The Bengals had to wait until 2008 to do something right when they fired defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan yesterday. It was long overdue.
However, they may not make an improvement if they are indeed targeting Panthers' secondary coach TIm Lewis:
Speculation for a replacement centers on former Steelers and Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. He spent the 2007 season as secondary coach for the Carolina Panthers.
Tim Lewis joined the Steelers staff in 1995 when Marvin Lewis was Steelers linebackers coach. Tim Lewis has seven years of experience in the NFL as a coordinator.
Now, if this was 2006, you really wouldn't fault Cincinnati for going this way. Lewis was a hot head coaching candidate back then. However, his rep has taken a pounding in his final year as the New York Giants defensive coordinator (he was fired after the 2006 season) and he isn't too highly thought of as the Carolina Panthers' secondary coach this past season. If this was the Lewis of old ... this is big news. However, it is the Lewis of one of the poorer secondaries of the past year.
Tim Lewis made his name as a secondary coach and defensive coordinator with the Steelers from 1995-2003. In 1995, current Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was the linebackers coach for the Steelers before moving on to the Baltimore Ravens the next year. The defensive coordinator for Pittsburgh in 1995 was Dick LeBeau ... who would become the Bengals head coach two years later.
LeBeau was later fired and Marvin Lewis got the Bengals gig.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-03-2008 @ 11:17AM
gene said...
I don t think you can fault Lewis for Carolina s poor secondary play, he didn t have good enough players and he answers to the d coordinator.
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1-03-2008 @ 3:16PM
Rick said...
Trade Lewis for T.J. Houshmanzadah
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1-03-2008 @ 7:29PM
jackofalltrades1977 said...
Lewis did a phenominal job this year with a multitude of problems. Gamble was terrible last year, Lucas had a torn labrum which was surgically repaired this off season, Minter retired and Nate Salley went to the IR. The secondary was the one of the biggest concerns coming into this season and Lewis had them playing VERY well. With not pass rush and QB will pick any secondary apart.
It's also funny how you forgot to mention the years that Tim had as a highly successful DC.
Usual crap from this blog.
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1-03-2008 @ 7:36PM
jackofalltrades1977 said...
I should have added:
In 2003 his defense was 9th overall, 2002 it was 7th, 2001 it was 1st overall, 1st against the rush, 4th against the pass. In 2000 they were 7th. So for four years they were in the top 10.
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1-03-2008 @ 8:19PM
Bill Walters said...
Lweis is still your coach?????????? Another losng season ahead for bungles fans.
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1-05-2008 @ 12:01AM
John said...
Missed the mark with this one Dave. I have to agree with the other posters in here. Lewis is not responsible for picking the "talent" aka Gamble and lack there of aka no replacement for Minter...but did do a solid job of patch working our secondary all year while Peppers worked on his smile, Rucker got older, and Kemo ate. Oh yeah, the linebacking core did a bang up job of applying pressure too. Thanks D Morgan for winning me $200 bucks in the "when will Dan go down pool" at work this year. I know I can always count on you, to not finish a season.
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