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When asked what the Eagles’ defense needs to focus on going forward, new coordinator Todd Bowles did not hesitate.
“We’ve got to finish at the end of the games,” he said. “We’ve got to finish and win games. The bottom line is, when you’re out there on defense, it doesn’t matter what happens when you’re out there at the end of the game, you’ve got to finish.”
Before today, Todd Bowles was in charge of the Eagles’ secondary. Now, his job is to come up with a game-plan for the entire defense.
That includes finding a way to improve a pass-rush that has gone without a sack the last three games.
Juan Castillo was overcome with emotion Monday when asked to talk about his time in Philadelphia.
The former defensive coordinator, relieved of his duties this week in favor of Todd Bowles, talked to Vai Sikahema of NBC 10 on Tuesday. Sikahema asked Castillo what he will think about when he reflects on his career with the Eagles.
“The opportunity,” said a shaken Castillo, as heard on 97.5 The Fanatic. “And not taking advantage of the opportunity and making it happen for my family, for Coach Reid, for the city and for our guys. That’s what a warrior does. We talk about that all the time. There are no excuses, man. You get it done.”
Given that it’ll be Week 8 when Todd Bowles coaches his first game as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, how much of an imprint can he really put on the team’s scheme?
“The scheme is not going to change,”Andy Reid said. “The terminology isn’t going to change. But how we work within that is how you do that.”
We’ll hear from Bowles later today, but it sounds like the Eagles will tweak the system that’s currently in place. And that makes sense, given that we’re six games in, and the defense has played really well in stretches. Considering Bowles has coached the secondary all season, I wouldn’t expect many changes there. The Eagles are limiting opposing quarterbacks to the lowest completion percentage (52.7) and second-lowest yards per attempt (6.2) in the NFL.
The front four, however, could be a different story. Jim Washburn’s group has gone without a sack in three straight games.
When the media entered the locker room after Sunday’s loss to the Lions, Nnamdi Asomugha was still sitting at his locker.
He was the only player to still have his jersey and pads on, apparently needing some time to himself after watching the Eagles’ defense collapse in the fourth quarter and overtime.
When Asomugha finally addressed reporters, he seemed to question some of Juan Castillo’s decisions at the end of the game.
Considering that Andy Reid fired Castillo the following day, it’s fair to ask: How much of an effect did the players questioning Castillo have to do with his decision?
Yesterday, Andy Reid was asked by Birds 24/7 whether he was committed to Michael Vick as the team’s starting quarterback.
“Today, I am,” he said. “I am going to take a hard look at everything.”
A day later, the head coach did nothing to soften his stance, leaving the door open for a potential quarterback change.
This may be just the start of the shakeup.
During his press conference to officially announce the firing of Juan Castillo and promotion of Todd Bowles to defensive coordinator, Andy Reid said, “This is one of the moves and we’ll see where it goes from here.”
Jamar Chaney said the news trickled in through the media. Since it’s the bye week, there was no phone call placed or text sent from the team brass. Just a headline on SportsCenter announcing that Juan Castillo had been fired as defensive coordinator and had been replaced by Todd Bowles.
“I was shocked,” said Chaney. “Our defense was playing better than it was last year.
“We had some really good games – against the Browns, the Ravens and Giants. The Ravens and Giant are considered some of the best teams in the league.”
One person who voiced his opinion publicly soon after the Eagles announced Juan Castillo’s firing was Asante Samuel.
The Eagles announced this morning that Juan Castillo has been fired, and the team has promoted Todd Bowles as defensive coordinator.
Is it time to push the panic button on the Eagles’ run game? Here’s a player-by-player review of how the Birds’ running backs, wide receivers and tight ends performed Sunday against the Lions.
Andy Reid’s fate in Philadelphia will be determined by what happens in the next 10 games.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie put a number on it during his preseason address, confirming that another 8-8 year would not be enough for the head coach to stay.
That means the Eagles need to go at least 6-4 (possibly 7-3) for Reid to stay put.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Reid is overly concerned with his job security. If Lurie does let him go, he’ll find a job elsewhere. But yesterday’s comments made Reid sound very much like a guy who is willing to do something drastic during the bye week to get his team on track.
Here’s a player-by-player review of the Eagles’ offensive line after having re-watched Sunday’s game against the Lions.
Andy Reid used the word “pathetic” to describe the last two offensive drives against the Lions Sunday. Deemed the league-high 17 turnovers his team has committed “ridiculous.”
The ever-even Reid rarely takes his criticisms to that level. This loss is clearly causing the head coach some extra irritation. Now starts a bye week where he will go back and evaluate and “tear things apart.” What changes will come of it? Reid left his options open.
