Andy Reid said on Monday that he was willing to tear things up in order to fix this team and he wasn’t playing. The Eagles announced on Tuesday morning that Juan Castillo was fired as the team’s defensive coordinator and replaced by Todd Bowles, previously the secondary coach.
In a statement issued by the team, Reid said of the move:
“I want to make it clear that I have nothing but the ultimate respect for Juan Castillo as a coach and as a person. He’s one of the finest football coaches that I have ever worked with. He has served this organization extremely well for 18 years and letting him go was a difficult decision. I know he will continue to be a successful coach in this league and wish he and his family nothing but the best.
“We’re six games into the season and average isn’t good enough. I know the potential of our team and insist on maximizing it.”
Reid seems willing to admit that he was wrong in his decision to appoint Castillo in order to save his own job with the team.
How will Reid address the issues plaguing the team’s offense? Are more drastic moves in the mix? Much more to come.
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He’ll have to fire the whole staff after they play RG3 and his Redskins!
The Redskins are definitely a growing threat in the division. Hopefully the Eagles can clean up their act so that they give their best against Washington and every other team.
Eagles Defense ranked 4th in nfl on 3rd down conversions, 4th in the red zone, 10th in yards per play, and 13 overall in points per game…. while offense ranked 31st and 20 in 2 offensive catagories…. i guess Andy Reid was about to get the AXE when Juan, who is a stand-up great person took the AXE for Andy…. greatest amount of respect for Juan Castillo…… bigger, better things ahead for Juan !!!!!!!!!
I know. It don’t make no sense. If Juan was going to be fired, it should have been last season. So far this season it’s been the defense that has made up for the sloppy offense in most games. Castillo took the fall but this is far from the end of Andy Reid’s problems.
Is this supposed to distract us fans from the horrible mess that is this offense (and don’t even get me started on special teams)? I’m not necessarily saying they should have kept Juan but it’s angering that they sacrificed him instead of addressing some of the team’s glaring deficiencies.
I guess so, Sara. Sure, the defense had a major meltdown against the Lions but that same D kept this Eagles team in games where the offense was a right mess. We’ll see if any major shakeups on offense will take place but I feel like survival mode–i.e. desperation–has set in for Reid. He was responsible for putting Castillo in a position to fail and therefore his failures, now his buddy Juan is taking the fall for the team’s collective issues this season.
Todd Bowles?! The special teams “sucks”!!!! So, what is the difference him and Juan Castillo???
Bowles is a waaay more qualified for the position than Castillo was. MUCH more experience and strong track record coaching NFL defenses. Unlike Juan, should be comfortable with play calling. He’s said that he’s not going to change much on the defense but will add in a more blitzing, where appropriate. We’ll have to see.