Juan Castillo under consideration for Browns' OC job

[balto-eaglefan]

Thanks a lot, Heckert.

[stocknowledge]

I agree with Tino. I'm not that impressed with Castillo. Don't know why he is so well regarded. Our OL is like swiss cheese. Only Pro Bowler we have is Peters, and his selection is questionable.

Both our lines need a reworking. Bringing in Washburn was a great idea. Finding a replacement for Castillo would be another good idea IMO.

[Vote for Kalas]

Castillo is still a good coach, he is highly regarded because of his teaching methods and ability to work with vets and youth alike. He communicates well, is passionate, consistent, has a plan for each guy, treats everyone fairly etc. Its been well documented where he came from, which was nowhere, and he has earned every stripe the hard way...

He has gotten alot out of UDFA and lower rd pick types like Jackson, Fraley, Cole, McGlynn, Herremans, Dunlap etc., but also helped develop higher picks like Andrews/Justice and reach vets like Runyan, Thomas, Peters, Mayberry without them feeling they are being treated like rookies again...

I really do not think Castillo is the main issue....I think its mostly personnel and the transition we've undertaken since 2006 or so. Of the current OL, only Herremans and Jackson were on that team prior to that year.

We added MJG, Cole and Justice in 2006, Dunlap and McGlynn in 2008, Peters in 2009 and Wells/Howard this year.

Both Jackson and Herremans have been good starters, I would argue near PB level at times. Peters is a very good LT after some transition issues. Justice has become a good starter after a very rough few years, but needs more consistency. McGlynn started this year and did well. Dunlap was a capable backup. Cole/MJG have started off/on, but struggle with consistency. Howard pushed during TC and may see more time in 2011.

Justice is the only OL drafted higher than the 4th rd...thats pretty amazing. I sense the Eagles will use at least 1 early pick on an OL this draft and maybe 2 depending on what happens with the CBA and if FA and trades will be allowed...

[stocknowledge]

VFK, do you work for the publicity department of the Philadelphia Eagles?

I'll agree that Castillo is passionate about his work, but his work results are really nothing special. I have seen nothing in the time that he has been here that indicates that his work is distinctive. IMV, as I specified in my earlier posting, it is time for a change - on both lines. We need a shake up. Castillo probably wouldn't have any difficulty in finding another job, and I'm sure that we could find an adequate replacement.

[stocknowledge]

Also, I don't want to hear about Justice being the only draft pick selected before the fourth round. The only lineman on the Steelers' roster who was selected before the fourth round is Maurkice Pouncey, who we SHOULD HAVE selected this past draft - as many on this board thought we should have chosen before the draft.

If Castillo isn't to blame for the many woes of our OL's efficiency, then it must be Andy Reid who is responsible for the inefficacy.

[FRESH]

Perhaps having Washburn coach up the DL will have a positive effect on the OL that has to face them weekly in practice? I mean for cripes sake, these guys were going up against Ryan Seacrest!

[Vote for Kalas]

VFK, do you work for the publicity department of the Philadelphia Eagles?

I'll agree that Castillo is passionate about his work, but his work results are really nothing special. I have seen nothing in the time that he has been here that indicates that his work is distinctive. IMV, as I specified in my earlier posting, it is time for a change - on both lines. We need a shake up. Castillo probably wouldn't have any difficulty in finding another job, and I'm sure that we could find an adequate replacement.

I would normally ignore the snide remark, but it is funny that anyone who does not join the bash party gets insulted as an apologist for the team...haven't we grown past this?

Nothing distinctive? The guys whole life has been distinctive...parents moved from Mexico as teenagers, born and raised in poverty in Port Isabel, TX, father died when he was 12, HS all-state football player and earned a football scholarship to afford college, working two jobs all the way to help his family, became a coach at the HS level, worked up to college (Texas A&M, Kingsville) where he developed 4 NFL players including Mayberry and made it to the NFL with the Eagles and now widely acknowledged as one of the best OL coaches in the league....

Yea, nothing special...these are human beings we talk about and when we say they suck or should be fired or are over-rated, we should be careful.

With the Eagles, again, the track record is well known...took over the OL in 1998, helped develop Thomas(PB), Mayberry(PB), Andrews(PB), has helped Runyan(PB) and Peters(PB) succeed here, has turned many UDFA or low rd picks into good OL such as Jackson, Fraley, McGlynn, Herremans, Miller, Hicks, Bridges, Welbourn etc., stayed patient with Justice and helped get him on track, has helped groom Dunlap etc.

This is what Mayberry says about him..."Without him, there's no way I would've made it," says Jermane Mayberry, a former Pro Bowl guard who played for Castillo in Kingsville and Philadelphia. "He saw something in me."

Not bad for a immigrant kid who started with nothing, worked his way up through sheer hard work, determination and heart and appreciates the opportunities he has been given to coach our OL. These type of people and coaches do not grow on trees, Castillo is not the main issue IMO

The observation Justice is the only OL drafted before the 4th rd gives insight into the level of personnel Castillo has to work with currently....we need to give him better personnel IMO and let him do his job

[Vote for Kalas]

Also, I don't want to hear about Justice being the only draft pick selected before the fourth round. The only lineman on the Steelers' roster who was selected before the fourth round is Maurkice Pouncey, who we SHOULD HAVE selected this past draft - as many on this board thought we should have chosen before the draft.

If Castillo isn't to blame for the many woes of our OL's efficiency, then it must be Andy Reid who is responsible for the inefficacy.

Why do we always need to pin blame on someone? It has to be Castillo, no it has to be Reid, no it has to be x player, no its got to be y player...the OL is not terrible, not even close. Peters, Herremans and McGlynn/Jackson are good, Justice is decent and RG is the only major issue...then we need to see how our depth is and fortify that if necessary. The sky is not falling, we have no need to fire Castillo.

Again, the Eagles had Jackson, Cole and McGlynn at C before the draft....we knew we had to focus on the D and so why would we draft a C in the 4th rd?

Jackson returned for the season, but we got bad luck with a totally separate injury to him....Cole needed to slide to OG and thus McGlynn got the reins and IMO did a pretty darn good job.

[FRESH]

Bad luck...injury excuses.........gee, this feels so familiar. Why do these things only happen to US?

[Eagle60]

I don't think Castillo should be fired. I think that is way over the top. I thought Peters came along just fine and had another pro bowl year. The problems the Eagles have are with protection schemes, not fundamentals which I assume are Castillo's responsibilities. Those go on Reid and MM. I have to assume that they are handed down to Castillo as the backfield is also involved along with TEs and the QB. I doubt that a line coach has much to do with them. This also leads me to believe that he was never seriously considered by Cleveland. I can't think of a line coach that ever rose to the level of OC. There are a couple that went from line coach to head coach due to their personalities (Art Shell and Mike Tice) because they could HIRE OCs. And when they failed, they moved back to position coaches, not OCs. I'm sure Castillo was brought in because he was a good man and Heckert was doing him a favor throwing his name out there.

[Vote for Kalas]

Bad luck...injury excuses.........gee, this feels so familiar. Why do these things only happen to US?

They don't....

[tinopuno]

`

Bad luck...injury excuses.........gee, this feels so familiar. Why do these things only happen to US?

They don't happen only to us but I would be interested in seeing a factual breakdown of players/time lost to injury for all teams in the NFL over the past 5 years.


The manner in which GB continued to adjust and play well, reaching the SB despite a ton of guys going on IR (11 starters and 16 total from what I read) is a reflection of the value of excellent developmental coaching combined with drafting/signing quality talent.

[stocknowledge]

I don't think Castillo is a bad coach. I just don't think he is as good as advertised.

As far as technique is concerned, I don't see our OL blowing other teams off the LOS on running plays, and I don't see our QB fully protected on passing plays.

WHY? SOMEONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE!

As far as personnel is concerned, I think we have only two offensive linemen who are better than average: Peters and Herremans. Everyone else is average (maybe McGlynn) or below average (MJG and Justice), and they are completely dispensable.

SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF OUR OL PLAYERS.

For years, we have gotten by with an offensive line that is basically a patchwork. Perhaps Castillo deserves credit for developing serviceable offensive lines with less than average talent. On the other hand, we have been blessed with QB's who have been able to overcome the shortcomings of a shoddy front. Great! But, now is the time to own up to the fact that our OL has not been given the attention that it deserves. Something has to change. Either we bring in a new coach, or three new good players.

[stocknowledge]

The manner in which GB continued to adjust and play well, reaching the SB despite a ton of guys going on IR (11 starters and 16 total from what I read) is a reflection of the value of excellent developmental coaching combined with drafting/signing quality talent.

Exactly! We are missing something. It's either the players or coaches. In our case, the coach basically drafts the players. So, we know where the responsibility (can't say "blame" here!) lies.

Pittsburgh wins consistently drafting from late positions. What are they doing, that we are not?

[balto-eaglefan]

I've heard the same thing from Redskins, Ravens, and Giants fans, and I've heard it a lot the last couple of years: basically, "our team lost, not because the other team made plays, but because somebody on our side messed up, blew it, or sucks from the get go -- players, coaches, whoever."

The last couple of years, I heard it a lot from the Ravens fans, and especially the Giants fans. When we beat them in two away games in 2008, including after a bye week to knock them out of the playoffs, the Giants fans that I knew said, "Fire Coughlin, he sucks! They totally didn't show up, I can't believe Carney missed those field goals, they choked!" Not, "Daaamn. Your defense was unreal and McNabb made those plays in the 4th quarter when he had to......."

You see, the opposing team never actually beats you. It's your team that messed up somehow. Always.

I think that Castillo's coaching is probably fine. But I think that our talent evaluation in some areas isn't that great, and even when we've had road graders on our OL, we haven't used them as much as we should.