Decision to fire Castillo a "miscalculation"
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Decision to fire Castillo a "miscalculation"
Jeff McLane
NEW ORLEANS -- It may sound like an obvious statement after the last two games, but the Eagles' decision to fire Juan Castillo over the bye week was labeled as a "miscalculation" by one of the team's decision-makers following a 28-13 loss to the Saints on Monday night.
In an attempt to shake-up the team following a disastrous overtime loss to the Lions on Oct. 14, Eagles coach Andy Reid fired Castillo as defensive coordinator and replaced him with defensive backs coach Todd Bowles.
Bowles had never been a coordinator in the NFL. He was hired in January after a stint with the Miami that ended with him as interim head coach for three games in 2011.
Castillo was promoted from offensive line coach in Jan. 2011, a move that was criticized by many at the time. Castillo struggled in his first year as coordinator, but his defense showed improvement in 2012.
But back-to-back fourth quarter collapses against Pittsburgh and Detroit led to his firing.
Bowles hasn't had the opportunity to blow any fourth quarter leads because his defense has put the Eagles behind in the last two games. The Falcons scored on their first six possessions in their 30-17 win over the Eagles on Oct. 28.
The defense showed marginal improvement against the Saints, but could not keep the Eagles in the game after Michael Vick threw a pick six that spotted New Orleans a 7-0 lead. The Saints offense gained 371 yards and scored 21 points as the Eagles missed many tackles and were poor on third down and in the red zone.
Firing Reid is not going to do much in the short run. The organization needs to be restructured with people who know what a good football player looks like. A good football player does not look like a goood football player, he is one (for example, the real Clay Mathews and not his other brother, Darrel). This will take some time. It will take an exceptional coach to pull this team together to win immediately. By immediately I mean next year. Knute Rockne would not win with this offensive line. We need a good football GM or VP, someone like a Polian or Jerry Reese. They are not easy to find but that is your job Jeffrey Lurie, if yo choose to keep the team. Ours is to be fans. You are making our job as difficult as it is to play QB behind this Oline.
Speaking of QB, any organization where a Marcus Vick can be allowed to hang around is an organization with culture and character issues. This mess can only be cleared up by a good GM with a large broom and excellent personnel skills. Now, fire Andy, please. It will help us fans do our job for a little longer.— johnny eagle- CASTILLO FOR HEAD COACH!!!! ANYONE IN '13 BUT ANDY!— desjones
- Fire Mudd and bring Juan back for the O-line!!!! The line was aweful. Who drafts and selects these guys?
Play Foles from here on out too— connorjr - You dummies seem to forget that the O-line actually played well last season and Mudd was praised endlessly (deservedly so or not). Injuries have decimated the line this season. Is that Mudd's fault? Playing players that he didn't draft or sign, is that his fault too? Right now, save for Mathis, there's a bunch of scrubs out there who probably have no business starting in the NFL. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t.
— phillychaos - Its uncanny how Reid somehow always makes the wrong decision. If he took the last 50 key decisions and did just the opposite, he would likely have an Eagles SB ring. Coaching decisions, draft decisions, QB decisions, game strategy.....— Lets Eat
- Yeah - regardless what you think about Reid, he has to go. He needed to go years ago. It started with his game-day coaching. Now, you can look at his draft picks, the leadership void, the Vick debacle, and almost everything else outside of Shady and find reasons to fire him now. After they do it, they should figure out how to spend some of that $21M they are under the cap on an offensive lineman or three.— Copper34
- Let me be the first to say it: The Eagles next head coach will be...
JUAN CASTILLO.— Spaceman Eddie - Not so much a miscalculation, but more an indictment of the players. Very similar circumstances as we see in Dallas with the problem being the group of core players. Dallas' core has shredded two HC coaches with a 3rd one possibly on the horizon unless the players get changed this time. Seems this group of core players for the Eagles are always looking to blame someone other than themselves, might be time to turn over the core too if the coach is out the door. Anyone think Nnamdi is suddenly going to become a leader on the field with his play?— MidGreen
- AR looked like a deer in the headlights both on the sideline and at the post game presser. The man looks lost. Put him out to pasture now. The whole group, from Roseman down, has to go. Get a REAL GM in here, let that person assist in the coaching hire and move forward.— delcorules
- AR looked like a deer in the headlights both on the sideline and at the post game presser. The man looks lost. Put him out to pasture now. The whole group, from Roseman down, has to go. Get a REAL GM in here, let that person assist in the coaching hire and move forward.— delcorules
- You can't put Foles behind that line.— p-diddy
- Firing Reid now accomoplishes nothing. They should pay Sean Payton whatever it takes as soon as it is permitted by the League rules. I suspect that is sometime after the season is over. It will take at least $7M per year guaranteed for five years to get him - probably more.
I have never been a Roseman fan and always thought Reid would have benefited from a strong GM. However, since Roseman apparently has been extended the issue is moot for now. Payton will insist on total control and if he finds Roseman inadequate I think he can deal with it.— joephilly - Lurie hedged slightly when he said "8-8 due to an excess of injuries might be different," but then he added he expects one player in particular to stay healthy... (vick is still healthy and the o line has an excess of injuries they will all be back next year lol)— defroe
- MFPhils "I guarantee you, there is no owner in any sport thinking that running their team into the ground is a good thing"
You forgot about Bramen he wouldn't spend a nickle on the Eagles.
Oh I love hindsite - everyone was screemminggggg to rid our selfs of Jaun an now its maybe we shouldn't have. Do u really think it matters. Year after year a top draft on D line latest Cox. They all suck, I don't think I heard Coxs name mentioned once monday nite. They are all AR picks. You can't change AR now who would you let run this circus. Let the year play out an say thanks for the good years Andy an good luck In San Diego. Just sayin.....................— Del/inFla - @lets eat maybe AR should follow the previous Eagles Head coaches Oh! That’s right they didn’t win an SuperBowl neither. Go root for another team.— TrueEaglesFan
