• March 19, 2024

Why Won’t The Eagles Break Silence On Castillo?

The status of Eagles’ defensive coordinator Juan Castillo remains one of the most puzzling question marks floating over the team at the moment. After struggling through his first year on the job, and calling a defense that was responsible for five blown fourth-quarter leads, it didn’t seem as though he would be a lock to return. No one official from the team has publicly committed to the former offensive line coach for the 2012 season, leading to the creation of various rumors and speculation (most notably concerning former Eagles assistant Steve Spagnulo) about who will be pulling the defensive strings next year.

Eagles’ owner Jeffrey Lurie was asked about Castillo’s future during his end-of-the-year news conference, but refused to comment, only stating that the decision was “up to Andy”.

Andy Reid has seemingly been in hiding since Week 17, and also hasn’t given any kind of statement on Castillo.

After Steve Spagnulo accepted a job with the New Orleans Saints, it seemed as though Castillo would be safe after all. With no other obvious candidates on the Eagles’ radar, the unspoken message that the team was sending was that they saw enough growth in the defense at the end of the year to feel comfortable with giving Juan another shot.The Eagles might have been able to get away with saying nothing, allowing Philadelphia to simply accept that there wouldn’t be any significant change to the coaching staff. However, a recent quote from Castillo himself prevented that door from being closed, and keeps the speculation alive.

Castillo was asked about his job security at the Senior Bowl, and he simply said  “You got to go through Andy.”

If Castillo was truly locked in for next season, why wouldn’t he have just confirmed that when he was asked about it? Are the Eagles looking at other options for defensive coordinator, and if so who might those options be?

Until someone from the Eagles takes the time to come out and offer an explanation, or simply confirm that Castillo will return, all that one can do is wonder what’s really going on behind closed doors.

Denny Basens

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paulman
paulman
January 29, 2012 6:19 pm

You guys need to get over it and stop with the witch-hunt already..
J Castillo is under contract, and is the DC of the Eagles and will be so like the rest of the Coaches that are under Contract for 2012..
Do you really think that he would be sent down to Mobile,Al if his job status was in question…C’Mon Man..
Do you think they are waiting for the Super Bowl to be over so they can hire Giants DC Perry Jewell to make a lateral move… If you don’t know Castillo well enough by now, whenever he is asked about his job status (Even during this season) his standard repsonse has always been, talk to Coach Andy, then yo don’t how this team operates.. .This is a non-story for the umpteenth time..

pheags88
pheags88
January 29, 2012 6:20 pm

“Are the Eagles looking at other options for defensive coordinator, and if so who might those options be?”

I think its been obvious they are…It was basically reported everywhere that Spags decision came down to the Saints and Eagles which is evidence they are. Also, If Castillo was the guy without a doubt why wouldn’t Lurie just come out and say it when he did about Reid. Further, Lurie said himself that Castillo was not their first choice last year and was named coach because other guys didn’t work out. Lets be real, I don’t think Lurie’s opinion changed for the better after they provided him with mutl. probowl players to only set an NFL record in 4th quarter blown saves this year.

Like I said before, Castillo will be back but he will be the DC again only if he is just the leftover like he was last year.

pheags88
pheags88
January 29, 2012 6:24 pm

Paulman, I think the guy is back as an Eagles coach without a doubt…but i think it being as the DC is still very much up in the air.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
January 29, 2012 6:27 pm

Howie spoke in Alabama and so did Juan in … ALABAMA — it has become obvious the Philadelphia Eagles are avoiding the media and in turn the fans – and since they don’t want my attention I have no choice but to say GO PHILLIES

paulman
paulman
January 29, 2012 6:51 pm

Thin k your barking up a worong tree Pheags

#1) Owner Lurie has never publicly stated who is or who isn’t part of the Coaching Staff, that’s always been up to AR
#2) Your Statement about SPags having to decide between Saints & the Eagles is not accurate either.. Spags was not interested in returning to Philly for numerous reasons I stated many such as no real desire to Coach with the Wide-9 Scheme or play 2nd fiddle to Washburn for that matter. Spags , didn’t like how he was treated from the Front Office and AR the first time he was in Philly being held back for interviewing for other jobs. Spags had conversations with real interest with Indy,Atlanta and Miami.. to say his choices were down to Saints and Philly is flat out wrong and agains points out to the wishful thinking that many fans and the local media continue to have about the Eagles , Spags had very little interest in returning to Philly at this time with the current status of the Eagles Coaching Staff ..
There is not going to be any expereienced DC who will simply injherit the Wide-9 Scheme and keep the headstrong Washburn .. The only way Sapgs or even another experienced DC would have taken the DC position with the Eagles would be if Washburn was let go and that’s not happening for AR would have a revolt with his DL (Cole,Jenkins & Babin in particular).
Coach Ar has bewen waiting for this SPeedball Pass rush ever since he’s been in Philly and now has the scheme and players to make it work up front and maybe can see some real payback from #1 Pick Brandon Graham.. He is not about to change the entire scheme of this Defense again, he does nto have the luxury of time on his side to make wholesale changes so he is going to keep the D/C and schemes the same and add a CB/Secondary Coach to help build on what they started from last season.. Why is this so difficult and hard for many fans and many in the local media to see….
and especially now here almost in Febuary.. most of all the Coaching Changes have already occured over the last 2-3 weeks,,, Who is even out there left , who as an experienced Def/Coord who would come in now and revampt the Defense again with a HC who very well likely is in his final season as HC… It’s a lame-duck session for the 2012 Season my friends, Coach AR is going to have to play the hand, that his chose last year, to finish the game and their/his contracts out. It is, what it is.. .Let’s see what happens..

DCar
DCar
January 29, 2012 6:58 pm

They are all hunkered down in their fortress of solitude, that is the Novacare complex, with the arrogant attitude, of we ain’t telling you $#!t, whether you like it or not. This is the staff & FO that we’re stuck with, & it is the staff & FO that the Hindenberg will go down with. Like it or not. We just have to wait another year, until the Hindenberg is finally gone.

Rocko
Rocko
January 29, 2012 7:04 pm

Very interesting Paulman, very interesting. As much as I hate the move Andy made with JC, I think you may have a point there buddy. I believe he plays the hand he was dealt and goes all in this year. Either we lose another season or win it all.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
January 29, 2012 7:26 pm

if anyone in the NFL wants to work as cheap as Juan, the Defensive Coordinator position is still open please contact Joe Banner’s calculator for consideration

paulman
paulman
January 29, 2012 7:31 pm

I agree Dcar..
I am looking at potential HC’s for next Off-Season and quite a few of the Coaches I liked have taken HC already (Chuck Pogano with Colts, Dennis Allen with the Raiders, Mike Sherman with Dolphins,)

Paulman’s list of Potential HC’s for the Eagles for 2013

#1) Chad Chudzinski (Current O/C of the Panthers)
#2) Jay Gruden (Current O/C of the Bengals and younger brother of John Gruden)
#3) Mike Pettine (Current D/C of the NY Jets)
#4) Perry Jewell (Current DC of the NY GIants)
#5) Winston Moss (LB/Asst HC of the Packers)
#6) Tom Clements *(Current QB Coach of the Packers but probably too old)

Eaglehaslanded
Eaglehaslanded
January 29, 2012 8:22 pm

Nothing here to see folks, nothing at all. Juan more year !!!

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
January 29, 2012 11:43 pm

This coaching staff and FO have become the laughingstock of the NFL. Why don’t Lurie call Ray Rhodes back and give him the coordinator/asst Head coach position? He’ll immediately get players to fill our weak spots and have the defense playing on a High level. He’ll bring back some passion…..and please don’t give me another Washburn excuse for why it’s not possible. What have Washburn won? let’s get a coach in here who have coached championship team defense.

CT
CT
January 30, 2012 1:34 am

This just in…. Eagles are looking to lure Buddy Ryan out of retirement. 🙂

bobbyuk
bobbyuk
January 30, 2012 3:05 am

As I said before, the media and media types have the attitude that Reid and the Eagles owe them something and it drives them crazy when they say nothing. They owe nothing. Two teams are getting ready for the SB–other teams have made splashy hires and questionable hires(hello Bucs). If Reid made the same announcement as he did last year at the end of the season–that his DC would be back–and then he had second thoughts, he’d be cricified in the media–again. So, he’s taking his time and it’s driving the media and fans crazy. The only thing he owes the paying fans is to put the best possible team on the field during the season–he owes us nothing during their off season. And you guys are nuts–songsrme2–if you think the Eagles have become “the laughing stock of the NFL”–has Lurie come out and said that the difference between the Eagles and Giants is QB play–like Jerry Jones did–ultimately publicly bashing his own QB? Has he come out and said he wishes that he has another team’s LBs like Jones did, again, publicly bashing the guys he has? Has he whined after a playoff loss like Jim Harbaugh has? And if you didn’t read Harbaugh’s comments after the NFC title game loss , you need to–he made Reid look like a saint.

And again, you guys didn’t listen to a thing Lurie said when he gave his end of season talk. He NEVER said Reid had to win a SB to coach out the rest of his contract. He said, “If I didn’t think we’d have substantial improvement next year, I’d be up here talking about a coaching change”. What substantial improvement to him isn’t what it is to the fans. If they get to the NFC title game–win or lose–Reid will be back to coach his final season in 2013–incidentally, when all of his assistants’ contracts are up. Banner said that he ahd to win a SB–to get an extension–not to finish out his contract. So you guys had better get to grips on Reid being here at least till his contract is up in 2013–not 2012.

paulman
paulman
January 30, 2012 7:16 am

Songs,
Ray Rhodes already has a job and is Special Consultant for the Defense for the Cleveland Browns working for his good freind Paul Holmgrem..

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
January 30, 2012 7:59 am

bobby personally I could care less how long Andy is here.

Hell, give him a lifetime contract…

My hard earned money stays put while the green cyanide drinkers bankroll the “lead standard”.

I’m use to mediocrity with this team already and will not invest until a new defensive guy comes in and turn this team into fierce intimidating SOB’s.

until then?

“TIME’S YOUR’S”

gmcliff
gmcliff
January 30, 2012 9:27 am

Amen Paulman on the Juan Castillo Issue. Next Year, the GM would prefer a young, creative mind like Josh McDaniels, that knows how to adjust to whatever a defense throws at them, …on offense and defense..Paulman you know how much I desire Eric Mangini to be here..I wouldn’t mind him as head coach as well, but definitely Defensive Coordinator. Tom Clements would be my next choice over the others. Again, to Paulmans point, why would anyone else come in to work for a man that won’t have his job after this season? We will not win a Superbowl with Andy Reid as coach, or Castillo, as d- coordinator. Period

btc24
btc24
January 30, 2012 9:30 am

I’m not saying whether or not Castillo should be back or not, but I’m not sure why everyone thinks Reid needs to make a decision on Castillo. Why does he need to say anything? Castillo is under contract and despite a bad year, that doesn’t mean Reid needs to come out and say whether or not he will be back. Does Reid need to come out and say whether or not Michael Vick or Lesean McCoy will be back? Of course not. They’re under contract, so unless Reid makes a decision behind the scenes, this is about as far from a story as it can be.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
January 30, 2012 10:57 am

gmcliff…this is what you’re ignoring.

Castillo job with the Eagles was posed as a question to the owner.

The owner did not give a vote of confidence and stated “the decision on Juan is Andy’s”.

That quote alone would lead us to believe Andy would let the fans know what the plans are concerning the defensive coordinator going forward.

The owner also made no mistake about labeling those last 4 games as “fools gold”,insinuating he’s not convinced what he witnessed in the last 4 games really was a turnaround for the defense.

What the Owner of the team witnessed is the sentiment of any sane person following the Eagles.

The owner left unanswered questions out there for his coach to answer.

The question also was posed to Juan Castillo at the Senior Bowl practices and his answer was that the reporter would need to as Andy.

Another person within the organization deferring to Andy.

So, if everyone is deferring to Andy then that alone is giving the impression that Andy will make himself available to answer the questions the fans have concerning this defense.

The fans want to know!

The fans have seen Andy time after time make counterproductive decisions only to have the Eagles spin machine throw out his pre 2006 resume as a reason to trust him.

We went through the same exact things with Sean McDermott.

How long will they continue to do this?

We’re still atrocious in the Red zone with weak safety and linebacker play.

Different coach….Same problem.

The Eagles fans deserves better. The Eagles fans deserve explanation to how doing the same things and expecting a different outcome isn’t insanity.

The Fans expect Andy to show he finally gets it a do something outside of normal routine and admit where he was wrong and what he’s doing different to fix it.

Who do you think paid for this team?

The Fans.

Why do you think this team is worth so much compared to when Lurie purchased it?

The fans are paying for those seats, season tickets, and merchandise.

Andy may not owe the reporters an explanation but the way this system is set up…

You answer the reporter’s questions so the fans know you see the same problems the fans see, and you use the media to talk to the fan base. There’s nothing wrong with telling the fans you’ve made mistakes and pointing out the areas of “Error” and afterwards explain how the staff have now gone about fixing it.

The Fans can embrace the truth but this smugness have alienated the fan base and don’t think for one moment that the same fans who are apart of the Eagle’s financial growth won’t revolt by hitting you in the purse.

If we have to tolerate another moment of Reid the least he can do is come before the fans and tell us he see what we see and then afterwards tell us what’s in place that’s new so we’ll be on board.

The Eagles organization owe the fans

paulman
paulman
January 30, 2012 11:06 am

Andy has just let the Fans who were still wondering ..
J Castillo is the D/C For 2012 and Todd Bowles (from Dolphins) will be the CB’s/Secondary Coach to replace Johnny Lynne which is a good hire..

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
January 30, 2012 1:29 pm

pathetic…Eagles will go 9-7 next season and will miss the playoffs

schiller
schiller
January 30, 2012 1:43 pm

Songs, you’re getting a press conference tomorrow – WHEN THERE IS ACTUALLY NEWS. You wanted it earlier because you’re an impulsive, impatient, whiny little bitch.

And for the “how doing the same things and expecting a different outcome isn’t insanity” – Well first, you whine on this site over and over and seem to expect a different result…. second – that’s NOT the definition of insanity. And 3rd and foremost, they do not do the same thing every year. Reid’s teams have gone through drastic changes (see last year), and will continue to. Bowles is a new addition and if you think they’ll be dormant in the draft and free agency, I ask you for evidence. So they will have a new coach, some new players…. how is it the same thing?

Just a empty cliche the haters love to rely on…

schiller
schiller
January 30, 2012 1:46 pm

Ha, songs, and for your prediction – should we factor in your credibility (last year you said 19-0 when the signed Nnamdi)….?

greenfan
greenfan
January 30, 2012 2:09 pm

and schill…you predicted 8-8?

gmcliff
gmcliff
January 31, 2012 11:22 am

Songs, I dont get your argument. I dont want Reid , or Castillo here. What are you talking about?

gmcliff
gmcliff
January 31, 2012 11:24 am

I give less than a darn what Reid says. I’m looking forward to the draft so we can have something for the new head coach, and D-Coordinator to use when Reid , and Castillo are fired this year.

schiller
schiller
January 31, 2012 11:59 am

greenfan – no I didn’t predict anything. NFL seasons are unpreditable. I also don’t waste my time trying to fly, pinpoint winning lottery numbers, swimming under water without scubba gear, surviving with food…. I don’t mess with things humans can’t do.

Sure some people predict things by chance, but I don’t wast my time with predictions.

greenfan
greenfan
January 31, 2012 12:05 pm

you may want to try that living without food thing

schiller
schiller
January 31, 2012 12:12 pm

no thanks, that would solve 0 problems for me, create a ton, and would simply alleviate a minor nusainse in your life. Sorry, no favors for you

greenfan
greenfan
January 31, 2012 12:13 pm

thought I would ask