Why Spagnuolo makes sense
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Why Spagnuolo makes sense
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
There’s still a game left in the season – albeit a meaningless one – but it’s apparently “all but certain” that Juan Castillo is out as the Eagles defensive coordinator and Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo will return to Philadelphia and take over for Castillo.
At least that’s the report coming out of San Diego, of all places, because supposedly a regime change with the Chargers will set off a domino effect that will result in the soon-to-be-fired Spagnuolo returning to the Eagles.
The Eagles aren’t talking – not even in off-the-record e-mails I generally receive when things are sunny in Philadelphia – so I have no further information on the subject. I can say the Eagles are fond of Spagnuolo, would have probably given him Jim Johnson’s job had he not left for New York, but they have not yet made final decisions on their coaching staff.
I’m not here to dump on the report because, for many reasons, Spagnuolo getting the job makes sense. The move has been speculated on ever since the Eagles’ and Rams’ slow starts. But there are plenty of reasons, as others have insightfully pointed out, why it doesn’t pass the smell test.
One of the arguments against the Eagles bringing Spagnuolo back is based on scheme.
That one, I don’t buy.
After 12 seasons of hyper-aggressive, blitzing defenses under Johnson and Sean McDermott, Andy Reid decided last off-season that a change was in order. He lured Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn and his wide-nine, front four alignment here and promoted Juan Castillo to essentially handle the back seven.
Washburn doesn’t think much of blitzes. He thinks they’re overused. He thinks the front four should be able to generate enough pressure. So Castillo dialed down the blitzes this season. The Eagles’ failures have had little to do with blitzing, but the new scheme, along with the new coaching staff and new faces on defense have been cited as reasons for the rocky start.
A current three-game winning streak in which the defense has allowed just 12 points a game would suggest that maybe the unit has finally put all the pieces together. It may be too late to save Castillo – because, really, Matt Moore, Mark Sanchez and Stephen McGee aren’t the quarterbacks you brag about beating – but it probably saved the scheme.
Spagnuolo is from the School of Johnson. Calling defenses is hardly all about calling blitzes, but Johnson’s scheme revolved around whether he would send extra pass rushers or not. Spagnuolo brought the same philosophy to the Giants when he was defensive coordinator for two seasons, and then to St. Louis when he took over as head coach in 2009.
So for the Eagles to bring Spagnuolo aboard with Washburn likely still in place would be like hiring a run-oriented coordinator to run Reid’s offense. At least, that’s the conventional wisdom.
I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t work.
For one, it’s not as if the Eagles didn’t blitz this season. It may have been nowhere near as much as it once was, but they did send at least one extra pass rusher on 98 of 492 drop backs (20 percent), according to ProFootballFocus.com.
Over the last three games, Castillo has called a slightly higher percentage of blitzes (23.2 percent). Of 23 blitzes over that span the Eagles have generated seven sacks. They recorded just five in their first 75 blitzes.
So the Eagles have been blitzing more of late and are having more success as a result.
Spagnuolo, on the other hand, has been blitzing less this season. In fact, after the first three games when he blitzed 41.5 percent of the time, his blitzing numbers are more in line with the Eagles of this season. In the last 12 games, the Rams have blitzed on 95 of 387 drop backs (24.5 percent).
There are probably a number of reasons why Spagnulo was less reliant on blitzing as the season progressed – a rash of injuries at cornerback and desperation come to mind – but the results were essentially the same.
It should be pointed out that the Rams are 2-13 largely because of the ineffectiveness of one of the worst offenses in the NFL. St. Louis’ defense is still ranked sixth in the league against the pass, seventh in sacks per pass play, tenth inside the red zone and 14th in points allowed.
One schematic reason to like Spagnuolo for the job is his preference for press-man cornerbacks. If the Eagles are to part with Asante Samuel – as the thinking goes – then the team would rid itself of its lone off-corner. Before coming to Philly, Nnamdi Asomugha primarily played as a press-man corner in Oakland. But for various reasons – one likely having to do with Samuel – he was asked to play almost as much zone with the Eagles this season.
Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie has played both press-man and zone over his short career, but he said recently that he prefers the former. If Samuel goes, as expected, he’ll start opposite Asomugha, giving the Eagles two of a kind at the corners.
Spagnuolo, if he were to end up with the Eagles, may not be asked to blitz as much. But there’s no reason to think he can’t work with the wide-nine and Washburn, conversely, can’t work with a little more blitzing.
All this is assuming, of course, that Reid returns.
Yea, ok. Isn't this one of the Reporters that sold the gullible Eagles fans on Kevin Kolb?
Never does it make sense to recycle a failed Head Coach and expect him to contribute towards winning the grand prize the next year.
— Dexter- umm have you seen wade phillips this year, doing wonders with the texans as their D coorid, some people aren't meant to be head coached, Steve has been amazing everywhere he has been as an assistant, you comment is short sighted. And he did go 7-9 last year but about everyone on his team got hurt. He is a good coach (and a heck of a lot better than Juan) — tb42
- Maybe I've been fooled by the last 3 games, but is it really fair to label Juan a failure and fire him? Yes, they blew some 4th quarter leads early in the year, but the offense wasn't scoring in the 4th quarter in those games, so it's a bit unfair to pin all the blame on this guy. I mean, the defense didn't turn the ball over 35 times this year (or whatever ungodly number it is). The defense didn't decide to ingore the running game for spans when McCoy was having an historic year. Was Juan great? No, definitely not. But to expect the unit to come out clicking on all cylinders with a new scheme, new players, and new coaches...with no offseason. Maybe I'm just being naive, but I think the guy deserves the right to come back.— bpgavin1
- Well thought out post unlike most of the people here. I agree. I don't think he was great but not bad all things considered. I would love to see Spags back but won't be heartbroken if they keep Juan. Astro Jones, conversely, obviously thinking isn't his strong suit. Really, so the guy who is DC for a Super bowl team and understudy to JJ shouldn't be hired???
- 10-38 as a Head Coach with no playoffs and no Super Bowls in three years not to mention a defense ranked 21st in the league. This guy shouldn't be hired as hot dog vendor let alone DC.— Astro Jones
- bpgavin, absolutely right. The offense failed in those games. I think if they scored just one touchdown in the fourth qtr of the first ten games, they would have been 9-1. And those turnovers didn't help. Not to say Juan isn't part of the problem.— palmyra21
- Yeah Astro Jones. It would be like hiring a guy who was 48-80 as a head coach and went 2-14 in his last year as your Defensive Coordinator. Oh wait, that would be current Packers D-Coordinator Dom Capers.— guyguy4
For the first season since I don't know when, I found myself yelling at the players more than the coaches. Castillo's defense came around and Reid kept the team together after the slow start. I'd like to see everyone come back next year.— CCRichards- Still need NFL-level linebackers and safeties, no matter who the DC is.— TVGuy22
- I'm sticking with Juan !!— dmanphilly
- He should be out, but we're talking the Lurie-owned Eagles here.— Atomic Fury
- Forget the Coaches, without a competent GM, they will never have any good Players to coach. Howie could be looking at the next Reggie White and he would still pick the 6'1" 260 LB high motor guy (Brandon Graham) over him because he doesn't know any better! SO SAD!!— younged
- I've never seen so many idiotic post in my life.. Bring back Juan? The offense didn't score in the 4th quarter? Are you kidding me ? This defense was one of the worst in the NFL in the 4th quarter and inside the red zone... Spats is one of the best dc's in football.. Are these post from juan's relatives.?— Mikerichardsucks
- Sticking with Juan????? If you are in a must win situation, do you have any confidence that Juan will call the correct D play aganist a quality head coach or offensive cordinator? Spags has proven he can do it. I would rather have Fisher as D cordinator, but Spags would work.— camasbud
- This comment has been deleted.— soLoopy
