Two days following the firing of Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, there is so much yet so little to say about the move.
When all is said and done, will the action “fix” what ails this team? No. But is Todd Bowles, the new DC for the Birds, a better fit for the role? Absolutely.
So why does it still seem so bizarre?
On Tuesday, when news broke that Castillo had been fired, the initial feeling of many was shock. And then dismay. Yes, the defense faltered in the past two games. But would anyone have named the D as the biggest issue facing the Eagles this season? Probably not. In fact, it was the defense that often kept the team in games to cover up the multitude of mistakes of the offense.
Todd Bowles, Eagles new Defensive Coordinator. Image via Philly.com
That doesn’t mean the defense couldn’t be better. Much, much better. Castillo presided over the unfortunate reality that the Eagles lost 7 games since 2011 where they held the lead going into the fourth quarter. And the phenomenal defensive line has failed to record a single sack in three games. At some point, it was inevitable that a change would be made there. But after letting Castillo survive the offieason, was finally correcting the mistake of a perplexing hire last season in the middle of this one really the answer?
Andy Reid promised on Monday that he would fix things with his team. Since then, it seems that things have gone in the opposite direction.
Do you feel better about this team and its chances now than you did on Monday?
Maybe the fact that Reid chose to part with his long-time friend in an effort to “fix” his team will serve as an effective wake-up call to Eagles players and coaches. But is playing scared truly the way to get the best out of players?
This team needs hunger. Instead, they now have fear.
And the fear starts at the top. We’ve known it for months that Andy Reid was fighting for his job this season. But it seems that the realization has only just set in for Reid. And he is flailing around to make a desperate effort to stay afloat in the turbulent waters of the NFL.
After Sunday’s loss to the Lions, it seemed that the Philadelphia Eagles were beginning to slowly unravel with comments made about coaches and other players. And it now seems that the spool is spinning faster.
Have the Eagles been made a better team with the firing of Juan Castillo leading the defense? Very probable. But is it enough to turn the Eagles season in the right direction? Hope springs eternal, but it feels like this is just the beginning of the drama for this team.
Where are the meaningful changes on offense?
Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of his 14 seasons with the team? There are still ten games left to save this team – and Reid’s job. With the squad facing the undefeated Falcons after the bye, things may well get worse for the Eagles. Strap in for a rough ride.
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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports
Tags: All's Fair in Sports and War, Andy Reid, Brandyn Campbell, Defensive Coordinator, Football, Juan Castillo, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Philly Sports Muse, Sports Talk Radio, The War Room, Todd Bowles, War Room Sports