The latest Spagnuolo/Castillo buzz
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
The latest Spagnuolo/Castillo buzz
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Juan Castillo could draw interest from the Vikings, according to a report. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
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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Comments (58)
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
- 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
- If RYAN GRIGSON is such a good talent evaluater,why did they let him go, and keep home boy ROSEMAN? The right thing to do would have been to keep GRIGSON and let ROSEMAN go. It shows that LURIE has no concern for the fans, except to pocket their money. NEW OWNERSHIP!!! MAYBE THE PHILLY FANS CAN BUY THE TEAM,SUCH AS GREEN BAY HAS DONE.— tudj
- Andy will drag his feet until Spags gets tired of waiting and signs with the Falcons. This will then give Andy the excuse he needs to say that Juan is his only option. The non-caring Billionaire Owner upon hearing this, will shrug his shoulders and say, "OK"! Expect more of the same, 2nd tier football in 2012. Also expect a smallish, High Motor Defensive End to be the #1 pick for Howie, the Accountant.— younged
- I think you are right about Andy dragging his feet on this. He doesn't want to admit he made a mistake because in his mind he does not make any. — coloradoeagle
- DON'T BE SO SURE— Pete60
- More meaningless speculation calling itself reporting!— BEMiller
- I'm going to start banging the drum for it right now..whether we get Spags or not we need a solid MLB and the Rams need a playmaking WR..How about Desean to the Rams for Laurinaitis?He's hard nosed, instinctive and young..We get rid of a potential headache and address the LB position..Use one of the incoming high 2's on a WR..Maybe we can get the Rams 6th in the trade and Howie can draft Teo-Nesheim II— PhillyMike5959
- Walt:
I had the exact same thought. Reid and Rivers will win a SB.— Penfold18 - No FLETCHER! DRAFT 1 of the 'Bama LB's! & then take Burfict in round 2! First 2 rounds LB's!!— ChangeISNeeded
- My guess is Spags will not come to Philadelphia; because Reid will want to keep Castillo because he's one of Andy's boys. The possibility that Castillo might go to Minnesota can't come fast enough for me. That graphic on dropping back into coverage (where do they come up with these stats?), if taken for what it's worth, shows that the Eagles D-Line is a bunch of blitz-happy nuts who know only to rush the QB, and cannot cover even the world's slowest tight end. The Wide 9 is a failure, folks...do a standard 4-3 and get a solid MLB. Burfect would be great, and a personality like his makes for an automatic team leader; something the Eagles don't have on D right now.— MidStaterUXB
- please get rid of castillo. and leslie frazier is even considering hiring castillo as his new d-coordinator he should be fired now. castillo has no business on the defensive side of the ball, none.— psualum
- I wrote in a post two weeks ago that the major difference between the two systems is the dropping back the DE in the zone blitz schemes. Glad to see after 400 articles mentioning that Spags can't work with the wide 9, a reporter finally did something as crazy as providing an explanation why. Way to be on top of it. But still, considering the resources at your disposal, it's still weak. Did Spags really drop guys like Strahan, Tuck, and OSi into coverage as much as this terrible Rams team? DE and DT accounted for almost 40 of 52 sacks in 2007 Super Bowl year. Were they able to accomplish this and drop into coverage a bunch or did he run a different formula with that group of talent? From the outside without a paid subscription to Pro Football Focus, it looks like he didn't blitz the Cb and Safeties as much, which is when the principle of dropping back DE kicks in but instead used LB blitzes(LB's had 10 sacks) probably because he had quality LB talent. Remebr that the Eagles under Johnson liked to use the Zone blitz so they could blitz one of the all-time great blitzing Safeties in Dawkins but Johnson had a lot more blitz schemes going than that. Wouldn't a blitz scheme using the Wide 9, spreading the tackle wide and also the help most tackles need handling Babin and Cole, leave the middle open for LB's blitzing up the gut? Wouldn't this also be an effective scheme against the run, becoming a defacto run blitz clogging up between the tackles(assuming the Eagles draft a real Middle LB in the 1st rd, i know a big assumption) Is Spags such a one trick pony that he wouldn't want the schemes he runs to fit the talent he has on his roster? Point is, what did he do with the Giants when he had a ton of talent at DE?— UncleStosh
- Spags, Burfict, a safety and some o line....we'll be fine.....if that happens, that is— flyfightinbullies
- Philadelphia Titanics— Ace-Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Titanics— Ace-Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Titanic(s)— Ace-Philadelphia
- i like the burflict momentum. the only problem with that is the eagles never pick the obvious guy (see pierre paul). alot of people like the boston college LB, but to me a little bit o crazy is needed to play MLB in the NFL. rolle and burflict would be a nasty duo. draw straws for the other LB.— djack10
- Its no secret that Spags wants another shot at becoming a head coach, based on recent comments. Looking at the Eagles and Reid, can you be sure that Laurie will ever let him go? Now turning toward the Falcons, if they have another disappointing finish in 2012, could Mike Smith be let go,thereby giving Spags a shot for the Atlanta head coaching position. Just my own speculation in trying to read what Spags may be thinking as an alternative to Philadelphia, an his own future.— watsonmr
- A MLB with anger management issues? That's exactly what the Eagle need!
(btw, Leegles; funny stuff!)
(btw, younged; I think you nailed it.)— chocolatethunder - Andy will stall and let ATL sign Spags— cm3737
- It's hard to believe that Spagnuolo would take a job as Reid's DC without Reid having a long-term contract. If he did, and Lurie obtained the guts to send Reid packing, Spagnuolo would be at the mercy of the next coach.— Bob1
- Unless they work out a deal that hands Spagnuolo the head coaching job if Reid gets cut loose. — Bob1
- Philadelphia Titanic(s)— Ace-Philadelphia
- My guess is Castillo stays right here as DC. The numbers weren't that bad and actually were an improvement over last season. Add a couple of linebackers and we've got a good defense. Juan knows his X's and O's better than people think. People have to wake up and realize that this season was lost to the stike and the number of changes made. Turnovers was another big killer. Add to quality linebackers and a solid right tackle and this team is set. Solid O-Line play will keep Michael Vick clean and the offense will be right there with the Packers and Saints. Two linebackers and a normal offseason and the defense will be ready to play. This team is close, very close. Next season will be year four of this rebuild, rebuilding takes 3 to 5 years. What does that tell you?— Craig321
- it tells me Andy and the Accountants have no idea what they are doing. the strike and no offseason is a convenient excuse for an organization that said there would be no excuses. the Broncos quadroupled their win total this year with a completely new coaching staff and new players on both sides of the ball. the 49ers had the second best record in the NFC with a completely new coaching staff. carolina improved immensely, too, with a new coaching staff and a rookie quarterback. these are but three examples. as far as I know these teams were subject to the same offseason the eagles had. the Eagles organization is now second-rate with a failed offensive line coach as defensive coordinator and a lawyer/capologist/accountant as GM. Lurie doesn't care because the only thing he loves more than the Patriots is MONEY and Andy has made him a lot of it. — coloradoeagle
- My guess is Castillo stays right here as DC. The numbers weren't that bad and actually were an improvement over last season. Add a couple of linebackers and we've got a good defense. Juan knows his X's and O's better than people think. People have to wake up and realize that this season was lost to the stike and the number of changes made. Turnovers was another big killer. Add to quality linebackers and a solid right tackle and this team is set. Solid O-Line play will keep Michael Vick clean and the offense will be right there with the Packers and Saints. Two linebackers and a normal offseason and the defense will be ready to play. This team is close, very close. Next season will be year four of this rebuild, rebuilding takes 3 to 5 years. What does that tell you?— Craig321
- Coaching is important but not as important as talent.— HeelYes
- hey philly. i heard a nj cop cant watch a flyers game without getting put in the ER. do the world a favor....drop an atomic bomb on center city.— mwright252
- @mwright252---The person charged with the assault after the Winter Classic is from New Jersey. Stay Classy! — marley66
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About this blog
Sheil Kapadia is in his fifth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest
memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with
his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to
discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or
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