What will Castillo's defense look like?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
What will Castillo's defense look like?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
How badly does Juan Castillo want to succeed as the Eagles new defensive coordinator?
He would kill for it.
Maybe not in the literal sense, but I can’t say that for certain after sitting down for an hour-long interview with Castillo recently.
“I can’t fail my family, brother,” Castillo said. “I got four boys. I don’t want to fail them. I can’t fail them. And that’s a big incentive when you think about it. What would you do for your kids? You would kill somebody for your kids. … So that’s what at stake.”
Andy Reid’s decision to take his offensive line coach and name him the defensive coordinator is still, to be honest, a head-scratcher. I think I speak for the majority of fans when I say I remain skeptical.
“If everybody wants to think that, that’s alright with me,” Castillo said. “Either way, I’m going to have to prove it.”
Castillo has spent much of his life proving people wrong. But this is easily his biggest challenge. All eyes will be on the 51-year-old next season – if there’s a next season, of course – and that pressure could be burdensome.
Reid didn’t give Castillo much wiggle room. If the defense fails early it will only provide fuel for critics. That short leash and the lockout will likely keep Castillo from overhauling the defense. He has said as much.
But fans still want to know: How will Castillo’s defense differ from that of his predecessor, Sean McDermott? We’ve already gotten a few clues. Castillo has said he and his staff have been simplifying the terminology. Reid has said the defensive ends, now under the stewardship of defensive line coach Jim Washburn, will often line up as nine-technique ends.
But what about an overall philosophical shift? Will the Eagles continue to implement a defense predicated on pressuring the quarterback and creating turnovers or will Castillo blitz less and have more of a bend-but-don’t-break scheme? With the Eagles’ quick-strike offense it would make sense to not be as aggressive on defense.
“Just because you don’t blitz doesn’t mean you’re not being aggressive,” Castillo said. “We got four good defensive linemen and on third down coach Washburn will put four guys that can rush the quarterback.”
I doubt we’ll see much Tampa 2 out of Castillo, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles blitz less frequently. McDermott became, in some ways, a mad scientist with his blitz packages. He was also too insistent that linebackers fill their gaps – the middle linebacker has the A and B gap, etc. – instead of letting them play instinctively.
Castillo, a former USFL linebacker, is inheriting a corp that has undergone a major transformation in the last two years. The Eagles have drafted six linebackers – Moise Fokou, Keenan Clayton, Jamar Chaney, Casey Mattews, Brian Rolle and Greg Lloyd -- in the last three drafts. Ernie Sims, Omar Gaither and Akeem Jordan remain on the roster, but they won’t be back.
Stewart Bradley may be the only pre-2008 draft pick that could be back next season, but his free agency status – Will he be unrestricted or restricted in the new CBA? – could signal his end in Philadelphia.
“We have to see,” Castillo said. “Stewart is still [here], so we’re not sure about that. So we’ll just have to see when we start what we have.”
Reid has said that the Eagles are still an unfinished product, what with free agency still on hold. So Castillo doesn’t really know what he will have for next season. He admitted to constructing starting 11s in his head, “but I do it with the people I have right now,” he said.
So who’s the right cornerback?
“There would be a little competition on the right side,” Castillo said.
[Insert joke here.]
As for Castillo, he won’t fail for a lack of trying. He famously works long hours and has been coming into the office at 3:30 a.m. during the off-season. He said he even plans on working a few hours a day during vacation to “get ahead.”
“Everybody not like you, and you don’t want them to be like you because you can’t move up,” Castillo said. “Everybody’s not like me or coach Reid.”
Hard work can go quite the distance, but it can only travel so far. There’s something to be said for experience. Castillo has never called plays in the NFL. In fact, he hasn’t done it at any level for over 20 years. And then there’s the kind of talent that can’t be taught or found 3:30 in the morning.
One of Reid’s reasons for promoting Castillo is very similar to how he evaluates players. The Eagles sometimes overvalue players because of their work ethic and their enthusiasm for football. There is value there. But it’s led to a few reaches in the last two drafts (see: Brandon Graham, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Jaiquawn Jarrett and Curtis Marsh).
Those players could end up rewarding the Eagles’ faith, as could Castillo.
He may not even need to kill someone.
Castillo was thinking about someone’s death, however, when he was expressing the importance of being successful and providing for his sons.
“When you die … when you’re laying on that thing, you want to be able to look them in the eye and say, ‘Hey, man, I did everything I could for you,’” Castillo said. “I hope when I go I can say that.”
skeptical is an understatement but yes I hope he proves me wrong. Theres a good reason for being cynical, not many teams hire the o line coach to D coor in the NFL, this is the top of the food chain and when youve watched so many supposed good coaches fail at this level, theres not much room for a learning curve. We were spoiled with JJ— peteike- You can bring Buddy Ryan or any of the best defensive coordinator you can think of to this organization. It wouldn't mean a thing. We don't have the good players on defense. Our defensive line is small, and doesn't rush the passer good. Kenny Britt explains our secondary in a nut shell. Redzone defense is the worst, etc.— The1uLove2Hate
- I think given a normal off season, this would be a good shakeup on the defense. McDermott failed trying to keep Jim Johnson's defense in place which proves that Jim (God rest his soul) was in fact the key to its success. Yet there will be little time to move away from the basic structure and that is the danger zone for both the Eagles and Castillo. That and the local press is acting like sharks closing in for the kill.— Dutch-wayne
- He'll be at least as good as McDermott, so in that sense it's not a move to be skeptical of. Is he the next Rex Ryan or Mike Tomlin? We'll see.— armchairGM
- A last place defense! One with an offensive line coach! I'll laugh when the team gets burned and Vick say the "I Quit" in front of you loser fans!— MRD
- This will be another excercise in "Andy knows best" theater. It will be a failure just like promoting McDoormat after having no NFL coaching experience until he joined the eagles. The only thing bigger then Reids waist is his ego!— yourdaddy!
- I'm past skeptical and on to cynical!— frustrated1
- What's not to like? He played 13 games in the USFL on special teams. Was the defensive coordinator at Kingsville High School. Was offensive/defensive line coach at his alma mater. Then jumped to the Eagles. Hold the cameras Mr DeMille, I am ready for my close up.— StorminNorman
- I think MRD forgets this last place defense beat his team twice last year, and if the GIANTS made it to the playoffs it would've been three! I'm sure he'll laugh when Vick says I quit because Vick made him cry last year! BOO HOO! Just remember who's defense gave up 4 touchdowns in 7 minutes.....NOW THAT'S FUNNY! BY THE WAY, THANKS FOR THE 2 WINS EVERY YEAR!— Geno D
- Now...I know for sure that I have read this article in the past before. Does anyone else remember reading this earlier? Did they re use the same material???— dredre99
- No one else wants to say it. I will. We will have a solid, aggressive, stingy defense this year. Period. End of discussion.— JamesSeitz
- Good. Really good. Thats what his defense will look like— JamesSeitz
- Have you ever noticed how delusional these psycho 3 am coaches think they can re-create the wheel ~ when talent supercedes all their lingo, life or death, go to war drive to "WIN"? More talent = More Victories. Reach on players and you'll be reaching for that Super Bowl ring forever. Pay the talent and win a Super Bowl, but with the likes of Banner and Lurie that's always gonna be penny wise and dollar stupid. Nuff Said.— defiore14
- The defense does have talent, Cole, and Samuel are Pro-Bowl players. Mike Patterson and Dixon are a good pair of tackles. Parker and Tapp should be fine at the other end spot. I will agree Sims did little last season. Bradley looked good vs the run before he got hurt. Pass coverage against TE's was attrocious. Cheney looked good after Stewart Bradley went out, he played fast and was in on a lot of tackles. I think Matthews will win a starting job. Just like his brother he has doubters, but he also has talent and a nose for the ball. I would not be surprised if Clayton didn't see a lot of playing time on passing downs because he looked like the best coverage LB on the roster when he did get in games. A good tackling SS would be a very nice addition. Hopeefully, that's what they got with Jarrett. Coleman did look like a willing tackler, too. The RCB spot neeeds an upgrade, unless D. Patterson's sharp drop off was injury related. He did a great job in the Indy game mostly against Wayne, who is very, very good. I hope they sign Asomugha, or get a starting CB from Arizona in a Kolb deal (maybe even the Patterson kid AZ drafted). I don't think the team they have right now, will be the same as the team that lines up day one of the season, if there is one, on defense. Offensively, the Watkins pick, and the return of J. Jackson, along with the addition of a very well respected O-line coach, could make a huge difference. Nobody can cover D. Jackson and Macklin for very long, so protection is key. They already have a very good running attack when they choose to use it. Ask Dallas who got bulldozed late in the game when everyone knew the Eagles were going to run the ball, and they got it stuffed right down their cocky throats.— Paul SoTX
- I am not worried. The Eagles will throw fastballs at opposing offenses and that is the key to winning the Super Bowl. Andy said so.— jd509
