The Mike Zimmer defense has players and coaches pumped about 2008. The team's cornerbacks have been working bump-and-run coverage rather than that soft crap they've played for years. Said Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph: "Every play is bump and run."

As opposed to years before, this defense shows more signs of encouragement. The Bengals have a defensive coordinator that gets on their ass, that motivates the players and spends valuable time teaching small details that our increasingly young defense is absorbing -- especially our secondary.

Add in Pat Sims and Jason Shirley, with Domata Peko and the Bengals have young defensive tackles that could prove solid. Several pass-rushing specialists, a core of quality linebackers and boy I'm giddy.