As training camp sets to open up for the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, the coaches and players are remaining positive despite such a crushing end to last season. Many of the players, coaches and fans are saying the Wild Card loss to the Steelers is in the rearview, as players begin to officially begin training camp and work toward getting back to the playoffs again this season.

Count Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther as one of those who has moved on and is focussing on this season. In speaking with the media, Guenther recently touched on a myriad of topics via Bengals.com, as he attempts to gear up his unit for camp.

One particularly interesting sound bite Guenther provided was when he was asked his thoughts on the scope of the AFC North division.

“We’ve played against them forever, so, (Joe) Flacco’s been there (Baltimore) 5, 6, 7 years now, (Ben) Roethlisberger’s been there. So, we pretty much wouldn’t have to turn on the tape and we can go out there and the guys would know the game plan, pretty much,” Guenther said with a grin. “It’s nice that there’s going to be a little continuity—obviously Cleveland is going to be a little different—but, it’s a tough division. It always is.”

Somewhat predictably, the media segued the topic into Guenther’s facing off with his old coaching comrade, Hue Jackson, now the head coach with the Browns.

“Just a normal week. I mean, I practiced against him every day. We used to beat him up a couple of days a week, he’d go down in my office and say ‘what plays are they running?’, so Hue and I go way back,” Guenther said, laughing.

Another interesting question Guenther was asked centered around what the best aspects of the defensive unit will be in 2016. And, even though Guenther noted everyone in the Bengals’ building has gotten past the tough playoff loss last January, he harkened back to the game as his answer.

“I just think that one of the things, coming off of the way the season ended, I told them ‘You’re one of the most feared defenses in the league—you’ve earned that. But, we’ve got to be smarter, situationally and emotionally on those things’. We have a talented unit, they know the defense, they work hard together,” Guenther said.

“Every great defense I’ve ever been a part of has an identity. I think that those guys have established that throughout their play, but things that go on after the whistle and in between the lines that we have to make sure we’re smarter and learn from those things. We can’t run from it—we’ve got to handle it like men and learn from it.”

Unfortunately for the Bengals, part of their defensive identity, aside from physical play which makes opposing offenses uncomfortable, is the emotional blow-up the nation saw on display in the Wild Card. We’ve talked for nearly eight months on the officiating issues in the game, as well as the legacies of some Bengals players because of their actions, but Guenther is still preaching a smarter mindset to his players. It’s likely part of the equation that brought veteran Karlos Dansby to the mix.

If you’re wondering what the expectations from Marvin Lewis and his staff are this year, Guenther relayed the message publicly—Super Bowl or bust. When asked about his expectations being on hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Guenther started off with a terse answer of “Period. Done.”

“I’m not here to win a playoff game. Obviously, we still have to win our home games, we still have to win the AFC North, so I’m not overlooking that, but when we come in here on Thursday and the players are sitting in those seats in those meeting rooms, we have one goal in mind. And that’s it. Win the Super Bowl.”

If you have been paying attention this offseason, that message has already been repeated continually. The focus and intensity level of answers, particularly when pressed on the subject of the Wild Card loss and its possible carryover to 2016, shows the eagerness the Bengals have to prove themselves this season.

With the losses of a few key players in free agency, as well as massive coaching turnover this offseason, that focus will need to be at a level we haven’t seen yet in the Lewis era. But still, it can be done and this year’s Bengals want to see it happen.