CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Different co-ordinators, same systems, same head coach.
Thierry Henry France Jersey . The Bengals will be slightly different next season as they try to end one of the NFLs longest runs of playoff misery. The Bengals promoted linebackers coach Paul Guenther to defensive co-ordinator on Thursday, keeping continuity for a unit that finished No. 3 in the NFL last season. The move came one day after the Minnesota Vikings hired Mike Zimmer as their head coach. Its also the second time in two weeks that Cincinnati replaced a co-ordinator with an in-house candidate. They elevated running backs coach Hue Jackson to offensive co-ordinator after Jay Gruden was hired by the Redskins as head coach. "Were going to have some new coaches, and its great for us," coach Marvin Lewis said on Thursday. "Some new blood, some new energy. Because we cant be the same. We dont get to be the same. Weve got to be better in 2014 than we were in 13, and thats what our quest is right away." The Bengals won the AFC North this season, but couldnt shake their legacy of flaming out in the playoffs. They lost to San Diego 27-10 in the opening round at Paul Brown Stadium, making it 23 years since they last won a playoff game, tied for the sixth-longest streak in NFL history. Theyve also tied the NFL record by losing their opening game three years in a row. And Lewis is 0-5 in the playoffs during his 11 seasons in Cincinnati, trailing Jim Mora by one for the most consecutive playoff losses to start a coaching career. "I want to still be playing a year from now," said Lewis, who is entering the final year on his contract. The Bengals are the first team since the 2006 San Diego Chargers to lose both co-ordinators to head coaching jobs elsewhere, according to STATS LLC. Zimmer presided over one of the Bengals best stretches of defence during his six seasons in Cincinnati. The Bengals finished in the Top 10 for fewest yards allowed in four of the last five seasons. Guenther has spent nine seasons on Cincinnatis coaching staff, the last two with the linebackers. He worked with Zimmer to formulate the defensive plays. "Since the first day he got here, Ive been by his side most of the time," Guenther said. "If you look back at our defence in 2008, it has transformed to now. Weve sat side-by-side and put a lot of this stuff together." Zimmer wanted to bring Guenther with him to Minnesota as his defensive co-ordinator, but Guenther decided to stay in Cincinnati. "Ive got young kids; I didnt have to move my family," Guenther said. "Ive got good players that I really like and care for. And really at the end of the day, that was probably the one thing that I said: OK, I feel bad for these guys, this guys leaving and that guys leaving (as co-ordinators) and these guys deserve a good situation." The Bengals will be getting a couple of their defensive stars back from injury. Top cornerback Leon Hall tore an Achilles tendon and defensive tackle Gen Atkins tore a knee ligament during the season. The defence has a core of young players led by Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict. One of the biggest challenges for Guenther will be calling the plays during games. Zimmer was known for his ability to anticipate what the opposing offence would do and get into a defence that contained it. "Youve got to understand (the opposing offence) better than they understand themselves," Lewis said. "Mike was excellent at that. Going forward, thats going to be the challenge of Paul in this situation in this role. Hes not been that." Guenther sat with the coaches in a booth on game days and was part of the discussions about which defence to call. "There is a lot of communication going on every play: What do you like here? What do you like there? To be honest with you, I could sit up in the press box and probably 95 per cent of the time know what was going to come out of his mouth," Guenther said. "Being around the guy and understanding how he calls the game, certain situations, you know it. Its just a matter of going out there and doing it."
Mathieu Valbuena France Jersey . And Richard Bachman, their rookie goalie, is facing a penalty shot a few seconds after the opening face-off. No pressure, right? Bachman stood his ground against Zack Kassian and saw the puck dribble off the Canuck rookies stick, then settled in and backstopped the Stars to a 5-2 win over Vancouver Tuesday that put Dallas in first place in the Pacific Division.
Yohan Cabaye Jersey . Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski confirmed Saturday that Wallach and Lloyd McClendon have both interviewed for the job.MONTREAL -- It wasnt pretty or convincing, but it was a win and the Montreal Impact will take it. Felipe Martins scored in the 15th minute and the Impact held on for a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on a rainy Saturday afternoon for their first win of the Major League Soccer season. It was the Impacts (1-4-3) first victory in 10 league games since a 2-1 triumph over Philadelphia on Oct. 19 last season and their first clean sheet since a 5-0 thumping of Houston last Aug. 24. "We did a great job of fighting for every ball," said Felipe, who got his team-leading second goal of the season. "But the most important thing was the three points. "We waited for this a long time and its very nice to be back with a win." The Union (1-3-5) are winless in their last seven games and havent scored in their last two. It was Montreals first home game on the grass field at Saputo Stadium -- after playing three times indoors at Olympic Stadium -- but the stands were only half full in chilly, wet weather, although attendance was listed at 19,075. Felipe scored when Patrice Bernier stole the ball from Sheanon Williams and took a long shot that Zac MacMath blocked, only to fall to the Brazilian who banged in the rebound. The Impact and goalkeeper Troy Perkins spent the next 75 minutes holding off the Union, who outshot them 17-7 and wasted some glittering chances. "We have to grow and improve because we didnt play a good game for 90 minutes," said centreback Matteo Ferrari. "Some parts were good. "But it was very important to get the three points. For us, it wasnt a moment to play well but it was a moment to get points." It was the first meeting between the teams since the Impact sent Andrew Wenger to the Union for Jack McInerney in a swap of strikers three weeks ago. Wenger was dangerous all afternoon, taking four shots, including two on goal. He missed the net by a long margin in the 22nd minute, but five minutes later forced Perkins to stretch out a hand to save a shot from the edge of the penalty area. "The whole teams been dangerous lately but we havent been able to put the ball in the back of the net," said Wenger, who has one goal in four games since the trade. "Thats whats frustrating. "We knew they were dangerous on counterattacck, like they were today, but we had the better of the play going forward.
Franck Ribery France Jersey. We couldnt translate that into goals and thats something me and some other guys have to figure out." McInerney had a glittering chance in the 54th, but MacMath dove to get a hand on the shot. The striker known as Jack Mac said it was fun to play his former teammates. "Whenever Id walk by someone there would always be a little comment made, but at the end, it was business," he said. "Every tackle had a little something extra in it." It was also a first Impact win for former Chicago Fire coach Frank Klopas, who replaced the fired Marco Schallibaum in December. There had been grumbling among fans and the media that Klopas and sporting director Nick De Santis should be let go if the teams record winless run to start a season continued, although De Santis met with the media during the week to give his third coach in as many MLS seasons a vote of confidence. The discontent showed when their staunchest supporters who cluster behind the west goal held up banners that read: "3 years, 3 coaches, 1 De Santis." "It felt really good," Klopas said of the win. "Some games are not going to be pretty soccer and you have to find ways to compete. "It gives us confidence. You can do things in training, but its important to get results. You have more enthusiasm." The Impact would probably wish to play again as soon as possible, but they are entering a bye week and dont play again until May 7 when they face either Ottawa or Edmonton in a Voyageurs Cup semifinal. Their next league game is at home May 10 against Kansas City. The Impact are 4-1-2 against Philadelphia in two-plus seasons in MLS, including 4-0-0 in Montreal. Fullback Hassoun Camara was shown the yellow card for clotheslining Fabinho in the 37th minute. It was his fifth caution of the season and he will be suspended for Montreals next MLS game. The Union play next week at Seattle. Notes: Fullbacks Camara and Jeb Brovsky were back in the starting 11 for Montreal as Eric Miller and Maxim Tissot saw action as substitutes. Calum Mallace, who started last week, was back on the bench as McInerney started. . . Conor Casey and Crisitian Maidana were on the bench for Philadelphia while Fabinho started.
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