Former Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan (left) has a new gig. He hasn't been with Cincinnati since 2007. Come to think of it, neither has Bryan Robinson. Who are these guys?

In truth, when the list was released, I had to do a quick double-take. No, not because a former Bengals defensive coordinator couldn't find a job in the NFL -- much less a defensive coordinator position. It's because one Bengals former defensive coordinator couldn't even win a defensive coordinator job for the new United Football League.

The Orlando team, under head coach Jim Haslett, hired former Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan to be the team's linebackers coach for their inaugural season (and we wonder if their only season). Bresnahan was the Bengals' defensive coordinator from 2005-2007, taking over for Leslie Frazier who was fired after two unfulfilling seasons. In three seasons, Bresnahan's defense never ranked higher than 27th in yards allowed.

How would you compare he and new defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer?

Breaking them down to averages per game.

The Bengals turnovers forced and quarterback sacks favored Bresnahan.

* FF means Forced Fumbles and FR means Fumble Recovery and that thing they wear on their heads are called helmets.

In truth, the comparison holds little meaning. While Bresnahan was working with established veterans, Mike Zimmer was given a group of young rookies and second-year players. There's an argument to be made that our offense stunk so bad last year, that it's amazing the defense performed as well as they did. So then, you're wondering, why the comparison? No reason. Just playing with numbers. You know. Chill-axing.

Speaking of the UFL, player signings will take place in July. Peter Warrick anyone? Mid-way through the month, teams will announce their names and uniforms. Logos will be unveiled in mid-September and the season gets underway in October. After the four teams wrap up the six-week regular season, the Championship Game will take place during Thanksgiving weekend.

That's your UFL break for the year -- until Peter Warrick signs.

(h/t WDR)

It was a mess around Cincinnati this morning. Earlier, I went to my car that was layered with ice. Taking a screw driver to chip away the ice, it took me nearly 30 minutes just to open my car door. The steps that precede to my front door slopes with ice, and as I write this, another thick snow is falling. So if you're out and about, drive safely -- as opposed to the opposite of not driving safely. Is that one of those annoying things that when people ask that you take care of yourself, you irritatingly say, "NO, I don't wanna."

Note: I wrote that early this morning, but my cable modem went out for about three hours.

Jackson has second interview. Minutes after we updated the site to say that there's no update, we learned that Hue Jackson will have a second interview with San Francisco for the vacant offensive coordinator position. Joe Reedy points out that the Bengals have made no official announcement about the team's 2009 coaching staff. We think that if the Bengals were interested, they would have made their offer by now rather than waiting to see if Jackson lands elsewhere. And if they made their offer, then Jackson likely rejected it (or else we wouldn't be speculating about it now). But we watch anyone. A hope? No. A fool's hope.

Another point about Chad's trade value. I pointed this out in the comments, but there's another reason why we're not sure that Johnson would get traded. Consider that 2009 is the final capped season, and 2010 is uncapped. As per the agreement, all signing bonus money would be applied to only capped seasons. Therefore, as I understand it, if Chad gets traded, he'd likely sign an extension with his new team. All that signing bonus money would be applied to the remaining cap season (2009) which could cause teams hesitation to trade for him. Remember, his agent is Drew Rosenhaus who gets paid as Chad Johnson gets paid; so an extension with a heavy signing bonus would benefit the agent, but harm the team's salary structure.

On January 23, Hue Jackson interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers for their vacant offensive coordinator position. Right now, the 49ers have three candidates, Jackson, Jeff Jagodzinski and Clyde Christensen. As far as we know, nothing has moved since the interviews, and we assume that Jackson being the last name interviewed with a realistic shot at the position (aka, not including Dan Reeves). We only bring this up because of the unsubstantiated report that has yet to be confirmed that the Bengals' Marvin Lewis was interested in bringing Jackson back as the team's offensive coordinator, removing Bob Bratkowski from the post; which we still believe is a long shot.

The Examiner says that the 49ers are looking for a run-oriented offense. Jackson was the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator in 2007, and the Washington Redskins coordinator in 2003; as well as Cal's offensive coordinator in 1996. The Falcons had the 26th best rushing offense in 2007, averaging 95.0 yards per game rushing on average 24.1 times per game; 29th best. Neither rush attempts or the Washington Redskins rushing offense improved much; all of which makes us think that the run-oriented offense that the 49ers are looking might not be behind Jackson's history. Of course, that's not a good sample size compared to a coordinator's ideology, but it's all we have to go with.

Anyway, it's not like the Bengals will cut ties with Mike Brown favorite Bob Bratkowski.So if you ask me why in the hell we're talking about it, I'd be fine with that. We simply call it a fool's hope.

But what of Ken Zampese? When one door was shut after Brian Schottenheimer agreed to stay as the Jets offensive coordinator, it was learned that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were interested in the Bengals quarterback coach. After it was reported that Zampese would interview early this week, meaning Monday and/or Tuesday and Wednesday if "early" was a loose-fitting term.

Including Zampese, Chan Gailey and Greg Olson look to be leading candidates after Rod Chudzinski took the job as the tight ends coach in San Diego. We figure to learn of Zampese's fait relatively soon.

Dave Hutchinson of The Star-Ledger writes that "Schottenheimer is expected to remain with" the Jets, after he met with head coach Rex Ryan and owner Woody Johnson. It was speculated (good enough word) by the Baltimore Sun that Marvin Lewis was inquiring about Hue Jackson, who was considered a candidate as the Jets offensive coordinator if Schottenheimer left because of his and Ryan's connection at Baltimore. It was also speculated that Bengals quarterback coach Ken Zampese could be Rex Ryan's Plan B. No interview took place, and it turned out that Zampese simply had his name dropped.

However, a new team with interest emerged. Sometime next week, Zampese will meet with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the open offensive coordinator spot. The Pewter Report writes: "New Bucs head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik have been coy in their coaching search, but PewterReport.com has learned Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese is scheduled to interview for Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator job early next week."

If there's any truth (we doubt it) to the Baltimore Sun's report that Lewis was interested in bringing Jackson back as the team's offensive coordinator, having Schottenheimer remain in New York, helps that cause. However, a unique chance for Zampese has arrived with a team looking to overhaul from the head coach down. If Zampese leads an offense that turns out pretty good, he'll be credited greatly, adding chips to a possible head coaching resume.

In the end, it seems more likely to us that we don't go after Jackson and they could lose Zampese in the process.

This little nugget about the Jets is very, well, surprising in that it's not really surprising. However, it seems like there's a lot riding on what happens with the Jets coaching staff, and how that trickles to us. Brian Schottenheimer, the New York Jets offensive coordinator, well liked with the Jets front office, is going to meet with Rex Ryan, the Jets newest head coach to see if they can work together -- aka, coexist. However, if he can't, it was generally assumed that Ravens coach Hue Jackson would join Ryan in New York. They had, after all, worked together for a time and Jackson has experience as an offensive coordinator and it's unlikely that Jackson would replace Cam Cameron unless Cameron were offered a new head coaching position.

Well, instead of Jackson, Adam Schefter reports that Ryan plans to hire Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese as the new offensive coordinator. It's surprising in one sense because we didn't hear much of that development, but it's not surprising to us that Zampese would be given the shot. Many of us had assumed and hoped that Zampese would get promoted eventually, becoming the next offensive coordinator.

Nothing has changed yet, but we'd assume we'll have more of an indication whether or not we'll have Zampese next season relatively soon.

UPDATE III: No comment from Lewis. Geoff Hobson made his inquiries about this interesting gossip story, saying that its falling on deaf ears. "Lewis wouldn't comment per club policy, but with incumbent Bob Bratkowski still in place since the season ended and coaching in this game, it doesn't appear that Lewis looking for another coordinator."

Interestingly enough, Lewis' no comment isn't on par with disputed stories of the past. Usually, when a report like this is released, based on 100% speculation of a single sentence written at another city's newpaper, he'll laugh it up, say that it's way wrong. On the other hand, Lewis tends to deny everything until an official annoucement is made.

This could turn out to be an interesting week after all.

UPDATE II: Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to stay. The New York Daily News reported last Thursday that Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will stay in New York. This means that if there's any truth to the Baltimore Sun's piece, that the Bengals would have an easy path acquiring Jackson if the team looks to replace their offensive coordinator. Paul Daugherty called Bob Bratkowski a Mike Brown favorite.

On the other hand, PFT wrote today that Schottenheimer is staying with the Jets. Typically new head coaches like to have their own coaches underneath them. However, this is being reported as fact by Sportsnet New York, which reported that one of the conditions that Rex Ryan becomes the head coach is that he keeps Brian Schottenheimer.

However, other outlets aren't so sure that Schottenheimer sticks around. Newday reports all that's known thus far. Washington Post says that it's unclear. Newsday simply says that Schottenheimer is the OC, so far.

We're keeping our eye on this, why? Well, again, if there's any truth to the Baltimore Sun's piece, then we have to keep our eye on the Jets situation. If the Bengals push for Jackson, then the Jets could wrench that depending on what they do with Schottenheimer (or what Schottenheimer wants). It was also once reported that if Schottenheimer didn't get the head coaching job, he'd request his release. However, Jets general manager, Mike Tannenbaum really likes Schottenheimer.

Our opinion? The Bengals replacing their offensive coordinator right now seems far fetched. If they wanted to replace him, then why not earlier? On the other hand, one that we really didn't think through, is that if the Bengals targeted Jackson earlier, then he wouldn't have been able to interview for the position while the Baltimore Ravens were deep in the playoffs. You're only allowed to interview with other teams, during the post-season, provided the position is for a head coaching spot. Now that the Ravens season is over, this is coming to light, which supports a truth that Lewis is looking into it.

Of course, then there's Mike Brown (sigh).

Original: Perhaps Bob Bratkowski isn't out of the woods just yet. The Baltimore Sun writes that head coach Marvin Lewis has expressed interest in former Bengals wide receivers coach as the team's offensive coordinator. Jackson is also being courted by Rex Ryan, the New York Jets' newest head coach.

If this is true, then we have to go back to the confusing circumstances regarding half time of the 2005 Wild Card game, in which Chad Johnson reportedly exploded, even taking a swing at Jackson. Then Shaun Smith, confirmed that Johnson gave Lewis a black eye, and missed on another swing at Jackson. Jackson denied everything.

Could the two co-exist? Perhaps if Jackson does join the Bengals coaching staff again, it could be a pre-text to letting Johnson go. In terms of one's personal future, if Jackson becomes an offensive coordinator, we'd put our money that he joins the New York Jets staff simply because it could be a nice stepping stone for head coaching ambitions. On the other hand, Jackson won't find another set of offensive skill-talent to play with than in Cincinnati.

UPDATE: Mike Florio writes that the Cincinnati Enquirer made a single sentence of the Baltimore Sun about the Lewis' interest in Jackson, into a full blown article. Florio writes, "because it’s now appearing in the Enquirer, it’s being regarded as the truth." We're not exactly sure if he's addressing readers and emailers who have cited the Enquirer piece as fact, or if he's addressing the Enquirer for reporting fact. We're going to assume that Florio is addressing the Enquirer, because PFT has always been very aggressive against the media.

Enquirer beat writer, Joe Reedy said nothing that the Baltimore Sun didn't, using key words that should be regarded as talk, not truth. Reedy writes: "Marvin Lewis' offseason hints about changes in the Bengals offense might include one other thing - a new coordinator."

Lewis has been very vague this off-season about what he means when he has declared that the Bengals offense will go through changes. Based on the Baltimore Suns' report, Reedy accurately added this into Lewis' vague description, using the key word "might".

Reedy continues: "The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Lewis is interested in pursuing Ravens quarterbacks coach and former Bengals assistant Hue Jackson to rejoin the team as offensive coordinator."

The wording that the Baltimore Sun used was: "Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis could be interested in Jackson becoming Cincinnati's offensive coordinator."

Both used the word "interest" and both acknowledged the job would be the Bengals offensive coordinator. It was the Sun that reported this as "fact", Joe Reedy simply acknowledged it.

Again, we're not exactly sure Florio's point, who he's trying to address. If it's his readers and emailers, then so be it. If it's the Enquirer, then he's dead wrong.

For those of you banking on the Bengals dumping Bob Bratkowski this off-season, turn away. Watch Jimmy Johnson chat during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl pre-game show; it'll be easier on you, even with his pink shirt and tie. The Bengals coaching staff was invited to fill the ranks for the North at the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on January 24, 2008 2009 at 8 P.M.

Several things to note here.

If the Bengals were going to make a coaching change, it would have happened by now. It's one thing to replace a position coach, but an offensive coordinator is typically a highly complicated system that requires months, upon months of development and integration. Coordinators need to understand their players, so that roles can be established, and the system worked around the talent of the players. Based on that alone, it should be clear that the Bengals are sticking with Bratkowski.

Secondly, you're not going to take your anyone from the coaching staff if you don't plan a change. What's the point of taking the coaches to the Senior Bowl, to scout the seniors in the game, if they're just going to be fired anyway? That, in itself, makes it additionally clear. Even Geoff Hobson points out the obvious that this "announcement confirms the Bengals plan little change to their coaching staff."

C Trent, who also has the press release, points out several players in the 2004 Senior Bowl, the last time the Bengals coaching staff was in the game, ended up being drafted by the team: Keiwan Ratliff, Madieu Williams, Greg Brooks, and Kyle Larson. Larson remains. Yea. Me too, fellas.

The game will be on NFL Network; which means barely anyone will get to watch it.

We want to make this abundantly clear, for any site, coach or player we rip into: we're not addressing the person, just services (barely) rendered, the actual opinion given, etc... We're not blindly going around marching to the drum of firing someone simply because we're the displeased mob with torches during Access Hollywood (two points if you know the reference). We believe that the system is flawed, that being unable to plug players into the system, using the "talent" excuse, is a severe disadvantage. It means that if God of the Golden Arms isn't playing, that the Bengals can shelve whatever hope remains. No offensive system should be based on a single player.

We know that our argument is very weak. There's nothing to back it up. We complain generally about the plays, but specifics aren't readily published. So it should be up to the Consortium of Bengals bloggers to document it all; to throw a pile of papers on the demons desk to say, "this is why."

There's two mind sets at work after the Bengals officially hired Mike Zimmer to become the team's defensive coordinator. Both of which rely on a history of experience. As a Bengals fan, you just get that feeling that it doesn't matter who the defensive coordinator is, the defense will continue to struggle. Coaches are coaches. Players are players. If the players aren't that good, then the coaches aren't either. If the coaches aren't that good, in some cases, the players can make up the difference or make the coach look better than he really is.

Leslie Frazier was the first Marvin Lewis defensive coordinator. After an unsuccessful run -- and being a scapegoat coordinator -- Frazier went to Indianapolis -- coaching defensive backs -- helping the Colts improve their defensive ranking from 15th in 2005 to 2nd in 2006. He went on to Minnesota as the defensive coordinator and finished with a 20th ranked defense -- first against the rush, dead last against the pass.

Ironically, the Bengals best defensive season in the past five years was Frazier's last season (2004) when the defense was ranked 19th. Chuck Bresnahan didn't fare much better. The defense didn't toughen up. However, they did become an opportunistic defense leading the league with 31 interceptions in 2005 with 30 forced fumbles (6th in NFL). The Bengals frequency of interceptions ranked in the top-eight each of Chuck Bresnahan's three seasons.

I'm not degrading Mike Zimmer one bit. I think it's a good hire. Why? Because of the available candidates available, the Bengals got the most established that would reasonably be in Cincinnati. No chance of Rex Ryan. No chance of Tim Lewis. No consideration for Donnie Henderson.

And Zimmer has produced results with the Cowboys taking younger players and establishing them as stars -- pun intended. It's not that I don't believe Zimmer can do it. That invading thought that no matter who the Bengals hire as defensive coordinator, it won't make a difference. But we'll see. We have all off-season to speculate.

UPDATE: I asked Blogging the Boys senior blogger, Grizz, his thoughts on Zimmer. Good stuff.

Bengals hire Zimmer [Enquirer]
Bengals ink defensive coordinator [DDN]
Bengals name Zimmer [Bengals]