A closer look at the Steve Spagnuolo intrigue
Steve Spagnuolo is now available, sending a portion of Eagles fans into debate about the prospect of hiring the former Eagles linebackers coach/Giants defensive coordinator/Rams head coach/Saints defensive coordinator.
A closer look at the Steve Spagnuolo intrigue
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Steve Spagnuolo is now available, sending a portion of Eagles fans into debate about the prospect of hiring the former Eagles linebackers coach/Giants defensive coordinator/Rams head coach/Saints defensive coordinator.
Of course, the Eagles defensive coordinator job might not be as available as it appears, if the job is simply waiting on ice for 49ers defensive backs coach Ed Donatell after the Super Bowl.
But any potential marriage between Spagnuolo and the Eagles might also be complicated by the Eagles' potential scheme. There have been hints that the Eagles will switch ot a 3-4 under coach Chip Kelly. (Donatell ran a 4-3 in his stops as a defensive coordinator, but coaches in San Francisco, where they run a 3-4.) Spagnuolo's career has been marked by an attacking 4-3 defense similar to the one Jim Johnson used with the Eagles. In fact, one of the reasons the Saints made the change was because they want to run a 3-4. (It also didn't help that the Saints gave up more yards than any team in history under Spagnuolo last season.)
But for argument's sake, let's examine Spagnuolo. There is a faction of fans who see what happened in New Orleans last season and don't want anything to do with Spagnuolo. Of course, he also won a Super Bowl in his first season as defensive coordinator with the Giants. He's well thought of around the NFL, and especially in the NFC East. The Eagles know him, he knows Philadelphia. He also has head-coaching experience, which could be a benefit on the staff.
Spagnuolo has a connection to Kelly. They both have New England roots (as do many members of Kelly's prospective staff), and coached in the same conference in the early 1990s. Because Spagnuolo just became available on Thursday, his candidacy is a recent development. Perhaps there's a different spot on the staff for him -- an assistant head coach role, or something of that nature -- or maybe Spagnuolo can find a coordinator job elsewhere.
But if the Eagles go to a 3-4, don't expect Spagnuolo to be the coordinator.
Kellys best move would be to hire Spags.....NOW!— Eaglesphly- Is Donatell something special. His defenses were really never that good.— Drew777
We can't find 3 decent linebackers let alone 4.— blaqjaq- Watsonmr: Castillo was hired by Baltimore and is on their staff now! He actually turned down several other offers so do some research before you dog someone— doodoo1214
- Lovie Smith always had physical defensive players. The Eagles D backs and safeties would prefer no contact whatsoever. Would take years to draft and trade for the type of players Smith would want. Smith would not have an immediate impact on the defense - longterm maybe, short term no.
Donatelli would have the same problem as Smith - not enough phyicality in the defensive players that the Eagles have and it would take years to get a contingent together like the 49ers have.
Spagnuolo seems to handle what he is given to work with much better. I think he would have a more positive impact on this defense with the players that we have here and now. Down the road we can add the types of players that you want. Right now, for the most part, you gotta play the hand you have been dealt and do the best you can with it.
— candidly - This guys career has gone in the toilet and rightfully so. Don't need retreads who have not been successful at other places. After all, we're not the Kansas City Chiefs.— fightins4ever
- Why taking risks when it comes to head coaching hires is absolutely necessary in today's NFL: http://www.3dphillysports.com/2013/01/chip-kelly-and-nfls-current-recipe-for.html— Der- 3D Philly Sports
- Spags is a defensive assistant and nothing more.... the guy has had the keys in hand twice and could do anything with it, so he got a ring with the Giants, that defense was horrid for 3/4 of the season and all the sudden snapped out of it and won a SB..... well didnt they do that last year without him?....... guess that answers those questions because other than his time with the giants and also with JJ he hasnt done anything but fail.— pr0f3ss0r
- doodoo1214, yes as a token job by friend Harbaugh. Running Backs Coordinator? Wilbert Montgomery is the Ravens running backs coach. What team has a running backs coordinator? I have nothing against Juan, but for years all I heard that he was one of the best Oline coaches in the league. Then when he is named DC, all of these coaches come out and say he is a great coach, but they never took him on their staffs. Then he's unemployed, and just about every Eagles assistant got hired, as a coach, not some made up coordinator position. I just feel that his length of tenure was due to Reid telling everyone how great he was, then when Reid had the opportunity, kicked him to the curb. So what other offers did he turn down?— watsonmr
- Castillo was hired as a consultant by the Ravens for the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl and next season he will become the run game coordinator which is different from the running backs coach. As far as what offers he turned down, one that has been reported by numerous sources is that he turned down a job to coach the O-line in Kansas City. I guess he finally got tired of being screwed over by the creep who used to coach here and decided to go in a different direction. — fightins4ever
- I'm just so happy that Andy Reid and his staff are all gone that I don't care who they bring in at this point!— jimmy_jam
- how do you respond to a comment, and not just post a new comment?— chocolatethunder
- Log in, go to the comment you want to respond to, click on respond and a box should come up under the comment to allow you to post your response. — fightins4ever
- @doodoo1214- You'll find responding to watsonmr is just wasted time and energy.— realtruth
- The Eags would be lucky to land him.....and I'll go out on a limb and predict he's head coach sooner than later.— Mike Boryla
