. In the long run, though, Smith is going to have to rely on something more than simply trying to beat the tackle up the field to the outside.

5. There is supposed to be safety in numbers, right? But the Bengals have a great number of safeties, and still aren't quite sure who will be the starters. There are six safeties here with previous NFL experience and the competition for the starting spots is probably about as compelling a camp battle as the Bengals really have. Currently listed at the top of the depth chart are Mark Roman (free safety) and Marquand Manuel (strong safety) but, by all means, stay tuned. There are indications from staffers that former San Diego starter Rogers Beckett, a former second-rounder claimed on waivers after Chargers coaches did not feel he was physical enough, is pushing for a spot in the lineup. The coaches seem, too, to like the feistiness of Kevin Kaesviharn, but the onetime cornerback might always be little more than a "nickel" or "dime" guy. One guy about whom you've got to wonder: Lamont Thompson, a second-round choice just a year ago, but currently buried on the depth chart as the No. 3 free safety. Thompson had 24 interceptions in college, a Pac -0 record, but doesn't get around the ball very often. And for a guy with prototype size, one who immediately passes the "eyeball" test, he is not very physical. Under prior regimes, the Bengals would probably never release a second-round pick in his sophomore year, but this is a new day. Lewis and his defensive staff have no loyalty to Thompson, didn't pick him, and will feel no reason to keep him around if he isn't deserving of a roster spot.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.