Former defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan took a few parting shots on his way out of town, and former linebackers coach Richard Hunley said the Bengals got too caught up in complex schemes and suggested that the "gameplan has to be about simplicity." According to Cincinnati Enquirer's Mark Curnutte, Mike Zimmer, recently told by the Falcons to start looking for a new job, could be named to replace Bresnahan next week. And I don't know if this qualifies as "keeping it simple," but there's a chance that Zimmer's hire could signal the Bengals' move to the 3-4 defense.
Zimmer was Atlanta's coordinator in 2007 and was credited as coordinator in Dallas for moving its defense from a three-linebacker to four-linebacker scheme, a possibility this offseason with the BengalsFirst things first: Cincinnati needs to stock their roster with linebackers and then hope they can stay healthy. Obviously, injuries are arbitrary and it's hard to fault the Bengals for not carrying 12 linebackers on the roster in 2007. Things were so thin at the position that defensive end Robert Geathers played outside linebacker at times during the second half of the season.
The team also lost 2005 first-round pick OLB David Pollack to a neck injury in 2006, and middle linebacker Odell Thurman has had more than his share of off-field issues.
Assuming Zimmer gets the job, whatever he decides to do can't be much worse than what Bresnahan "accomplished" during his three years in Cincy.
