Report: Spagnuolo expected back to Eagles by end of the week
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Report: Spagnuolo expected back to Eagles by end of the week
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Steve Spagnuolo is expected to return to the Eagles by the end of the week, Jason LaCanfora of NFL Network reported.
LaCanfora, citing NFL sources, wrote that Spagnuolo would likely replace embattled defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, perhaps not in name, but as the leader of the Eagles defense.
LaCanfora, though, told Ruben Frank of CSNPhilly earlier today that he was reporting that Spagnuolo would visit Philadelphia by the end of the week, not that the former Rams head coach was going to be hired by the Eagles in that time span.
If Spagnuolo is heading to the area, he may show up at Eagles headquarters and find an empty NovaCare Complex. Most of the Eagles decision-makers are on vacation this week. Eagles coach Andy Reid is away until Sunday, a source close to the situation said, so it is unlikely that any coaching changes will be announced before Sunday.
Reid, of course, was able to mastermind overhauling his coaching staff while he was away on a Caribbean vacation last January.
Spagnuolo is currently also on a vacation with his wife (at the same location as Reid?) but is expected to return tomorrow. He was fired by the Rams last week after three years as head coach. Spagnulo spent eight years with the Eagles as a defensive assistant, but left in 2007 to become the New York Giants' defensive coordinator.
If Spagnuolo does not replace Castillo as coordinator he could be named an assistant head coach along with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. If Castillo is out in his current position, he could fill the vacany at secondary coach after Johnnie Lynn was fired last week.
Former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell, who played under Spagnuolo last season in St. Louis, said last week that he thought his former coach would end up back in Philadelphia. Mikell said that Spagnuolo, as head coach, may have missed calling plays.
Howie Roseman, don't be afraid to look at the way the Alabama Crimson Tide Linebackers played in the BCS game. Do something different howie, draft both Courtney Upshaw and Donta Hightower if you are afraid to pull the trigger on Vontaze Burfict. I hope Spags does come in because that would be juanderful!!!— Eaglehaslanded- EAGLES DEFENSE
8th best yards given up................................................
10th best in points given up
they may be hollow numbers but the eagles offense was 2nd in all of football in turnovers with 38 the average was 25. What if the eagles offense was average with 25 turnovers. THats 13 less turnovers. The defense surely would have given up less points and would probably in the top 5 in points allowed in the NFL. If they turn the ball over at league average they have at least 2 more wins(10-6) and defense is in top 10, Just saying------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Eagles 24 Buffalo 31 Eagles 5 TURNOVERS--what do you expect-----------Eagles 23 SanFran 24 Eagles 3 Turnovers no points 2nd half------------Eagles 31 atlanta 35 Eagles 3 TURNOVERS-------------------------------Eagles 16 Giants 29 Eagles 3 TURNOVERS no points 2nd half------------Eagles 24 bears 30 EAGLES 3 TURNOVERS no points 2nd half--------------Eagles 17 cards 21 Eagles 2 Turnovers 3 points 2nd half---------------Eagles 14 seattle 31 EAGLes 4 TURNOVERS 7 points 2nd half-------------— gophils2012 - Even the worst defense looks good when playing against bad teams. We did not beat a team this year with a winning record except for the Giants. When a bad defense plays a bunch of mediocre teams, they look good on paper, but as soon as they play a good team, they fold - see the Patriots, Falcons (and look how they played this weekend!), and 49ers games! — gdibig
- Castillo pushed his luck last night. He and Andy were watching the Bama - LSU game when allegedly, Castillo said "Hey Fat Man, check out those Alabama linebackers. Think we can draft one?" Andy replied, "No you idiot, you know we don't draft top notch linebackers. I like them small and fast and its up to you to teach them to cover tight ends and tackle" I think that was the straw that broke the camels back.— Justaschmuck
- Bad move! This team does not need more change. All 8 losses were primarily the fault of the offense or coaching during offensive possessions: Way too many turnovers (especially in the Red Zone), STUPID use of the best running back in the NFL (6 touches for Shady at halftime of the NE game--YGBFSM), dropped passes at critical times (DeSean (oh please be gone) looked like Stinkston only skinnier this year) by All receivers, inane clock management at the end of the first half, and a woefully unprepared/inadequate backup QB. I'm not saying the defense was a thing of beauty, but bringing Spags back will not solve these root causes of losing that occurred on the offensive side of the ball. This system will work if, and only if, the Iggles decide to draft high-quality LBs (I'd target Upshaw and Kuechly) and get the best FA LB, Safety and #2 QB on the market in that order if there's cap room available. I neither listen to Andy's press conferences nor the talking craniums who want Andy to be more cuddly and receptive to their demands......— IdahoMoose
- This fixation on Spagnulo is silly. Replacing Castillo is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The real problem for the Eagles is Vick, who is not even in the upper third of NFL QBs. He is no improvement over Kolb (who is also mediocre - they just have different strengths and weaknesses). This is the Eagles' real blunder (and Lurie, Banner and Pee Wee Herman all have a piece of the pie as well as Reid) that led to this year's failure - not Juan Castillo, not Desean Jackson (who should be let go), not the O-line, not the Wide 9, not the run-pass ratio, or the endless other trivialities upon which so many commentators on this site (including the sports writers) obsess like some unarmed version of Jared Lochner (most of whom do not have any training or expertise to qualify them to make such judgments). I don't hate Vick. I don't care about his legal problems or any other deficiences he may have as a person that would make me reject him as a son-in-law. What I do care about is his inablility to read defenses, his poor decision making and his propensity for silly turnovers and injuries. He is a great athlete but a mediocre QB - you have to judge him as a whole, warts and all. Until this elephant in the room is effectively addressed, forget
about going deep into the playoffs, much less a Super Bowl.— chuck60 - Spags isen't the Team. its the players...who the Eagles do have! Good luck with another losing season. Hope your enjoying your Playoffs as the Giants are still in it and playing better than anyone right now!— MRD
- gophils2012- best post of the board. That the idiot haters that infest this board can't see or acknowledge that is pathetic but not surprising.
gdibig - Last time I checked they shut down the Giants and Cowboys, two pretty high powered offenses. The Miami offense they shut down had gone 4-1 and scored 139 points in those five previous games and scored 30 the week after in a game in which they won. BOOM, some mediocre team! The Jets who they shut down had put up 99 points and gone 3-0 the weeks before the Eagles shut them down. BOOM another real "mediocre" team. Open your eyes man and admit the obvious!— You are right - Is Castillo any more qualified to coach DBs as he was to be a DC? He wasn't all the great of an OL coach IMO. 2010 the OL gave up 50 sacks. 2011 with a different coach, two rookies (including one playing a new position), and another a guy playing a new position, they gave up 32.— Only in Philly...
- Woooof. Spagnuolo can't fix this team. Dude had one great coaching game and everyone is ready to anoint him the coaching version of Tebow. Get a clue.— le sigh
- Hey peteike, which QB would you like the Eagles to draft since this draft is "loaded" with them? Two of the top 4 went back to school, RGIII and Russell Wilson present similar weaknesses to Vick, the Eagles won't even get a sniff of Luck until ther next game against Indy, Case Keenum is literally Kolb 2.0, Kellen Moore (while I like him) probly isn't a pro starter...which one of that motley crew do you want Philly to draft? Maybe Andy will take a flier on Jacory Harris or Denard Robinson in the 6th round for you.— le sigh
- I disagree with the removal of Castillo if that is what happens. Andy was the one that hired Castillo knowing damn well he had no defensive experience and when things don't go smoothly for most of the first season the guy is then hung out to dry. Did they expect him to have things mastered right off the bat? Is it his fault the team had no linebackers? No, Andy was the one that made these decisions so I think Castillo should be given one more year.— BigRy2179
- Dont'a Hightower should be available— vegasscott
This is misleading... Rumor Mill.
