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There was an interesting little tid bit about how Favre impacted Mangini's tenure as the Jets' HC. Seems like Favre really affected him negatively (on ESPN radio after his comments about Aaron Rogers).

Juan Castillo blew another opportunity against Buffalo. If the defense was improving each week, he would get plenty of credit. On the other hand, I think the defense is as bad, possibly worse, than opening day.

The defense has notched sacks and takeaways throughout the first 5 games, however occasional sacks or takeaways at arbitrary moments hasn't affected any outcomes.

That 52 consecutive red zone scoring drive statistic jumped out at me. I am curious about the NFL record for that statistic? For how many more weeks will that statistic appear on TV at every red zone drive?

The Eagles are reportedly talking about bringing in a "defensive consultant" to "assist" Castillo in "not sucking".

This is hilarious.
link

The quote from the article is interesting as it seems to say something, but if you look at it, it doesn't really say what you think it does;

"Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the Eagles will consider during the bye week the possibility of bringing in a defensive consultant."

Key in on the words "possibility" and "consider", substantial wiggle room there.

Not to mention it's speaking in terms of the bye week, a time when the players will be spending a great deal of time making vacation plans for January.

I think the fact that the conversation happened is just confirmation that they know they've made a serious mistake and "consultant" is code for "replacement".

Jim Washburn has been coaching his whole life and has been in the NFL for 12 years. Johnnie Lynn played in the NFL and has been coaching in the NFL for 17 years...he was even a defensive coordinator himself. They have a former Eagle coaching linebackers and a former Eagles coaching safeties.

What is a consultant going to see that none of those guys are noticing?

maybe it's a way to bring in jeff fisher and not make reid a lame duck quite yet

Anybody watch the Lions-Bears game last night?

Apparently Detroit runs the "wide 9" and they were impressive, although having that front four helps. And their linebackers actually stuff the run, which is another difference I noticed

This makes me sad
Yo, click it

Andy=
System > Personnel

Had to do it.

Its part of Level tradition at this pt.

Lincolning is always fun.


click here

Like Talon pointed out in the Domino topic, I don't see how any DC worth his salt would just come in here and allow 1/3 of his defense to be called by someone else. I can appreciate Juan's desire for the challenge, but how could he have known Reid was setting him up for disaster?

Even an experienced DC would have his hands full with a system that just completely exposes the middle of your team, not to mention the safeties. And I don't know of anyone who would just accept coaching the back 7, and even then being subject to how Washburn's calling the front 4. I don't think Schwartz is allowing his DL coach to dictate how he calls the rest of the D.

It's a mess, and I'd almost hope everyone they try to hire turns them down - it really needs to implode so they can't blame the lockout and lack of OTAs.

FWIW, since the majority of the convo bout this consultant is in this thread, i'll toss in my 2 cents.


I think its a way to 'fire' Juan without firing him.
Not only would on its face that be too much egg for them as an organization (no pun), but this team always seems to have a 'plausy D' way to cover their ass.


Apparently Howard Mudd needs hip replacement surgery.
This means he aint coaching on the sideline or elsewhere for the next 8 wks , minimum right?

Who can they slide over in such an unforseen emergency?

Why, Juan Castillo of course.

Makes sense on all fronts.

Juan keeps his job, or 'employed status' anyway, they get a mulligan and the 'consultant' will really be the head honcho w/ the D, even if thats not formally announced.

Mudd has no business trying to jump-bump Shady.

But yeah, your scenario is probably the most likely outcome. What still goes left unsaid is if the new consultant will be on board with the Wide 9, and will have the skills to mask how it's killing the middle of the D.

But then if JC moves back to line, then does he continue to try to teach Mudd's techniques? Does he put JJ back at center and give them much needed beef up front? Can he do anything with Watkins? Even pushing JC back to Oline doesn't seem easy, even if it's likely.

yeah, i think this is more commentary on the staff as a whole. I can't see them switching both positions, but who knows at this point.

I'm with you, KB. I don't think they'll be moving Juan back to offense, but I really, truly don't know.

I think they are probably looking for a guy to come in and take over the defense during the bye week under the guise of a "consultant search". That way, Juan isn't in the line of fire publicly and they have an out if they don't find anyone good enough or willing to take the job.

I thought something like that was likely, as they woudn't (nor should they) fire Juan. Guy was pretty good at his former job, why show him the door?

I didn't know about the surgery thing. It's almost too perfect...although perfection and 1-4 are pretty far apart.

Eagles saying they will NOT hire a defensive consultant.

So much the better.

link

BTW, to give you an idea of the idiocy involved, here's a breakdown of two, um, breakdowns in defense from the SF game. Looking at these plays, I can see why the players would have an issue with this.

linc

I thought something like that was likely, as they woudn't (nor should they) fire Juan. Guy was pretty good at his former job, why show him the door?

I honestly don't know. I think moving him back to offense would be almost too much crow for Reid to eat and they've known about Mudd's hip since before they hired him.

I don't know, honestly. We're in such uncharted territory that's it's tough to predict. "What do you do when your fairly successful offensive line coach is moved to defensive coordinator and is too bad to complete the season?".

I'm sure Reid didn't have a section on that situation in his 3 ring binder.

From Bass's link..."To me, this is a simple case of the coaching staff trying to superimpose its ideas about scheme onto personnel that really isn't built for it. "

pretty much sums it up, don't really need to understand the diagrams and X's and O's to figure that one out.

Eagles saying they will NOT hire a defensive consultant.


Apparently Lurie/Banner talked to Reid and killed that dumbass idea. The theory offered by 'Seth in 736' was believable to me, because it fit Reid's method of operation. If they were to make all of the changes suggested by 'Seth in 736,' how could they sell it to the players?

There are so many side shows in this circus act, that I can't remember such a bad season being so interesting. This 'dream team' will be remembered for an entire generation, especially if they finish 1-15.

I'm sure Reid didn't have a section on that situation in his 3 ring binder.


I'm starting to believe that the "3 ring binder" was merely an interview prop filled with blank pages. Reid got the job because he was wearing a brand new SB ring and that was the main criterion. Reid was clever to shine that ring for the entire interview.

I can appreciate Juan's desire for the challenge, but how could he have known Reid was setting him up for disaster?

Easy. He knew the Mule for more than a decade by close personal observation. He should have known that they completely don't value LB. That HE has never schemed an offense, let alone a defense.

As for the 3 ring binder, it wouldn't be there for one reason, FD. He's smarter than you. If you didn't know that already, he'll tell you to your face. Then, he'd ban you from asking questions.

BTW, it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that the LB's couldn't cover V Davis. That's ok, JC and the Fat Man will figure it out.

I wonder if the FO told the Fat Man, "get bent" about the "consultant" and to sleep in the bed he made.

Sal Pal (GRAIN OF SALT) says the Eagles reached out to Eric Mangini to be the defensive consultant, but EM has "zero interest".

So either the Birds are desperate enough to try to employ a 3-4 guy (as if this defense couldn't be mixed-up enough), or (likely) Sal is full of it.

So either the Birds are desperate enough to try to employ a 3-4 guy (as if this defense couldn't be mixed-up enough), or (likely) Sal is full of it.


I think the Eagles are desperate, and I wonder why they weren't desperate during the preseason. Did the defense look like a juggernaut in preseason? I think it would have been easier to hire a consultant prior to the opener. Reid probably wants to identify the person who leaked the consultant story to the media types.

I think the consultant job is a good opportunity because (1) the consultant could earn a fortune from the 'all-in' guys, (2) he can only improve the defense because it couldn't get worse, (3) he has nothing to lose because it was bad before he arrived, (4) if the defense becomes mediocre he would get all the credit, and (5) under the circumstances there could be an interim head coach job available around Thanksgiving.

Someone asked Adam Caplan over Twitter about the validity of Sal Pal's report, and his response:

What I can tell you is the job was, at one point, Dennis Allen's if he wanted it. Can't get into who was 1-6.

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