Decision to fire Castillo a "miscalculation"
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.
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.
Hmm one of the teams decision makers. We know Reid didn't say it. We know Lurie doesn't make any decisions because he is a weakling who lets Reid run the show. That leaves Baby Howie who allegedly got his job by being a backstabbing weasel. Good to see he is in survival mode and leaking anti-Andy stuff to the media. Man this organization really is the gift that keeps on giving.— Scope33- Lurie thinks Roseman is doing a great job because they are 20 mill under the salary cap!!! — oyoyer
- Castillo is sitting at home in his recliner having two good laughs. The offensive line and the defense are worse without him.— Penfold18
- Very ominous quote. If I were Lurie, I would fire Reid today. We have 8 games to go. We're still in it, at least mathematically. We have to explore the possibility that the defense is just demoralized, and not playing to their capacity like they did earlier this season.
If Reid was fired, and a credible or interim coach untainted by Reid replaced him, could this fire up the defense? We have to try it and see if we can turn what looks to be a wasted season into something that could portend some good things for next season.— wilmington - OL is one of Andy's specialties, right? He's famous for developing OLmen & QB's. Hows that workin out for ya, Andy??? We will never win a SB with AR in charge. After the game, Reid said (yea, I know it's the same BS we've heard for 14 years) it's his responsibility. So if I made mistakes at work as bad as Reid over the past 3 years, I'd have been fired long ago! FIRE ANDY! LURIE MUST BE BLIND (his account statements are in braille) SELL THE TEAM!!— desjones
- ". . . labeled a 'miscalculation' by one of the one of the team's decicion-makers . . ."
What does that mean? Who is this "team decision-maker."
This was a stupid blog.
— wordsword - As long as the fans keep packing the stadium, why should the Gold Standard really care about performance? Lurie knows that only one team can win it all, and that the odds are stacked against his team. Do you really think he gives a fat rat's backside about the team's record or the fans?— Boru
- The problem wasn't all Castillo's. Its Reid insisting on this wide 9 nonsense and taking the line play out of Castillo's hands.— Justaschmuck
- It's Washburn that's the problem. Reid hired Washburn and his ridiculous Wide 9 to run the defense... until he didn't want to run the defense, just the line. So now Reid was stuck trying to find a coordinator who would work with him. Not surprisingly, all the qualified candidates told Reid to pound sand. Reid should have told him "either you're the coordinator or you're nothing." The entire organization from the top down needs to be purged anyway. But apparently Roseman got an extension?!? And is leaking stories to the media, allegedly. Great, a weasel for a GM. Future sure looks bright! — oyoyer
- What a dummy. Washburn never wanted to run the defense. He was hired strictly for the D-line. He said so himself. Look it up.
The Wide 9 D-line formation works fine (other teams use it too), IF you have the right LBs/safeties in the system, which the Eagles clearly do not.
Bottom line, it's the players on the field (and Reid and Roseman for putting them there). Not Washburn, who has a pretty good track record as a D-line (not DC) coach.— phillychaos - The Eagles defense gave up 21 pts to a team that scpres 30++ against everyone so I don't think it could be considered a bad week for them.— UncleStosh
- When you actually look at it, Bowles is just as inexperienced as was Juan when Reid promoted him. Reid never learns from his own mistakes. His insistence on QBs that are fleet afoot and slow abrain has cost him a super bowl, and now his job.— Kioto
- Rowdy, couldn't agree more. We're just dragging dead weight around with Reid and Vick. Let's see what Foles can do before we head into next year, so we know what we have in him. Let's see if he can at least inspire these players. Let's see if the players respond well to someone else at the head. Do they not believe in their leadership or themselves anymore?
The last thing I want is to go into next year with a new coach and THEN trying to fix the issues.— MFPhils - The o line stinks, ravaged by injuries like it never has been in the Reid era. The defensive line is bad as well, but they have no excuse.— sore richard
- Boru, couldn't disagree more. Boycotting is ridiculous. Why would an owner allow a fanbase to have that much control? Once that worked, then what? They want a new RB so they miss a game?
The logic behind owners of sports being happy with simply the fans showing up is ridiculous. Owners want their fans to support their product. To spend massive amounts of money during and after the game. They know fans are going to spend a lot less with a bad product. More importantly, they will spend more for a good product.
I guarantee you, there is no owner in any sport thinking that running their team into the ground is a good thing. At the same time, they can't act as irrational as a fan. As bad things are, they could get MUCH worse.— MFPhils
