Bengals Hire Mark Carrier As The Team's Secondary Coach And Promote Paul Guenther As The Linebackers Coach

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 1:00 PM EST in Coaching News

Mark_carrier_medium The Cincinnati Bengals finally filled out their coaching staff on Monday, announcing that they hired Mark Carrier as the team's newest defensive backs coach and promoted Paul Guenther as the team's linebackers coach. Former defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle left for Miami to become the Dolphins newest defensive coordinator. It was also reported earlier this offseason that linebackers coach Jeff Fitzgerald wouldn't have his contract renewed.

Guenther joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2005 and from 2006-2010, along with being an assistant special teams coach, he assisted linebackers for those five seasons. Last year Guenther helped Kevin Coyle as an assistant defensive backs coach. Marvin Lewis said of Paul Guenther's move:

"Mike Zimmer and I both have high confidence levels working with Paul."

Hopefully Guenther can get Rey Maualuga on track.

The name Mark Carrier should be familiar to older NFL fans. A former 1990 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a three-time Pro Bowl selection (1990, 1991, 1993) as a safety in the NFL, posting 32 interceptions during his playing career, Carrier played for three teams: the Bears (1990-1996), Detroit Lions (1997-1999) and the Washington Redskins (2000).

Carrier took on his first professional coaching gig in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2006-2009) where the secondary generated 93 interceptions during those four seasons -- second-most during that timeframe. He was hired by the Jets in 2010 to coach the defensive line.

Marvin Lewis on the Carrier hire:

"Mark experienced success as a coach with two fine NFL defenses (NYJ and BAL), and he will do very well with our group."

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Comments

This name came out of the blue

Its not Woodson but I like the move. He has been a very productive player and coach. Even though I wonder why he was coaching the d-line for the Jets? When he was a safety in the league.

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 1:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I was thinking the same thing.

“The Jets D-line….?” Hmm…. I guess with Rex coaching with him in B-more, he felt he was up for the task.

by whodeycommish14 on Feb 13, 2012 1:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Thought same thing about him coaching Jets D line..........

seems like an odd jump.

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 13, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

I think anyone with aspirations of becoming a D-Coordinator...

…would want the opportunity to experience coaching different areas of the defense. Maybe Linebackers makes more sense, coming from the secondary, but he probably saw a good opportunity to work with Rex Ryan (maybe he’s fond of his coaching style or the players).

The amount of liquor I drank last night would've killed a small-to-medium sized Asian family.

by balooko31 on Feb 14, 2012 1:51 AM EST up reply actions

Finally....

They sure did their due diligence, didn’t they? If Zim and Marvin both back Guenther, then I trust that decision. I remember Carrier as a player. He was good. I like that he’s “been there, done that” as far as being a player and coach. Coached on some good defenses. I’ll take it.

by whodeycommish14 on Feb 13, 2012 1:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Carrier

As a guy who grew up a Bears fan, I love the Carrier hire. Dude was a really, really solid player in Chicago.

by steve henderson on Feb 13, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

I wonder how much he will improve both Sands and Mays...

by pemci on Feb 13, 2012 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

He's going to have to do something because,

Sands hardly touched the field and Mays was hardly on the field passed ST’s. We’ll see…

by whodeycommish14 on Feb 13, 2012 1:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Leaps and bounds!

Hope is a wonderful thing!

by TCfromDubVee on Feb 13, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

Hmmm

Let’s see … The ravens had a horrible secondary (outside of Ed Reed) for as long as I can remember. The jets defensive line stunk up the joint last season. I have to question this move.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990

by Yarin on Feb 13, 2012 1:09 PM EST reply actions

Can't please everyone... :)

by pemci on Feb 13, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

Secondary had 93 ints in 4 seasons when he was there

If thats considered horrible, then im all for horrible. LOL

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 1:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

RE:

During his time as the Ravens DB coach, the secondary generated 93 interceptions — which is the second-most during that time frame.

Yea. They stink.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

RE:

And not that it’s a good barometer for a DB coach (due to so many other things being integrated into it), but the Ravens passing defense during Carrier’s time.

2006: 6th
2007: 20th
2008: 2nd
2009: 8th

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

I stand corrected

Outside of Ed Reed I don’t remember them being very good.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990

by Yarin on Feb 13, 2012 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

RE:

Actually there is truth to what you’re saying. Individually, they’ve always had issues at cornerback since Chris McAlister left/declined.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Im please.

Not woodson like EPK said. But i do like the aggresive system the jets play and im excited what he can bring

by njbengalstat on Feb 13, 2012 1:12 PM EST reply actions

Sweet.

Carrier is a former USC and NFL stud. He coached productive defenses. I like it.

I’m not as hot on Guenther, but it makes sense. Since he coached special teams, he probably has a good feel of the LBs.

CincyJungle.com Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Feb 13, 2012 1:13 PM EST reply actions

I'm good with the choice..

I’m just glad they finally announced someone since the combine is right around the corner, and we need to be focused on the job at hand, finding the best corner possible :)

by ARoo on Feb 13, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Don't they still have to hire someone to replace Lippincott?

by pemci on Feb 13, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

Im sure they can find someone that wears khaki shorts up past his belly button,thats willing to wake players up at 5 in the morning to tell them that they have been cut from the team.

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 1:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs

The whole defense runs through Zimmer

I was never that concerned with the position coaching replacements. If Zim didn’t want them they wouldn’t be here. That means they can do what he needs them to do.

by eric nyc on Feb 13, 2012 1:21 PM EST reply actions

and if zimmer did want them here

they’d be in Houston.

by Jason Blanton on Feb 13, 2012 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Im just glad they got someone that had played at a high level

Not hating on Coyle but how many pro bowls did he go to? Not saying that means anything but to have someone come in here that had a good career,thats been through the battles and been a marquee player at his position, is only a good thing.

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 1:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

RE:

I’m not sure that’s a fair argument. Some of the best coaches in the NFL weren’t good players. And vice versa.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

RE:

And some weren’t players at all.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

Very true

Im just saying its been a normal thing for the Bengals to have coaches that havent had a career as decorated as Carrier. Its a nice change to go get someone that has had that playing experience.

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 1:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions