"The offensive line coach?"
- Asante Samuel,Feb. 2, 2011
It sounded crazy then. Four games in, the decision to name Juan Castillo the Eagles defensive coordinator would be zipped up in a straightjacket and committed.
This is no second guess.
When Andy Reid shocked the NFL by promoting his long-time offensive line coach and placed him in charge of his defense the move was almost unanimously derided.
But the biggest mistake wasn't placing your future in the hands of a man that had never coached defense at the collegiate or professional level. That may have worked under normal circumstances.
It was handing the defense to a novice when it was fairly clear in February that much of the offseason and the opportunity for instruction were going to be canceled by the NFL lockout. It was asking Castillo to spend months working on a new scheme when he really had no idea who many of his players were going be.
Reid was obviously planning a major overhaul on defense as far back as February. And that's pretty much close to what he did when he brought Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Jason Babin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie aboard six weeks before the season was to start.
Reid was basically saying to Castillo, "Here's a bunch of talent. Make it work."
Thus far, it hasn't – not by long shot. And the Eagles' season is in jeopardy of slipping away following yet another second half collapse by their defense.
Sunday's was by far the worst. Up, 23-3, early in the third quarter, the Eagles surrendered 21 straight points to the San Francisco 49ers and lost, 24-23, at Lincoln Financial Field.
Two weeks ago, they coughed up a 10-point fourth quarter lead to the Falcons and lost. Last week, the Eagles were ahead by two in the fourth and lost. On Sunday they were up six and lost. Again.
In all, the Eagles has been outscored, 36-0, in the fourth quarter of its last three games, all losses.
"If it was just a defensive game, I would tell you yes," Reid said when asked if his defense bore responsibility. "But it's an offensive game, too. Nobody is pointing fingers at anybody."
They weren't in the Eagles locker room, at least the players interviewed weren't.
"This is [Castillo's] first year with a defense that he didn't get an offseason with," said Asomugha, a disappointment thus far. "Everybody is sticking by Juan and the calls he is making."
After the game, Castillo met with reporters. His eyes were sunken and swollen. Each week the questions about his readiness pile up.
