FYI, all news and updates for the Bengals defensive coordinator will be updated on THIS post only. At least for the time being. You can access this page on the right hand side under "Interest Stories".
UPDATE VIII: Search over. Bengals hire Mike Zimmer.
UPDATE VII: Signs point to Bengals hiring Zimmer
UPDATE VI: Tim Lewis, DENIED; Rex Ryan NOT possible through a trade of draft picks
UPDATE V: Bengals interview Mike Zimmer
Zimmer was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in 2000 primarily using the 4-3 defense. He implemented the 3-4 -- likely persuaded by Bill Parcells -- with no background of using that defense in 2005. Mike Zimmer also turned down the head coaching position at Nebraska when the school let Bill Callahan go to stick around in the NFL. There was even speculation that Zimmer would get the Dallas head coaching position once Parcells retired. His 2003 Cowboys defense allowed a league best 253.5 yards per game. In 2004, the Cowboys went through a series of major injuries in the secondary
If you're curious, here's Zimmer's history as coordinator and where his defenses ranked in the league with points and yards allowed respectively. I would ignore his results in Atlanta simply because that team was, well, distracted. Is that a good word?
Season | Team | Points | Yards |
2000 | Cowboys | 22 | 19 |
2001 | Cowboys | 20 | 4 |
2002 | Cowboys | 13 | 18 |
2003 | Cowboys | 2 | 1 |
2004 | Cowboys | 27 | 16 |
2005 | Cowboys | 12 | 10 |
2006 | Cowboys | 20 | 13 |
2007 | Falcons | 29 | 28 |
UPDATE IV: DB Coach Kevin Coyle? Rex Ryan?
Coyle was defensive coordinator for five college programs: U.S. Merchant Marine, 1981; Holy Cross, 1986-90; Syracuse, 1991-93; Maryland, 1994-96; Fresno State 1997-2000. Then-Bengals defensive coordinator Mark Duffner, Coyle's boss at Holy Cross and Maryland, brought him to the Bengals after the 2000 season.
Coyle also isn't afraid to speak his mind with head coach Marvin Lewis.
Other defensive coordinator candidates are Carolina Panthers secondary coach Tim Lewis and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, fired along with Brian Billick and his entire staff Monday. [Curnutte's Blog]
Note: Rex Ryan is interviewing with Miami for the head coaching job there.
UPDATE III: Job Search Begins. Bengals looking at Tim Lewis.
UPDATE II: Bengals also fired linebackers coach Ricky Hunley. Donnie Henderson leading candidate for Defensive Coordinator Job.
UPDATE I: ESPN confirmed it. Chuck Bresnahan fired.
The first off-season shot was fired. The man targeted? Chuck Bresnahan. Expected. While Lewis made note that we shouldn't expect anything big, firing your defensive coordinator would, in our eyes, constitute as big. Are you shocked? Seriously. Are you? Though we should point out this report is coming out of Pro Football Talk and not confirmed at either the official site or any of the local beat writers.
Bresnahan, an assistant coach in 2004, was promoted to defensive coordinator before the 2005 season after the team fired Leslie Frazier -- now defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
In three seasons as the defensive coordinator, Bresnahan's defense averaged 21st in points allowed and 27th in yardage allowed. The Bengals became his first gig as Defensive Coordinator in the NFL. Below are year-by-year rankings for the defense.
Season | Points | Yards |
2007 | 24 | 25 |
2006 | 17 | 30 |
2005 | 22 | 28 |
Under Frazier | ||
2004 | 21 | 19 |
2003 | 28 | 28 |
Sadly, I don't suspect much change with this firing. Firing one defensive coordinator for another equally anti-climatic coordinator is what we saw the last time the position changed hands. So call me suspect until the team can actually formulate a team that will advance beyond mediocrity into an expectation to win.