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Dean, it appears we are in agreement in that the stats "are what they are". But that is the very reason why I'd argue that they cannot be the primary reason for holding up his improving the defense.

As for the remainder of your discussion, it is totally reasonable.

While hiring a prospective employee or resident is often a crap shoot, it is even more of one with the stats we are quoting. The NFL is inter-related. The defense, offense and special teams all impact one another. If the offense can't move the ball, it disproportionately challenges the defense. If special teams stinks up the joint, you have bad starting field position which burdens the offense. If you can't stop the opponent, you burden the offense and force its hand in the way it plays.

IMO, the most important thing is consistency. If a team/player feasts on minnows and is eaten by sharks, the value is far less than the person who gives a good fight regardless of competition.

Personally, value is relative. Think of Hugh Douglas. Racked up good stats but disappeared in the playoffs. The player who gets 4 sacks against the third string tackle on a crappy team that is forced to pass because they are down 14 points in the third period is good. The person that gets one or two sacks regardless of circumstance is more valuable. I don't think you can rely on the former stats to be consistent in the crunch time. Ergo the fade of such players in bigger games.

Inky is saying the Birds will hire Todd Bowles as their DB coach; Castillo will remain the DC.

There was also a report last year that the Eagles were interested in hiring Bowles as the DC, but Miami wouldn't allow them to talk to him.

Gotta think Bowles takes more responsibility than being the DB coach, right? Should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

And just as I'm saying that, Bowles will only coach the secondary only, so JC will still have his workload (and safeties coach Mike Zordich will be under Bowles).

It would kind of seem like Castillo wasn't involved in the hiring process, right?

TBH, I'm not sure he would've been anyway - if he had no say over the DL coach, why would they ask his opinion over the CB coach?

Reuben Frank is saying Reid never seriously considered replacing Castillo, despite reports saying they were interested in bringing in Spags.

I'm going to go ahead and call bullshit on that one.

it's not even rational how much i loathe this organization.

Looks like Talon's worst case scenario came true.

Be that as it may, what could they have done? They're committed to keeping Washburn and his system, so not making a move makes the most sense, in a matter of speaking.

i'm not sure what they could have done. they fucked themselves last year with castillo's promotion and the literally ass-backwards approach to building the defensive coaching staff and so they're left with few options besides blowing the whole thing up and starting over, which is even less desirable an option than the current trainwreck.

it's not even rational how much i loathe this organization.


Get in line bro. I don't see how anyone can like what the Eagles keep doing over and over again.

And to trot out the same coaching staff next year is beyond INFKNSANE.

I would normally get some what interested in the draft but we all see how that has gone the last couple of years.

The talk on 97.5 the other day was how would the fan base react to the Eagles signing Peyton Manning. Of course most callers were all for it but does anyone think that Mr Risk Taker has the balls to do something like that.

I know one thing if that did happen they would make a shit load of money of #18 jerseys. Maclin would have to change his number.

Did the Eagles pass over Dennis Allen last year or did he pass them over so he could take the job with Denver? Either way, I think it's funny that Denver had a killer defense that kept them in games, and now Allen is a head coach.

And the way they're blatantly lying about Spags is just sad. If every single reporter in the business is reporting to the contrary, I'm not inclined to give NovaCare the benefit of the doubt. It's not as if they have a sterling track record of honest dealings with the media.

Here's a valid question: How much control do you think Reid exerted over the defense last year? He obviously knew exactly what he wanted to do, so he made the Wide 9 the centerpiece. Was Castillo the one who came up with the ineffective zone coverage schemes, or was that all Reid? Installing a system that does not play to your players' strengths is an Andy Reid trademark.

Since they had no intention of ditching Washburn, whom it's been said is a royal asshole to work with and was the primary reason why Spags wouldn't sign on, I don't know that it's the end of the world to have Castillo back. Why? I think this is very much Andy Reid's defense. I think Castillo has almost no say in this mess, and since the blitzing is rare, his playcalling responsibilities are somewhat minimized.

Honestly, if they acquire some real linebacking talent and start playing press coverage, this defense could be decent, but I have my doubts as to whether or not either of those things will happen. The prospect of trading out of the first round to pick a quarterback in the second is just too alluring.

I think this is very much Andy Reid's defense.

Yeah, very much so. I don't think many defensive coordinators would allow the head coach to hand pick their assistants like this and in the case of Washburn, Reid dictating how the entire Front 7 in Castillo's defense would be aligned.

When you really sit and think about that, it's crazy. No coordinator with any backbone would take that job unless they were absolutely on board with the wide 9 scheme and very few are. You either need a Titans disciple who loves it or a coach so weak or desperate that you can force it on them.

Of course with Juan, one of the advantages of hiring him was he didn't have a scheme, so it's not like it would mess with what he does.

The only good thing is that Reid cannot escape a mirror if the team performs poorly next year.

If people complain about players underperforming, it is his job to find players that do perform and making them "buy in" to his vision.

If people complain about JC, Reid has reappointed him (perhaps because he had no options given his insistence to keep Washburn).

If the offense continues to underutilize the running game (a near certainty), it will be on Reid's head.

If they continue to misuse a decent secondary, it is on Reid's head.

Basically, his stamp is thoroughly on this team. Some would give him a pass, but, I hope even they can see, the liability starts and ends with him.

The talk on 97.5 the other day was how would the fan base react to the Eagles signing Peyton Manning. Of course most callers were all for it but does anyone think that Mr Risk Taker has the balls to do something like that.

section, I would NEVER endorse such a decision. I've been meaning to comment on this for a long time now, but if I hear fucking Adam Schefter or John I'mAnAlien Clayton say again the "nerves are not regenerating", I may go insane. Does ESPN not have any medical staff?

Any basic understanding of medicine will tell you that nerves NEVER regenerate. There are experimental therapies with stem cell research that kind of look promising.

With spine problems, usually it is relieving the compression/pressure exerted on a nerve by the structural supporting structures (degenerative changes of the vertebrae or "slipped discs" etc). Once the pressure is alleviated, it CAN take a long time for the symptoms (often referred to as a radiculopathy medically) to improve. The fact that Manning is not recovered after 5 months since his last surgery is disconcerting. And, more importantly, the likelihood of success is far lower each time you do revision surgeries.

Basically, Manning is fucked. He's stupid enough to think he'll hard ball Polian into not moving back the sign on bonus date, but the only person he's hurting is himself.

If Manning's muscular atrophy is indeed related to nerve damage rather than disuse, he's totally fucked and will always have compromised function. Last year, he got away with pulling a fast one on the Colts and got 26 million dollars by lying to them. The Colts were trusting enough (read: stupid) to not double check his medical progress. Manning is done. Finished. Except if you are Snyder.

Don't put a single egg in this basket, section. From all I'm understanding (admittedly, I don't have access to his medical records), this guy is finished.

Here's a valid question: How much control do you think Reid exerted over the defense last year? He obviously knew exactly what he wanted to do, so he made the Wide 9 the centerpiece. Was Castillo the one who came up with the ineffective zone coverage schemes, or was that all Reid? Installing a system that does not play to your players' strengths is an Andy Reid trademark.


I agree that this is 100% Andy Reid's "trademark" defense and Castillo is merely a hard-working puppet. Reid's fingerprints are all over this defense, particularly the personnel carousel and especially the players in the wrong positions in the wrong coverages. I don't think Castillo has any role in the assistant coach hiring process, and nobody else does, either, except maybe Howie Roseman and Joe Banner of course.

Since they had no intention of ditching Washburn, whom it's been said is a royal asshole to work with and was the primary reason why Spags wouldn't sign on, I don't know that it's the end of the world to have Castillo back. Why? I think this is very much Andy Reid's defense. I think Castillo has almost no say in this mess, and since the blitzing is rare, his playcalling responsibilities are somewhat minimized.

Watching Reid in SF helping to call the D with McDermott answered this question. They did blitz more towards the end of the year, though.

I think this is the same way Reid runs the offense - he doesn't "call" the plays, per se, but he influences the decisions made. And Castillo is the perfect example of what Reid is - he works tremendously hard during the week and may even have a good gameplan available for the game, but if he's asked to adjust or think on his feet, he will have problems.

As much as Castillo "works hard", there's no substitute for experience.

Don't put a single egg in this basket, section. From all I'm understanding (admittedly, I don't have access to his medical records), this guy is finished.


Obvisously, I wouldn't want him if he is injured and I don't think the Eagles would make a move on him if he could play again. Reports are out today that he is done and will never play football again, like you said.

Not sure why Baldinger and Mayes were talking about it for hours the other day like it was a possiblity. Probably just trying to find something to talk about.

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