Bengals D. Coordinator

In a few hours, they'll introduce M. Zimmer as ML's 3rd DC in 5 years. Zimmer's resume suggests he's a solid choice. Hard to discount that he worked for Parcells in Dallas and the D there improved on his watch. A few things:

It's the players. Coaches w/o players are like gin w/o tonic. Do-able, but I wouldnt recommend it. Ask Lewis and B. Billick, defensive and offensive geniuses, respectively. Ask yourself: When was the last time the Bengals had enough good players on defense?

Zimmer can hold people accountable, he can scheme to his heart's content. Without players, improvement suffers.

Did Bresnahan suddenly get stupid? Was he smart enough to coach a Raiders D to a Super Bowl? Did D. LeBeau's IQ shoot up when he returned to Pittsburgh?

Players.

The Bengals need an identity on defense. They need to figure out who they want to be and acquire players to make that happen. Will they do that? Look at the track record for 17 years.

Injuries? Every team has 'em... Indy won w/o Harrison, Mathis and Freeney for stretches... Steelers won the division w/Polamalu hurt much of the year, Aaron Smith out. Redskins win their last 4 to make the playoffs w/half their starting OL out, their starting QB hurt and their best player murdered. And so on.

Thurman and Nicholson were the Bengals' fault. Pollack? A shame, but really didnt play enough to know how good he could have been. Geathers? We'll see. Ditto for White and Ndukwe. Corners seem solid.

Point is, Mike Zimmer could be named Vince Ryan Parcells and if he doesnt have the players, his impact will be muted. As long as the Bengals insist they draft well and evaluate well, the drive for the more perfect 8-8 will march on, unabated.