The latest Spagnuolo/Castillo buzz
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
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.
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I an with you TongueWagger. All In for Real This Time.— dmanphilly- The only move that truly makes sense is to keep Castillo right where he is and get a good middle linebacker.— Tozmanian
- The Vikings should of learned with our other castoff, McNabb.— Earl J
Comment removed.- D-line did very well this year. I remember hating all the zone blitzes under McDermott— dragoon6
- please please please bring Spags in and move Juan somewhere else— HAROLD Eskin
- The Eagles managed better than 40 sacks from their defensive front pressure, why would you switch to a defense that takes the pressure off of the opposing quarterback by dropping the Eagles defensive linemen in coverage?
That's playing right into an opposing quarterback's hand. The Eagles can use a linebacker that plays fast and hard from side line to side line, the Eagles aren't a team that needs a linebacker to create pressure blitzing. Blitzing linebackers can turn a game on it's head, but the blitz can kill you, relying on it to much to create pressure, ask Dallas
— Dexter - The defense just needs some minor tweaks. I don't want to see our DL dropping in to coverage and if that's what Spags will do then he needs to go somewhere else. Our defense could use some consistency as well.
Spag's defense got hot for a few games with the Giants and now everyone thinks he's a genius. Other than that, his defenses have been average at best.— drog - I'm surprised I haven't heard Howard Mudd's name mentioned for DC. He did a great job with the offensive line last year. Castillo can go back to offensive line coach and all will be fine.— Leegles
- Spag is now a proven LOSER. Why would anyone want this LOSER. We have a TOP 10 DC in Juan. If our media want Spag so much let him be a reporter. He'll fit right in with their good ole boy club. That's the only reason they like him anyway.— Dallasrulez
- And just what was the Rams 2011 record with all those drop backs? Obviously, it doesn't work. Otherwise, Spags would still have a job.
How many times did Reggie White or Clyde Simmons drop back in coverage? Fuhgeddaboudt that stat. It's meaningless. Babin had more sacks than the number of times Cole dropped back. That tactic only indicates that a team is weak in the defensive backfield.— 1republican - It is FRIDAY. I thought all your reports said Spags would be signed sealed and delivered by the end of the week? What happened, sources werent as good as you thought?
I guess if you throw a few things against the wall, something is bound to stick. And you can forget about what fell and brag that you got the one thing to stick.— Pat c - Interesting that reports say Frazier wanted Juan last January...that's why Andy promoted him because he didn't want to lose him to the Vikings....should have let him go to the Vikings in the first place.— mish798798
- Don't worry, it will only be for one year if they do stay together. I expect Andy to go after this year and head out to San Diego and become the HC of the Chargers.— walt1
- VOTAZE BURFICT-PLEASE. WE HAVEN'T HAD A REAL GOOD MLB SINCE BILL BERGEY. HE HAS A LITTLE BUTKUS IN HIM.— tudj
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