Spagnuolo's future, Eagles' draft position
One of the first decisions the Eagles will have to make following Sunday's regular-season finale against the Redskins is what to do at defensive coordinator.
Spagnuolo's future, Eagles' draft position
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
One of the first decisions the Eagles will have to make following Sunday's regular-season finale against the Redskins is what to do at defensive coordinator.
And more specifically, will Juan Castillo be back? Will they sell the idea that Castillo has improved as the season's gone on? That he's earned a full offseason to work with his players and show what he can do?
Or will they decide that some of their most talented defensive players - Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Nnamdi Asomugha - are on the wrong side of the 30, and a proven defensive coordinator is necessary to make a Super Bowl run in 2012?
That decision brings us to a report out of San Diego. Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chargers plan on cutting ties with head coach Norv Turner once the season's over. But maybe more importantly, the team could part ways with general manager A.J. Smith.
How would that affect the Eagles? Per Acee, it would create a domino effect that would result in Steve Spagnuolo becoming the Birds' new defensive coordinator.
The story goes like this: Smith would be hired in St. Louis to become the Rams' new general manager, and he would bring with him Jon Gruden as head coach. According to the report, Gruden has decided to return to coaching in 2012, and ESPN is already preparing for him to leave.
Here's the key part from Acee that affects the Eagles:
League sources also said this week that it is all but certain that Spagnuolo will join Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator.
Spagnuolo, of course, spent eight seasons as a defensive assistant here from 1999-2006. The Rams are currently 2-13. They were 7-9 last year and 1-15 in Spagnulo's first season in St. Louis.
What would need to happen for the aforementioned scenario to play out? The Rams would have to cut ties with Spagnuolo, which seems likely, based on several reports out of St. Louis and around the country. The Eagles would have to cut ties with Castillo. And Spagnuolo would have to want to join the Eagles. He will likely have other options: becoming a defensive coordinator elsewhere, taking a year off, etc.
The Eagles would also have to decide on their defensive philosophy if they brought in Spagnuolo. In St. Louis, and before that with the Giants, Spagnuolo relied on a blitz/zone-blitz scheme. While the Eagles have blitzed more in recent weeks, for much of the season, they've relied on pressure from the front four and Jim Washburn's wide-nine. Through 15 weeks, the Eagles lead the NFL with 49 sacks, and 45 of them have come from defensive linemen.
There's one more game to go, and then it will be decision time once again for the Eagles, as they look ahead to 2012.
DRAFT POSITION
If the season ended today, the Eagles would have the 13th pick in the first round. They currently have the same record (7-8) as the Cardinals, Seahawks, Chargers and Bears. The tiebreak is strength of schedule. In other words, the team with the weakest strength of schedule gets the higher pick.
There are currently 11 teams with a worse record than the Eagles. The Birds' pick can be no higher than No. 9, depending on what happens next week. There are currently six 8-7 teams, so the Eagles could drop several spots with a win against the Redskins.
The Eagles would also have picks 44 and 48 (in the second round) if the season ended today. They have their own pick, along with the Cardinals' selection from the Kevin Kolb deal.
If you missed it from Monday, I posted Man Up on the defense.
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I'm praying that Jeffrey Lurie comes out of his Coma before its too late and fixes this mess!— younged- Great bringing in a totally failed head coach on the defensive side of the ball to match the failed coach on the offensive side of the ball.
— Dexter - Spags was a great defensive coordinator with the Giants. Why would the Eagles get rid of Castillo, though? Because, as a brand new coordinator, in a lockout year, with a new defensive line coach and scheme, he didn't start getting his team full of new players up to speed until week 10? If the Eagles get rid of him, it says no one will ever really get a chance in this job. Give him at least one more year. And Reid too, for that matter.
In a rare moment of clarity, I said in August the Eagles would go 8-8, but have a shot at the Super Bowl next year (though I don't think the roster is good enough to get beyond the NFC championship game). If a dummy like me knew the team wasn't going that far this year, would the Eagles' brass really imagine they had an instant Super Bowl winner?
They need to keep this team and staff intact as much as possible, adding just a key player or two next year. An outstanding returner is needed for sure. And top-notch rookies at safety, linebacker, and O-line who can learn behind the current starters.— armchairGM - Tough to find something good in this year's disaster but Gruden to STL is great. Last place I wanted him to land is in Philly. He's had one successful season and that was with Dungy's team.— txflyer
- I can deal with another year of AR if Spags is in and Howie is out at GM.— albertpa
- Why not jettison the whole crew and get A.J. Smith and Gruden as head coach? Maybe Gruden would keep Washburn and Mudd as the D-line and O-line coaches (they've actually made a difference for the Birds, unlike the other coaches) and then fill in the blanks.
I don't think this team is terrible, but I think the club has been lacking the right leadership at the top, in the form of Banner, Roseman, Reid, Castillo and Morhenwig.
Get a good middle linebacker and at least one decent safety and I think the defense will be more than solid. The offense just needs a little more consistency on the O-line and I think the offense can be what we all hoped it could be with the weapons they have.— Watching and Waiting - Statistics have proven, coaches who win a SB with one team almost NEVER win another SB with another team. Plus I also believe that statistics will prove overwhelmingly that coaches win a SB within a short period after starting with their teams. Cowher I believe was one of the exceptions, not the norm. So any previous SB winners or Reid should be ruled out. I wouldn't be against keeping castillo (if the new DC would want him) but thinking that a second year DC could pick up the whole team and lead them to the SB isn't exactly the way to go. Reid and MM have proven when the game gets down to situational football, they are at their worst. — xlGmanlx
Comment removed.- The product is stale. It needs fresh blood at a lot of levels.— Joe Nickels
- "make a Super Bowl run in 2012" ah yes, lets began that merchandise drive now and by this time next year we'll be having the same tired conversation. Reid has reached his peak and we need to move on.— Phils_World_Champs
- Agreed, I think this team peaked in the SB, sadly 5 did not. They had a chance to steal one against the Card's and they beat of Big Ben earlier in the year, but came up short. I agree, time for a change. Shady will be a Hall of Famer, BOOK IT! — xlGmanlx
- The Eagles are what they and will be this way until Lurie sells the team. Reid, Roseman and Castillo will all be back for 2012. Getting top-notch LB'S is not a Reid priority just like getting top WR'S was a few years back. PAY YOUR BILL FOR SEASON TICKETS AND SHUT UP.— garcia7
- The Eagles need a rock solid draft this year. In light of previous drafts, the odds are against them.— Grazman
- To heck with Spagnuolo, I wanted them to get Gruden. I hope Gruden puts his return off for one more year. By then, Reid would have taken the Eagles comopletely down the tubes with his insane decisions. With next years schedule, it's a cinch the Eagles will likely have another losing season with that loser Reid as coach.— essell
- I am pretty sure no coach has ever won a superbowl with two different teams. Gruden wouldn't be that exception, he won with Dungy's players. Why not suggest going after some one who is part of a SB winning team like the Packers OC/DC? Or some one from the Saints organization? Maybe the 49ers? Why must we have this infatuation with chucky or the chin? — xlGmanlx
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