The Cincinnati Bengals made a big announcement at their first offseason practice on Tuesday.  For a change, it had nothing to do with an addition to the team’s prison auxiliary.

Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer that “we’re installing a new defense.”  Mike Zimmer, Lewis’s third defensive coordinator with the Bengals, will be in charge of the installation.

Ahmad Brooks practiced as the strong side, as opposed to middle, linebacker but little else is known about the new scheme.  We can surmise, then, that Odell Thurman, who was absent because of his grandmother’s death, will return to the middle after being reinstated from his two-year suspension.  If Thurman’s able to shake off the rust and Brooks is able to avoid suspension, they should team with rookie Keith Rivers and give the Bengals a solid linebacking corps to build around in 2008.

While Lewis was light on other details about the new look, he did say they will remain a four-lineman base and Zimmer said it will blend what the Bengals have done with what he did in Atlanta last season.  Based on last season, that should add up to the French army at the Maginot Line but perhaps the sum will be greater than the parts.