At first glance, it would seem Juan Castillo’s defense didn’t have that good of a season in 2011.
The Eagles went 8-8 and missed the playoffs for only the fourth time in Andy Reid’s regime. Critics who didn’t want Castillo in the first place only got louder as the season went on. High-priced and big-named free agents were supposed to bring us a Super Bowl, and they weren’t even able to execute basic fundamentals such as tackling. But if you take a step back and look at the season as a whole, you’ll see that the defense wasn’t as bad as you may think it was.
The biggest argument I’ve seen all off-season is that the final four games don’t mean anything and were fool’s gold. I completely disagree with that. If anything, I think it shows the character of the team. They could have given up when there was virtually nothing to play for. They could have complained about their coaches, but they didn’t. They played hard and they won. Despite people claiming “fool’s gold”, they defeat Miami, NY Jets, and Dallas pretty handily while playing for a shot at the playoffs at the time. In those final four games, they allowed just 46 total points. I think the final four games showed you much of what you will see over sixteen games this year.
For the 2011 season, the Eagles allowed 328 points. That’s the lowest total in the NFC East, and third overall the entire NFC. So the notion that the defense wasn’t good enough is ridiculous. They finished eighth in first downs per game at 18.1, eighth in yards per game at 324.9 and tied for first in sacks with 50.
What hurt them was situationally getting off the field. They forced an abysmal 24 turnovers and only scored 4 defensive touchdowns. On third down, teams converted at a rate of 36% against them. The defense didn’t help themselves, either with 87 penalties for 813 yards. That has to get better.
Before the bye-week in Week 7, they were awful. They lost four in a row allowing more than 24 points in each game. They couldn’t tackle anyone. But from Week 8 on, they allowed more than 20 points only three times, against a Jay Cutler-led Bears team, Tom Brady and the Patriots, and on a Thursday night after a cross country trip against the Seahawks.
That being said, there have been a lot of changes to the defense since the 2011 season came to a close.
Off-corner Asante Samuel is gone. Even though I, personally disagree with trading him for a 7th round pick, the move should allow Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie the opportunity to play press cover corner and not jumping around from outside to slot every other play.
The revolving door at linebacker ever since Jeremiah Trotter ended his second term in the middle seems likely to stop with the addition of DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans. While playing in the 4-3 defense, he was 2006 Rookie of the Year, an All-Pro in 2007, and a two-time pro-bowler. An Achilles injury, and the switch to the 3-4, Ryans became expendable. If he has anything to give, it’s better than what they’ve had. Also expected to jump right in is second round pick Mychal Kendricks, who will start on the strong side.
First-round draft pick Fletcher Cox should sure up an already solid defensive line, even if Mike Patterson can’t play. The thing I’m most concerned about, and so is everyone, is safety. I think it’s too early to call Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett busts right now, but they’re close. They need to show some flashes of why they were taken with second round picks. Kurt Coleman and O.J. Atogwe also need to show they can play at a high level as well.
The Eagles pressured the quarterback, but couldn’t force turnovers. They played well on first and second downs, but couldn’t get off the field on third downs. Costly penalties. These are all things that have to change if the Eagles want to have a great defense. I think Juan Castillo did alright for an offensive line coach with no linebackers, safeties, a new defensive line coach and virtually no off-season. A year of experience, a full off-season, and some key additions throughout should automatically make him better this year.
Shouldn’t it?
We will see………..
If the owner think the last 4 games were “fool’s gold”…..it’s fool’s gold”.
Juan convinced Reid Matthews could man the mlb position day one.
Juan said before last season started Asmo would be used like Woodson…..Those decisions alone cost the team an opportunity to compete get in the playoffs…Decisions made before one down was played.
Those last 4 games meant nothing at all. When I measure the Eagle’s progress..I view games against teams like New England…not Dallas, Jets, or Dolphins.
Teams like the Giants beat high level teams…we don’t.
Hell, Chicago kicked our tails..Seattle embarrassed our team.
So, come on guy.
We don’t need this pathetic fluff piece..Eagles fans have eyes and will be get hyped through a fluff piece…
We’ll see when the season start and I think Juan will fail again and Reid will fire him and start over with Todd Bowles over the defense….a move one year late.
again.
We’re not
Castillo could only work with what he was given and he wasn’t given a MLB
Still as the article says the D wasn’t as horrible as people said
The O should take a lot of the blame –they couldn’t score in the 4th quarter in too many games
I think the off season acquisitions and the draft were very good
This year will be much different provided candy body Vick can play past the 4th game and gets rid of the ball on quick drops at least once in a while
The Eagles biggest problem is QB
I would re-phrase, Mr. rcp, the eagles biggest question mark is quarterback, his overall play will determine the fate of the birds in 2012
and perhaps problem is no viable back up
Therer is no reason to believe that Castillo will improve and be more comfortable in his 2nd Season as will the players to Washburn’s Scheme’s and the addition of Secondary Coach Todd Bowles who is a perfect fit for talented players like Asmo,DRC and Nate Allen.. Bowles will simplify and coach these players to be more physical and more confident and if they can stay healthy and get off to a good good, this has the makings of a very good Seconday which has really been the Eagles Achilles heel Defenseively in my opinion for the last 3-4 Seasons and even more so than the play at the LB Positoin for when you are beaten as a Secondary, the reslut is a big play or TD in a lot of cases.. Bowles will help tighten the back end of the Defense
I think overall Castillo did a pretty good job last year considering all the new moveing parts,coaches,players with limited tim to get evreyone on the same page..
I see you’re erasing comments….look….the fans have no confidence at all in Juan Castillo.
“0”
He’ll be a new scapegoat before it’s Todd Bowles turn.
Considering the stats…particularly the sack totals from last year I think there’s reason to be optimistic. Also, I gauge the scheme change of the defense against what Sean McDermott did the previous year and there were some huge adjustments made to specifically cater to the talent on the roster, it relied on a lot of the Jimmy Johnson philosophy of defense more than the Wide 9 and it made a HUGE difference. McDermott’s methods of coaching was to rigidly stick to shifting schemes that weren’t working. I mention all of this not to say McDermott is a good coach for comparison, but in general he was “Groomed” to be a DC and perhaps with that came some entitlement issues which lead to sticking to strategies that just weren’t effective. Castillo on the other hand did significantly better over the length of the season with far worse LBs and about the same situation at safety. Do I like the fact that he pre-ordained Casey Matthews the starter at the MIKE? Not really. Do I like the fact that he thought he could turn Nnamdi into Charles Woodson after two weeks of training camp? Not really. BUT Castillo did pull together a strategy for the 11 guys on the field to play better than basically effective defense against a couple of good teams by the end and the team showed flashes all season long. If Nnamdi struggles again in the nickel or dime I’m confident Castillo won’t leave him there.
why all the comments on this article hidden?
Because you ain’t sayin shyt THONGS
We need a new defensive coordinator
I think by week #10, Most fans will be wishing we had a new QB.. Castillo and the Eagles Defense will be fine.. It’s QB Vick that I am worried about.
That’s not whaT you said earlier paulman, you said you expect Vick to have break out season, damn be consistent
I have not liked what I’ve seen in Practice thus far from Vick who is throwing the ball blindly into a lot of bad spots thus far..