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."