Who covered Larry Fitzgerald? Juan Castillo discusses Eagles' cornerbacks
The Eagles entered last week's game knowing Larry Fitzgerald was the Cardinals' top -- and some would argue only -- target. Instead of putting top cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on Fitzgerald, the Eagles kept Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie on opposite sides, regardless of the receiver, and kept rookie Brandon Boykin in the slot. The Cardinals moved Fitzgerald around, so all three covered Fitzgerald.
Who covered Larry Fitzgerald? Juan Castillo discusses Eagles' cornerbacks
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles entered last week's game knowing Larry Fitzgerald was the Cardinals' top -- and some would argue only -- target. Instead of putting top cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on Fitzgerald, the Eagles kept Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie on opposite sides, regardless of the receiver, and kept rookie Brandon Boykin in the slot. The Cardinals moved Fitzgerald around, so all three covered Fitzgerald.
Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo was asked about this gameplan on Thursday.
"We feel pretty good about Dominique, too, and we've seen Dominique in action, and that was part of the reasoning behind that," Castillo said. "That Dominique was a pretty corner, that he could handle Larry, too, and [Asomugha]. So that's what we went."
That doesn't answer why Boykin, a fourth-round pick, was covering Fitzgerald when Fitzgerald lined up inside. The Eagles wanted to keep Boykin in the slot.
"Sometimes it's hard," Castillo said. "It's like all of the sudden now, sometimes it's tough; now you're talking about Dominqiue having to be like a nickel or Nnamdi be a nickel. That's a tough deal there."
The Eagles consider both Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha as top cornerbacks. In the Baltimore game, they felt comfortable matchup up both cornerbacks one-on-one with opposing receivers.
The Giants feature Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, perhaps the NFL's best wide receiver duo. Castillo was mum on how the Eagles would cover them this week.
all those years coaching an O -line has taught him how to handle these situations! don’t forget,, "hard work" is the best of defenders!
Hard work can cover and WR, hard work can handle in game adjustments and above all,, hard work will always be the better coach!
— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator?- In Juan We Trust !!— dmanphilly
- Did the cornerbacks work hard?— Scope33
- cruz will embarrass nnamdi at least once— AlexSp
- Castillo was the offensive line coach studying the center and the guard for years....now he is suppose to be this genius that knows how the corner backs will cover the best wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald....LOL— phil500
- Namdi handled cruz in the second game they played last year. after of course getting roasted in the first!— Lambo1
"The Giants feature Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, perhaps the NFL's best wide receiver duo."
I had to do a double-take when I read this. It can't be true, can it? I mean......they're not exactly Stallworth-Swann, Rice-Taylor, or even Irvin-Harper. There's got to be a better WR tandem out there.— jayb773- still think Maclin - Jackson could contend for that "title" by season's end - they are fortunately 2-1 and have every opportunity to fix the leaks. A little luck couldn't hurt, either - but this is still a good football team.— mebphila
- JC shows his lack of DC credentials again.....do you really think JJ would have Boykin on Fitzgerald ever.....thanks AR for making your buddy the DC, he is doing so well there....NOT— nuggett
- The reason why the Eagles went and got top athletes at every position on defense is because they believe Castillo was stupid. In contrast to when Jim Johnson was here and they gave him Levon Kirkland a 300 pound defensive tackle sized middle linebacker running around looking crazy as hell. Juan will get beat again because when he is asked to think or do anything extra other than the basics it usually blows up in his face. The eagles should just go man to man every single got dang play and dont allow Juan to think.— Zeru
- Juan is going to have the DB's practice 22 hours a day! Hard work pays off against the Giants as McCoy makes the most of his 7 carries.— cooperhawk
- None of the cornerbacks had a decent game against the Cardinals. Asoumgha's play has been disappointing considering all the hype after coming from oakland— bikedoc
- I agree...just play man to man in coverage. That's what Asomugha and DRC do best, just let them do it and not overthink things.— p-diddy
- Eagles defense last year and this year are ranked in the top ten. Juan has made some good adjustments during the games this year.— igonzo0311
- Juan's approach to covering Fitzgerald failed again.
This guy does not know what he is doing with his secondary.
There should have been a double cover on Fitz on most downs.
Where is Bowles on setting up a reasonable approach to shutting
down the Cards only significant threat? Dysfunction, and no accountability, Juan needs to get real and address the problems in the secondary. Spewing BS is not going to cut it versus the Gints.— Soaring Eagle
