When the defensive meeting room underwent the biggest facelift of Marvin Lewis’ 14 seasons as head coach of the Bengals this past week, he and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther eschewed some nips and tucks and opted for a few sags and bags to end up with Lewis’ most experienced defensive staff when it comes to seasons in the NFL.
“I didn’t care if it was a 50-year guy or a first-year guy,” Guenther says. “I just wanted the best guys that were out there and we went and got them.”
By the time they got done this week they had 56 years of NFL experience from front, with 20 by defensive line coach Jacob Burney that include three under Lewis in Baltimore, to back, with 15 seasons by secondary coach Kevin Coyle that include four in the Bengals scheme, to the middle, with 21 seasons by linebackers coach Jim Haslett highlighted by seven as a head coach.