There are at least three NFL franchises enacting dramatic schematic changes on defense in 2011, including the much-ballyhooed attempt by Houston head coach Gary Kubiak to save his job by bringing in Wade Phillips to convert the Texans to a 3-4 front, a makeover that will require considerable personnel maneuvering.
Yet it is a guy who is hardly new to a team, but will switch the side of the ball on which he has worked his entire NFL career, who might actually face the biggest challenge confronting any of the assistant coaches in the league this year.
Not since he tutored linemen and linebackers at Kingsville (Tex.) High School from 1986 to 1989 has Juan Castillo worked on the defensive side. Still, it is Castillo, the Philadelphia offensive line coach the past 13 seasons and an offensive assistant in all 16 previous years with the club, who has been tabbed by head coach Andy Reid and charged with the daunting responsibility of upgrading the Eagles? defense for 2011. Castillo, 51, has long been one of the league?s best offensive line coaches, a guy who did his job quietly and without the requisite fanfare, but who was often identified by this columnist as an excellent, if underrated, O-line mentor.
But when Castillo was promoted to defensive coordinator by Reid in early February ? after the club discussed the opening with a number of coaches more experienced at directing an NFL defense ? the move was regarded by many as a bit of a shock. To some, perhaps, even a reach. And the pressure to upgrade a unit that, even with its perceived problems had finished 12th in the NFL in both its seasons under deposed coordinator Sean McDermott (2009-10), began almost immediately.
Reid has cited Castillo?s ?toughness, desire and work ethic,? in explaining the move. The Eagles? head coach, the longest-tenured sideline boss in the league in terms of continuous service with the same franchise, has noted that Philadelphia defensive bosses in the past, including the late and legendary Jim Johnson, often huddled with Castillo about the soundness of some of their blitz packages. Castillo has described himself as ?a defensive guy who?s been on the offensive side.?
Said Castillo after being named to the job: ?I would say (to Reid), ?C?mon, coach, when are you going to move me over (to defense)?? ?
Now the move, as stunning as it was to some national observers and to the Eagles? always throaty, fan-base, has come. And with it arrives the pressure inherent to the job of improving a defense that, while still ranking statistically in the top half of the NFL, wasn?t quite good enough to carry the club beyond the first round of the playoffs. And which is expected, especially by the vocals masses at Lincoln Financial Field, to complement a high-octane offense that is anticipated to be one of the most explosive in the league.
In admittedly casual conversations with coaches, general managers and scouts over the past few weeks, The Sports Xchange asked the NFL executives to identify a few assistants who might have increased focus on them once the long lockout ends and camps begin, because of the circumstances they would face. Many of them cited first-year offensive coordinators for clubs that have rookie quarterbacks expected to immediately start in 2011 ? Jay Gruden (Cincinnati), Bill Musgrave (Minnesota) and Chris Palmer (Tennessee).
A few noted that first-year Carolina offensive chief Rob Chudzinski inherits the task of getting overall top pick Cam Newton ready to play as quickly as possible. How about Washington holdover coordinator Kyle Shanahan, whose head coach/father has all but anointed little-used Jon Beck, with four career starts and zero appearances since 2007, as the leader of the Redskins? quarterback depth chart?
Atlanta veteran offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who could lose three of his five starters in free agency, was frequently named.
Others named defensive coordinators such as Phillips, Dick Jauron (Cleveland) and Dennis Allen (Denver), all of whom will switch the ?base? schemes of their new teams. The name of Miami running backs coach Jeff Nixon, who figures to lose his top two tailbacks, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, in free agency, was raised. A pair of former Pittsburgh stars who will be first-time secondary coaches for their respective teams, Hall-of-Famer Rod Woodson (Oakland) and standout Carnell Lake (Steelers), were mentioned.
Tennessee first-year defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, who replaces long-time Titans aide Jim Washburn (who, ironically, moved to the Eagles) in that capacity, was named. Ditto Cleveland D-line coach Dwaine Board, who will attempt to get 4-3 production from a Browns unit that features plenty of 3-4 leftovers. So was Denver defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely, who takes over a contingent shy on inside players. Special teams coaches who might be without both of their incumbent kickers because of pending free agency were included as well.
In all, nearly four dozen assistants were named by top NFL executives.
But the one name that stuck out because of the unusual circumstances ? a new gig, on the opposite side of the ball, after having carved out an excellent reputation in his previous role with the same franchise ? was that of Castillo.
?Look, because of the lockout, with no (minicamps or OTAs), every coach is going to be under pressure,? said one NFC head coach. ?But that Philly situation … yeah, that is going to get a lot of attention. It?s unusual, to say the least.?
The poll was hardly scientific, and exact tabulations weren?t compiled, but there was general agreement that the 16-year assistant is perhaps in a unique situation. Rarely has an incumbent NFL assistant been asked to switch sides of the ball. It?s difficult to remember a guy with an offensive pedigree being promoted to such a critical spot, or someone on defense moving to a high-profile offensive post. No doubt, Castillo has been a top-shelf offensive line coach, with five blockers under his stewardship having been selected for at least one Pro Bowl appearance.
Castillo certainly has some big clodhoppers to fill. In Johnson?s 10 years as Eagles defensive coordinator, the team finished statistically among the top 10 six times. Three times, Philadelphia was in the top seven. Only twice was the unit lower than No. 20. As noted above, even in McDermott?s two seasons as Johnson?s successor, the Eagles were 12th each year.
Still, given the comfort level of the players with their new coordinator, his familiarity with the locker room and the confidence of and team officials Reid in him, it?s hard to bet against Castillo. But there is considerable work to be accomplished ? the Eagles allowed 31 touchdown passes in 2010, their 39 sacks belied the lack of a consistent-pressure pass rush, there appear to be questions at linebacker and the unit could feature several new starters - for the unusual move by Reid to be seen as a roll of the dice that came up a winner.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
*Bush league: A few weeks ago, Yahoo! Sports reported that New Orleans tailback Reggie Bush has been given permission by Saints officials to seek a deal that will land him with another team. No one questioned the validity of the report ? and the lockout essentially precluded New Orleans officials from discussing it ? but it is essentially accurate.
One reason: The Sports Xchange has confirmed that the Bush camp pushed for the right to explore outside options and that, regardless of the views expressed by the tailback in an interview this week, in which he insisted his preference is to return to New Orleans, he has no intention of accepting a big hit to his contract.
?(Bush) has basically forced the issue,? a league source told The Sports Xchange.
The deal, entering its final season, is scheduled to pay Bush $11.8 million. His original contract, negotiated in 2006, has been reconfigured once, and neither side seems keen on restructuring again.
Even with the moratorium on discussing players during the lockout, the suspicion is that Bush and his advisors have nonetheless identified a subset of potential suitors, have some feel for the price they can elicit and have determined there will be some attractive free agency opportunities if the tailback is released by the Saints.
New Orleans coach Sean Payton genuinely likes Bush, and his committee approach at tailback has nicely defined his role, but the five-year veteran might be a luxury at this point. For the Saints, Bush is a potentially explosive receiver in space, a terrific player in a screen-heavy offense and a superb punt return man. But he wants a bigger profile and, with first-round draft choice Mark Ingram further bolstering an already crowded tailback spot in New Orleans, it will be hard to justify paying nearly $12 million to a guy who is basically a role player.
The bet remains here that, between signing bonus and 2011 salary, Bush will be ?made whole? on the $11.8 million, or close to it, but the odds are it won?t be in New Orleans.
*Harrison?s time numbered: His rant earlier this week aside, Pittsburgh outside linebacker James Harrison can probably start the countdown to the end of his career with the Steelers, especially given the history of the team and its football people.
Forget the fact that the league?s defensive player of the year in 2008 became the latest to provide a black eye for the Black and Gold. The Steelers will take the accompanying public relations hit and, while hardly satisfied with Harrison?s attempt to apology and explanation, move on.
In time, probably another season or so, they?ll move on without Harrison. A passionate defender whose effort and play-making skills are much admired by coordinator Dick LeBeau, the late-blooming Harrison is 33, and will be 34 before the start of the 2012 campaign.
Harrison has demonstrated none of the performance drop-off typical of players at that age, and certainly no loss of energy, but the Steelers have a way of phasing out older outside linebackers, spinning the revolving door, and moving in new guys who previously apprenticed in their 3-4 system. Tagged with the franchise marker earlier this spring, LaMarr Woodley is 5 1/2 years younger than Harrison, and the Steelers will make it a post-lockout priority to hammer out a long-term agreement that extends the one-year tender he signed earlier this spring.
If they succeed, the deal is sure to rival the six-year, $51.75 million contract Harrison signed in 2009. While the success of the Pittsburgh defense depends in part on having two terrific outside ?backers, the club might not want to invest such a big part of its salary cap on the position. Harrison?s base salary for this season is just $3.67 million. Even in 2012, it?s a palatable $5.315 million. But there is nearly $19 million left in base salaries for the three-year period 2012-2014, and the bet here is that Harrison won?t be around to cash much of it.
The Pittsburgh system is built on bringing in former college defensive ends, taking a season or two to convert them to 3-4 linebackers and then moving them up the playing-time chain. The team invested a second-round pick in 2010 on Jason Worilds and a fifth-rounder this year on Chris Carter, and the club expects both to be players in the future.
Perhaps eventual contenders, in fact, for Harrison?s spot.
*Bridge men: One of the priorities for some teams when the lockout ends ? especially for those clubs who drafted quarterbacks expected to start early in their careers (Newton of Carolina, Cincinnati?s Andy Dalton, Christian Ponder of Minnesota, Tennessee?s Chris Rocker, and perhaps Colin Kaepernick of San Francisco) ? is finding a veteran ?bridge? at the position. An inexperienced, non-threatening passer who could perhaps log a few starts while the rookie prepares to step into the lineup, or who might provide a temporary alternative/willing mentor if the youngster falters.
One guy who fits that description, and who might have generate a nice group of suitors in free agency, particularly with the Bengals, is five-year veteran Bruce Gradkowski, who played in Oakland the past two seasons and who is a pending unrestricted free agent. There are certainly more high profile passers who figure to be available, especially via trade, but Gradkowski is a steady player with an in-check ego, and will get surprisingly good play.
Gradkowski, 28, has a resume that includes 20 regular-season starts. Not a huge body of work, granted, but 11 of those starts came under Gruden?s nose. Gradkowski might not know all the newer wrinkles of Gruden?s playbook, but he has a basic familiarity with the design and desires of the team?s first-year coordinator, having spent 2006-2007 in Tampa, when Gruden was an offensive assistant there.
There figure to be some other teams with an interest in the unheralded Gradkowski, think Tennessee, for instance, but his is a name that has been mentioned internally by Cincy officials. Guys of his ilk ? like Trent Edwards, Kyle Boller and Matt Moore, among others ? will merit a lot more attention in free agency than they might in most seasons. By the way, the Bengals? brass is still set against putting their reluctant starter, Carson Palmer, on the trade heap.
At least for now.
*Rolling stone: There has been some interest in Randy Moss expressed to The Sports Xchange in conversations with personnel officials from a few teams. But the set of potential suitors isn?t expected to be large, despite the contention this week from agent Joel Segal that his client is in ?freakish? shape, and the potential payday might be considered an affront of sorts by the 13-year veteran.
At age 34, Moss might be impacted by the perceptions that he has lost some deep speed and the reality that he is hardly a middle-of-the-field option. Said one NFC general manager of Moss, who had only 28 combined receptions with three different teams in 2010: ?If all he?s going to do is run up the boundary, you can get younger and cheaper guys who can do that for you.?
There?s also this factor: Moss doesn?t play special teams, never has, and as a fourth or fifth receiver, would have to do.
?He?d be a luxury,? said the NFC general manager. ?And there aren?t a lot of teams that can afford a luxury … not from a money situation, but more from a personnel standpoint.?
*Tackling free agency: In what some personnel people have assessed as only an average year in free agency, even with the inclusion of four-year veterans in the pool, there figure to be a few healthy positions. And defensive tackle, traditionally a difficult position to fill, might be one of them.
There will be a few big-name tackles, and the group will be bolstered by Kris Jenkins, who has been released by the New York Jets, and Jamal Williams, cut by the Broncos, and the likely availability of Washington?s Albert Haynesworth via trade. Teams that deploy in a 3-4 might want to chase San Francisco?s Aubrayo Franklin.
But there will also be a very nice group of what in some years might be adjudged a ?middle level? pool of tackles, but which this season figures to draw plenty of attention. At or near the top of that group probably will be Anthony Adams of Chicago, an unrestricted free agent. Bears officials have noted that re-upping Adams will be a priority for them, and the eight-year veteran recently indicated that his preference is to remain in Chicago, if practicable.
But the Bears got Adams for the relative bargain price of $4.3 million for four years in 2007, and the veteran inside defender, who made a base salary of $900,000 in 2010, probably won?t come this time at anything close to that modest price. Adams, 31, started all 16 games in ?10 ? only the second time in eight seasons he has started 16 games ? and he proved to be a productive performer, with 37 tackles and two sacks.
Adams can play at both of the inside spots in a 4-3 front, although he isn?t quite as effective on the nose, and he is going to be in surprisingly solid demand.
There are several other solid tackles available for a change in free agency ? Remi Ayodele (New Orleans), Barry Cofield (New York Giants), Derek Landri (Carolina), Brandon Mebane (Seattle) and Daniel Muir (Indianapolis), among them ? but Adams might get more play than any of them if he doesn?t re-sign with the Bears before testing the market.
*No Ordinary Joseph: Keep an eye on Cincinnati cornerback Johnathan Joseph in free agency. Although the Bengals often note his injury history, and point out that the former first-rounder (2006) has started all 16 games only once in his career, the five-year veteran has been whispered by several teams as a far less expensive (although his price won?t be cheap) alternative to fellow free agent Nnamdi Asomugha.
Joseph is only 27 and, if he can stay healthy, is a solid cover guy who may not be as physical as some teams like, but who has benefitted from playing in the AFC North. The Bengals aren?t going to spend the $8-$10 million per year Joseph likely could command somewhere else. Compounding the situation is that Cincinnati prefers to try to keep cornerback Leon Hall, who is entering the final season of his contract.
On a side note, people in Cincy have told The Sports Xchange that, even though recent surgery to address the neck injury suffered last season by Pacman Jones isn?t considered serious by some, there remain reservations in the organization about whether the veteran corner will be able to play in 2011.
*More supplemental?: Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor remains the biggest name in the supplemental draft likely to be held later this month, but he was joined this week by onetime Georgia tailback Caleb King, and could soon find a few others in the summertime lottery. Indications are that former North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo, who was ruled permanently ineligible by school officials and recently lost his court appeal to have that judgment overturned, is at least considering the supplemental option. So are a couple of Pryor?s onetime OSU teammates who were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season.
Meanwhile, King, whose three-year tenure at Georgia was marked by turbulence and irresponsibility before he was declared academically ineligible last week, will begin hard training next week for the supplemental draft. King, who rushed for 1,271 yards in a disappointing career with the Bulldogs, and who will be represented by Atlanta-area agent Kevin Conner, will meet with people to help him prepare for any interview sessions with NFL teams, and also will work out in front of some folks with NFL-level expertise.
*Bills due: Given that they play in one of the league?s toughest divisions, it?s hard at times to discern any progress achieved by the Buffalo Bills, who haven?t been to the playoffs since gaining a wild card berth in 1999. But the Bills have assembled what might be one of the NFL?s best young receiving corps.
?We have some guys who can go and get (the ball), and they?re just going to get better,? quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick told The Sports Xchange. ?There are guys who can run, who can come underneath, work the edges, work out of the slot, you name it.?
The veterans are Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish, two players whose names have been raised in the past in trade rumors. But of the nine wide receivers currently listed on the Buffalo roster, six have three or fewer seasons of NFL experience. And the group includes 2010 leading receiver Steve Johnson (three years), along with Donald Jones and slot man David Nelson (both rookies in 2010), along with ?10 rookies Marcus Easley (who missed his entire rookie season because of injury) and Naaman Roosevelt, who has great potential.
It might be hyperbole to suggest that the Bills had put together the best young group in the league, but Fitzpatrick thinks the young wideouts can develop into ?a real force.?
*Punts: Although 2010 camp sensation Montario Hardesty is said to have recovered from the knee surgery that cost him his entire rookie campaign, Cleveland is expected to pursue a veteran tailback who can relieve Peyton Hillis of some of the workload he confronted last year. … The abrupt retirement of 16-year veteran quarterback Kerry Collins last week not only cast first-round choice Jake Locker as the potential starter, but also put prominent agent David Dunn unwittingly perhaps in the middle of the Tennessee quarterback situation. Dunn represented Collins and is the agent for Locker. He also represents pending unrestricted free agent Matt Hasselbeck of Seattle, whom some unsubstantiated reports have linked to the Titans. … Denver officials aren?t quite as disappointed in former first-round tailback Knowshon Moreno (2009) as indicated in reports this week, but there is a feeling among the new coaching staff that the two-year veteran might not be best suited to the one-cut style new coach John Fox will retain. Notably, pending free agent DeAngelo Williams, who played for Fox in Carolina, but whom the Panthers will try hard to retain (and who will be a target for first-refusal rights if that is a part of a new CBA), flourished when the zone-blocking style was incorporated there. ?It?s so similar to what I did in college,? Williams told The Sports Xchange. ?It?s natural for me.? … Former Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning suggested this week that the ?Wildcat? likely will remain as part of the Dolphins? attack in 2011. Sure enough, rookie Daniel Thomas, the second-rounder who is most likely to assume a starter?s role if Brown and Williams depart in free agency, played some quarterback in high school. And some of the pending free agents who might be Miami targets are well suited to the ?Wildcat? formation. But first-rounder Mike Pouncey, who could start at center, had troubles with the shotgun snap at Florida early last season, isn?t as comfortable with it and will need some work. … As first reported in a Tip Sheet item on May 13, veteran agent Eugene Parker will serve as presenter for Deion Sanders at the Hall of Fame. Parker is one of two agents chosen as Hall presenters, the other being Rocky Arceneaux for Marshall Faulk. It?s the first time there have been two agent/presenters in the same class and equals the total of agents who have presented Hall of Fame inductees in the previous history of the Canton shrine. … In denying the DUI with which he was charged this week, Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward may have unwittingly conceded a far less serious illegality. Ward allowed that he often texts while driving, a violation in Georgia, albeit one that carries only a $100 fine for adults. The state has made it a priority to reduce the number of accidents that occur while texting and driving. … Just one day after The Sports Xchange suggested in a column this week that joint-team practice session could be another victim of the lockout, the New Orleans and Houston officials announced they will not conduct the mixed camp practices the clubs have held each of the past three years. Jacksonville and Atlanta, which practiced together last summer, followed suit. Because of the lockout, and the increased pressure to put together teams minus the benefit of minicamps and OTAs, there might not be any camp sessions this summer in which teams combine for workouts. … When the San Diego Chargers signed former Dallas second-round linebacker Kevin Burnett (2005) in the summer of 2009, the addition wasn?t viewed as a significant one. But with his performance in 2010 ? 80 tackles, six sacks and 16 starts for the first time in his career ? re-signing the free agent Burnett has become a priority for the Chargers. … The four-year probation imposed Thursday on Georgia Tech identified a few of the players, agents and ?runners? involved in indiscretions there, but there remain a few Atlanta-based agents, and former Yellow Jackets players who worked for them, who played a part in the problems and may not be welcome back on campus. … As noted this week by ol? buddy Mike O?Hara of FOXSports in Detroit, the improving Lions have targeted pending free agent linebackers Justin Durant (Jacksonville) and Stephen Tulloch (Tennessee) as possible additions when the lockout ends. But not to be forgotten, either, is Stephen Nicholas (Atlanta). Nor should it be overlooked that Tulloch is strictly a middle linebacker, and some Lions coaches feel that might be the best position for two-year veteran DeAndre Levy, who has struggled at times when he has played outside.
*The last word: ?It?s hard to talk to a person when they have millions, man, because there is so much noise in their life. Everybody around them is employed, and they have ?yes men.? You got to start hiring a ?no man.?? ? Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders in an interview with an Atlanta radio station, on cutting ties with troubled Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, whom he once mentored.
Len Pasquarelli is a Senior NFL Writer for The Sports Xchange. He has covered the NFL for 33 years and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. His NFL coverage earned recognition as the winner of the McCann Award for distinguished reporting in 2008.
