Heads are starting to roll in Philadelphia as the Eagles announced the firing of defensive coordinator Juan Castillo on Tuesday morning. Head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that he was ready to “tear things up” to fix his team, and he clearly wasn’t speaking in figurative terms.
Castillo, appointed to the DC position in 2011 after serving as the Eagles offensive line coach, is replaced by Todd Bowles, previously Philadelphia’s secondary coach. The more experienced Bowles was viewed as a fail-safe should the team’s defense struggle as it did in 2011.
Reid released the following statement via the Eagles regarding Castillo’s firing:
“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 is now fighting for his own job, as team owner Jeffrey Lurie made clear that last year’s .500 record was unacceptable. The firing is more of a warning shot to the team, as the Eagles biggest issues this season have been their turnovers and shoddy offensive line.
Are dramatic changes to come on the team’s offense? It looks to be anything but a quiet bye week in Philly.
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OCNN Report Columnist – Brandyn Campbell @sports_muse
