Why the Eagles lost out on Spagnuolo
After news broke last week that Steve Spagnuolo had chosen to become the new defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, a couple key questions surfaced, pertaining to the Eagles:
Why the Eagles lost out on Spagnuolo
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
After news broke last week that Steve Spagnuolo had chosen to become the new defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, a couple key questions surfaced, pertaining to the Eagles:
1. How much actual interest did the Eagles really have in Spagnuolo?
2. Would Juan Castillo be back for a second year?
We're still waiting on an answer to the second question, but Dan Pompei of the National Football Post provided some clarity to the first question in his column today.
Per Pompei, Spagnuolo's decision came down to the Eagles and the Saints. And the deciding factor was Drew Brees:
The Saints can thank Drew Brees for Steve Spagnuolo. The Saints’ new defensive coordinator had his choice of a number of jobs. Among the other teams that either were in hot pursuit or had expressed interest were the Eagles, Falcons, Colts, Bucs and Vikings. It came down to choosing between the Eagles and Saints, and Spags picked Brees over Michael Vick. Why? An offense that scores 38.5 points per game can make a defensive coordinator look pretty smart.
I think that point has merit. In fact, I wrote as much last week. If Spagnuolo's goal is to again become a head coach, his best chance to get another shot is to lead a defense that gets to the Super Bowl. The Saints have a better chance to get there than the Eagles, largely because of how Drew Brees and Sean Payton stack up to Michael Vick and Andy Reid.
According to Pompei, Brees was indeed the difference.
The report also confirms what many have assumed: Reid clearly is not 100 percent sold on Castillo returning for his second season as the team's defensive coordinator, although he may still be the fallback plan. We'll find out (at some point) whether Reid is looking at other candidates, or whether he'll bring Castillo back.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, the Eagles could lose Marty Mornhinweg. Mornhinweg interviewed with the Raiders on Friday, according to reports, and Pompei says he looks like a "strong candidate" to land the job, although it's early in the search.
And finally, Jim Washburn will not be headed to St. Louis to reunite with Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams. Per Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, Mike Waufle will be hired as the Rams' new defensive line coach.
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Just my opinion here: I believe Spags knows how this organization operates having been here before and wants no part of it..not when there are more stable franchises to go to...in addition to the head coach morphing into a lame duck next year which would bring uncertainty in being a one and out defensive coordinator should Reid be fired......Oh, by the way, my money says Reid has 2 years to go on his contract and 2 years to go we all must suffer until this act is finally pulled.
Again, all of this in conjecture since we all endure the agony of rooting for the CIA of Professional Football...where everything emanating from their hallways are state secrets.....— DelawareRiverRat
- Irony is Hindsight lecturing ANYONE to include all the stats...pa-leeeeez.— tpizza
- Is Washburn a candidate for DC or not?— SilliBilli
- I think that any asst coaching prospect just doesn't see Andy as a great coach he erroneously had others thinking he was. Yes, he has won more games than any other Eagles coach. I stand by my post in an earlier blog that he had great asst's and earlier in his career he listened to them (check out the grade "A" asst coaching staff) under his Tenure. Reid has now become transparent and his replacement of those grade "A" Asst's has been as controversial as his draft choices. I think that Spag didn't wish to coach under Andy a second time and decided to do what was best for him, maybe not what was in his heart. Yeah brother Eagle fans, they will be competitive once again in 2012, however, they will not achieve anything greater than they have in the past years under Stubborn Reid. While he is continuing to assess his needs for the Eagles, other teams not in the playoffs are; shall we say "putting their team and players in a position to win".
- It's funny how one poster said the only winning team the Eagles beat were the Giants and claimed the Giants "spanked" them the first time they played. True the Birds played weaker teams in their streak but any TRUE EAGLES FAN would know how the Eagles had the habit of playing down to the level of their competition. The fact that at least they rolled over the weaker teams this time. All things being equal, even w/o strong LBs, which they damned well better acquire this offseason, they were one missed FG (with two chances) against SF early in the year. The record doesn't matter since if you get hot and make it to the playoffs you can make it to the SB. Last year GB barely squeaked in and then rolled. This year it's the Giants. An LB, a safety and fewer O turnovers and we'll be fine.— DelValLifer
- This coach, QB, and team are sure not a fan favorites. Looking at the comments, Spags probably made the right decision. Reid is obviously moving into the Chuck Knox category of coaches and will soon lose his sparkle with the national media/Howie Longs of the world.— Lets Eat
- I could understand Spags choosing the Saints because they are a more stable organization (with Reid hanging on to his job by a thread). But not because the Saints are a better shot to a head coaching career. If the Saints win the SB next year on the merit of Drew Brees' arm - but the defense continues to suck - he's not going to get offers. I think GMs will evaluate Spags and his defense on their own merit, regardless of whether or not the Saints win the SB.— philly57
Comment removed.- Hmmm...Brees or conVicktim??? Yeah, real hard choice.— autolykos
- I cant say I can blame or fault his decision. We are a team on the way down....Reids on his way out ...Vick is Vick..hes no better then he was in ATL.....why bother coming here to go down with a sinking ship. Go down with a coach that refuses to say I ran my course and leave peacefully. I go into next season with NO hope whatsoever of winning a championship.— RealizticFan
- I hate this team with a passion— PhillySportsAddict1969
- The quick strike offense that the Eagles try to employ, is a nightmare for its defense. Even when things are going perfectly for the offense, it lenghtens the game for your opponents giving them an opportunity to come back. Getting a few bigger linebackers would'nt hurt and safeties did are not afraid to hit somebody would be something desireable. Spagnoulo probabably realised that the defensive players that the Eagles have presently are not capable to stopping even the most mediocre offenses out there. He wants to be a winner too !— candidly
- The Saints have proven they can win exactly nothing when playing outside of a dome. I predict the defense there will take a step back with Spags and they'll once again be a dynamic team that comes up short. You need the personnel on defense, and Spags had some of the best linemen in the game with NY.— auntesther
- The Saints have proven they can win exactly nothing when playing outside of a dome. I predict the defense there will take a step back with Spags and they'll once again be a dynamic team that comes up short. You need the personnel on defense, and Spags had some of the best linemen in the game with NY.— auntesther
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