The latest Spagnuolo/Castillo buzz
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
The latest Spagnuolo/Castillo buzz
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Time for your daily Steve Spagnuolo update.
Earlier this week, I linked to a couple national reports, which indicated Spagnuolo was high on the Falcons' wish list. Today, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Spagnuolo and Mike Nolan are the two top candidates for the Falcons' defensive coordinator opening. Per Ledbetter, Jack Del Rio, who worked with head coach Mike Smith in Jacksonville, is an unlikely option.
Nolan is currently the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, but that could obviously change once they hire a new head coach.
Ledbetter goes as far as to say the Eagles and Falcons could end up getting in a "bidding war" for Spagnuolo.
Meanwhile, Tom Pelissero, who covers the Vikings for 1500 ESPN Radio, says he wouldn't be surprised if Juan Castillo ends up in Minnesota. Pelissero reports that Spagnuolo is a candidate for the Vikings' defensive coordinator job, but if Spagnuolo joins another team, Leslie Frazier could be interested in adding Castillo.
Writes Pelissero:
Juan Castillo has been close with Vikings coach Leslie Frazier since their days together on the Eagles' staff from 1999 to 2002. According to NFL sources, there was mutual interest in a reunion shortly after Frazier was promoted from interim coach last January, to the point Castillo told people close to him he expected to end up in Minnesota.
Per the report, the Vikings have not officially fired current defensive coordinator Fred Pagac, but he is not expected to be back.
It's worth noting how many of the different openings are related. Jeff Fisher is still deciding between St. Louis and Miami. Will he want Jim Washburn back? What will he do at defensive coordinator? What will the team that loses out on Fisher do - both at head coach and defensive coordinator? Where will Spagnuolo land? Those are some of the questions we're still waiting for answers to.
Update: According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Fisher has chosen the Rams.
THE WIDE-9 AND THE ZONE BLITZ
On several occasions, we've discussed the possibility of Spagnulo's defensive philosophy meshing with Washburn's outlook up front. I've maintained throughout that the wide-9 was successful in 2011, and the Eagles' best option would be to keep Washburn to work with Spagnuolo, if both sides are open to the idea.
One of the main philosophical differences relates to the zone blitz and dropping defensive linemen back into coverage.
I took a look at numbers from Pro Football Focus to highlight how Washburn and Spagnulo used their defensive linemen last season. Below is a table that lists how many times each Eagles defensive lineman dropped back into coverage in 2011:
| Player | No. of times dropping back |
| Trent Cole | 11 |
| Cullen Jenkins | 3 |
| Jason Babin | 2 |
| Juqua Parker | 2 |
| Darryl Tapp | 2 |
| Phillip Hunt | 2 |
As you can see, Cole was the only defensive lineman who dropped back into coverage more than three times all season. Babin, the defensive end on the other side, only dropped back twice.
Meanwhile, here's a look at the same numbers from the Rams defensive linemen:
| Player | No. of times dropping back |
| James Hall | 50 |
| Chris Long | 19 |
| C.J. Ah You | 16 |
| Robert Quinn | 8 |
| Eugene Sims | 7 |
| Fred Robbins | 3 |
| Justin Bannan | 2 |
| Dorell Scott | 1 |
It's worth noting that Long dropped back into coverage far less than he did the previous season. In 2010, he did so 51 times.
According to Football Outsiders, only two teams ran zone blitzes more often than the Rams in 2010. We'll have to wait to see what their numbers tell us about Spagnuolo's defense in 2011, but the numbers above provide a starting point.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
If Spags and Washburn work together I'm sure their defence would be dominating as they are two of the brightest D-minded coaches out there. As long as the Eagles get some help at linebacker. First they must actually sign Spags on. Till they do that there is no converation.— urbnasty- This guy is a heck of a coach and the Birds should do what they can to get him.— kjuggs77
- Why are the Vikingsinterested in Juan Castillo? Certainly not for defensive coordinator. The Eagles neesd tohire an estqablished defensive coordinator (no more experiments please) and then break the drafting mold and take a high impact linebacker with their first choice. I would even say - draft another linebacker further down the draft and a safety. Then we will defintively know whether Mike Vick and Andy Reid can lead them to the promised land or not.— jackcalhoun
- Yeah, and let's put a new defensive system in, and while we're at it, let's replace the DC, DT, LMB (twice), corner and safety, and by the end of next season the D will be totally AWESOME, dude.— vegasscott
- Dress warm Juan. It gets very cold n Minnesota. Hope you do a better job there than you did here.— oneway
- Has anyone ever studied how effective dropping DLs into coverage is? It just doesn't seem like they are mobile enough to do much except clog a passing lane or perhaps confuse a dim-witted QB.— Bobby G
- Castillo has to come back. If Spags comes back and tries to work with Washburn Reid will say hey there are growing pains. Reid made his bed when he made the "bold" move let him lie in it.— TongueWagger
- Vontaze Burfict please.— Phillycb21
Comment removed.- Some of his penalties were BS penalties. He does have an anger issue but he is a heck of a football player and if an anger issue is the only thing he has then good because this defense needs someone who can set the tone. — Eaglefan1991
- Comment removed.
- Fletcher? Please. Fletcher's is 36 years old and his career is pretty much winding down. Why would we give a rival the opportunity to get stronger? Are you a troll trying to use reverse psychological maneuvering in favor of your REAL team? As the ONLY NFC East team without a Super Bowl trophy, the Eagles need all the help they can get. And that means a linebacker with Burfict, or Burfict-like, credentials. — essell
- Comment removed.
- send in the clowns— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011
- Spags' wife will be the difference. If he gets an offer from Philly and Atlanta, I'm sure she'll tell him she wants to go back home to Philly. Meanwhile, I wonder if someone planted that Castillo story to assure Juan that he'll have a place to go if Reid fires him.— bobbyuk
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
