Football News Blog » 2011

Eagles in Revamp Mode

The Philadelphia Eagles went into revamp mode after the Super Bowl was won by the Green Bay Packers in style. After all the Eagles had lost to them 21-16 at Lincoln Financial Field, that too in the wild card round. The Eagles, who could not make it to the finals and ended up with three straight losses at the end of the season, decided to tighten up their defense. Andy Reid, the Eagles coach, did not have to look beyond home to find his new defensive coach. All he needed to do was to promote Juan Castillo who had already served for the Eagles for 16 seasons, of which 13 were on the offensive line. This is being viewed as a tribute to Castillo’s dedication to the team and the quality of his work. He replaces Sean McDermott. Howard Mudd had to be enticed out of retirement to replace Castillo.

Reid also brought in Johnnie Lynn from San Francisco’s 49’ers as the secondary/ cornerbacks coach. Bobby April Jr. has been brought in from Nicholls State to be the new defensive quality control coach, while other officials who were promoted included Duce Staley, David Culley and James Urban. The last named has been promoted from quarterbacks coach to assistant offensive coordinator. Urban’s place is being taken by Doug Pederson. For Staley the move from coaching internship to special team’s quality control means his career is on the high road now.

The musical chairs being played in Eagles’ officialdom has special implications for the 51 year old Castillo. From 1978 to 1980, Castillo was with Texas A & I as a linebacker. Later in 1984-85 he took the field on behalf of USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers. Though he was from the defensive side, Castillo found himself on the offensive side for more than a decade. Since the two approaches are almost opposed to each other and the tactics that need to be employed are significantly different, Castillo discloses having to study very deeply to get where he has. Though he excelled at it, the professional hindrance of being perceived to belong to a discipline not your own is not lost upon him. After all it has taken 13 seasons for his team to recognize his skill at defense. Castillo’s peers in the game are loud in their praise for the excellence of the kind of game plan that he can devise with just the right blend of blitz and pressure.

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