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Cincinnati Bengals

Zimmer's 'tough love' paying off

By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted November 9, 2009 6:54 PM ET

Sitting in the back row of the team meeting room, Domata Peko kept his head down, just hoping somehow defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer wouldn't notice him, go hoarse or something.

Coming out of the bye week with a 5-2 record and on the heels of a dominating performance over the Bears, the Bengals felt pretty good about themselves. Their defensive coordinator wasn't going to let them feel like they'd accomplished much of anything.

From the first guy in the front row, to the last man in the back - which just happened to be Peko - Zimmer let everyone know just exactly what they needed to work on to be a better player. No player was immune; every single one got their moment under the heat lamp that the Bengals' second-year defensive coordinator.

"He went to each person and told us our weaknesses and what they had to do better," Peko said. "He was pretty tough. He was being blunt, that's the type of coach I like, someone who will tell you if you're doing anything wrong, he'll tell you straight up. From the oldest guy on the team to the youngest."

Defensive end Robert Geathers Jr. said it was the first time he'd experienced something like that.

"He told us how we could be better, it wasn't just one or two guys, he went down the line in front of the whole defense," said Geathers. "I've never had that happen. That was different, but there's no secrets in that room, we're one, we're a unit and we play as a unit."

Safety Chinedum Ndukwe noted that not everything Zimmer said in that meeting was negative, he had several positive things to note to players. But what stuck out in Ndukwe's mind about his personal critique was that he needed to be better in his footwork.

"He's straight-forward and blunt, that's what makes him a great coach and makes people respect him," Ndukwe said. "He's honest and keeps you on track. It's never as good as it seems or never as bad as it seems."

On the practice field and in the meeting rooms, Zimmer can be very short and abrasive and for the most part, it's a good thing Hard Knocks was on HBO or else viewers may not know what his voice sounded like.

"He told us the reason he's so hard on us during the week is so you don't have to worry about it twice, just play ball," Peko said. "He says you don't have to worry about getting yelled at, he does all his yelling during the week."

Tank Johnson was on the receiving end of a displeased Zimmer on Sunday, but he said he understands that's part of Zimmer's motivational tactics and that he respects that his coach is as intense as any player.

The Bengals defense is currently ranked second in the NFL against the run and 14th in total defense. On Sunday, they held Baltimore - which came into the game ranked seventh in total offense and fourth in points - scoreless and to less than 100 yards in the first three quarters. In the fourth, the Bengals gave up a touchdown and more than 100 yards, although the biggest play of the game was on the last play, a 35-yard reception by Ray Rice, the check-down receiver on a desperation heave.

"By no means did we play a perfect game out there," Ndukwe said. "We're certainly going to hear about our mistakes and hopefully get those fixed for Pittsburgh.

And even as he prepared for a workout, Peko knew Zimmer was working on a strategy to stop the Steelers -- "the mad scientist is up in his lab," Peko said of Zimmer.

What makes all this more impressive is that Zimmer is doing his job as well as anyone else in his position even after suffering personal tragedy when his wife passed away suddenly last month.

"He's a man of great character and resilience, to get through a season like this and still be effective as a coach, we count on him and we don't want to let him down and don't want to let each other down," Geathers said. "It's big, when he wake up every morning and come do his job like that, we know we have to do the same thing. We know there's no excuses, we can't make any excuses."

Peko, a pallbearer in Vicki Zimmer's funeral, said he's seen no change in Zimmer on the field in the last month.

"It was amazing to me for him to think of me like that," Peko said of participating in Vicki Zimmer's funeral. "I love playing for the guy, our defense, everyone loves playing for him, he gets you prepared so much so that on Sundays we already know what's happening so quickly that we don't have to think twice."

That's how the Bengals have played on defense - fast, furious and smart. And that goes back to their leader.

"ZIm's the greatest, he's one of the best coaches I've been around," Ndukwe said. "I think we've come a long way and I love that he coaches us hard because I know he's coached a lot of great players and I want to be on that level. I appreciate the support he's given me and the tough love that he hands out."

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, Features

Tags: Chinedum Ndukwe, Domata Peko, Marvin Lewis, Mike Zimmer, Robert Geathers Jr., Tank Johnson