Juan Castillo Takes Over Eagles' Defense in Surprising Turn of Events

by David ElfinFiled under: Eagles, NFC EastNearly two weeks after changing his mind and firing defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid really reversed field on Wednesday when he put offensive line coach Juan Castillo in the job. Castillo has been with the Eagles for the last 13 seasons, helping Shawn Andrews, Jermane Mayberry, Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas become Pro Bowl linemen. Castillo's coaching was also critical in the development of Nick Cole, Hank Fraley, Artis Hicks, Jamaal Jackson and Bubba Miller from rookie free agents into starters. While Reid nimbly filled his offensive vacancy with Howard Mudd, a 36-year NFL line coach, the 51-year-old Castillo hasn't worked on defense since 1986-89 when he was the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Kingsville (Texas) High School. His only other experience coaching defense was at Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1982-85. Mudd, 68, has coached the line for San Diego (1974-76), San Francisco (1...