New Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden arrives with some key strengths of his own. His predecessor, Lou Anarumo, had an almost uncanny ability to throw out a by-the-opponent amoeba defense and give quarterbacks as Patrick Mahomes fits.

Al Golden's return to the Cincinnati Bengals was made official Thursday, with the franchise announcing he was hired as defensive coordinator.

Hammering it home as soon as possible would become a feather in Al Golden's cap. Now that Golden is taking over for Anarumo as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, the expectation is to carry that momentum from December into the offseason and beyond.