The Philadelphia Eagles Version Of Musical Chairs Continues—Take a Seat Juan

In a move that can only be described as "Putting the pedal to the Metal," the "Gold Standard" outdid themselves today with one for the ages. 

They promoted Juan Castillo, Offensive Line coach to the position of Defensive Coordinator.

In related news, they also promoted Billy the Waterboy to Quality control coach for the D', Timmy the Janitor to be the new Running Backs coach and Howard Mudd to be the new Offensive Line coach. 

Ok, ok, those middle two aren't true...yet.  

Juan Castillo. Defensive Coordinator. It doesn't have that ring that we were hoping for. 

Juan's body of work includes a lot of O and no D. Castillo, 51, has never coached defense on the professional level. He joined the Eagles in 1995 as an offensive assistant. He later coached tight ends and has been the offensive line coach for 13 seasons. 

As a player, he was a linebacker at Texas A&I and for San Antonio in the USFL and also coached the position at the college level.

It's hard for us mortals to grasp the big picture here. Andy and Co. obviously have a plan for the SB next year and Juan apparently is part of that equation. Sean McDermott was fired for underachieving and dragging Jim Johnson's legacy through the dirt.

What will be left of the tattered remains when an O-line coach with NO DEFENSIVE EXPERIENCE is done with it?  

The next time there is a coaching vacancy on this team (likely next year), I will be throwing my hat in the ring and faxing a resume over to the Linc.

Laughing? With this regime in power, anything is possible—except winning a SB or getting Andy to give an honest answer in a press conference.

Here's the reaction of some Eagles players:

Left guard Todd Herremans tweeted, "Congrats to Juan Castillo! He's worked hard and earned it. I hope the defense is ready to work! LOL"

Asante Samuel tweeted "The offensive line coach?"

Mike McGlynn: "Really? That's crazy, That's amazing."

Omar Gaither: "I think everybody is shocked, I didn't know Juan knew defense."

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier:

“I have a strong affinity for Juan going back to our days spent together in Philadelphia. I can remember Jim Johnson and our defensive staff putting our game plans together and we’d always get together with Juan just to make sure they were sound in terms of pressures and blitzes. Sometimes, I felt like he was on our defensive staff.

"And to do this day, he and I talk every week during the season to talk about other offenses in the league. That’s how much respect I have for him as a coach and how well he is able to understand the defensive schemes. I’m so excited that’s he’s going to be able to put those ideas to work for himself as the defensive coordinator in Philly. Andy Reid made a great choice.”

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera:

“I’m really excited about this news and very proud of Juan being named defensive coordinator of the Eagles. First of all, Juan is one of the smartest and most dynamic coaches in the NFL. If anyone could cross over to the dark side [of defense], he’s the guy. Seriously, if anyone can do it, Juan Castillo is able to do it.

"I don’t know if I have seen anyone any more committed as a coach in this league than him. I was able to call on him so many times to understand how certain offenses worked and attacked. His knowledge of the game is very, very extensive and I consider him a mentor of mine in Philadelphia while I was working under Jim Johnson.

"He prides himself in his work ethic, which I know he got from his mother. More importantly, he’s a dedicated father, husband and friend and just a top notch person.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo: "Great move by Coach Reid. Juan is a football junkie who has always studied the entire game. He’s a detailed, aggressive, and passionate football coach - all attributes vital to coaching defense. I wish him all the best.”

In Howard Mudd, the Eagles get 36 years of experience as an offensive line coach, including his most recent stint with the Indianapolis Colts from 1998-2009. 

Mudd began his coaching career as an offensive line coach at the University of California (1972-73).  Prior to joining the Colts in 1998, his NFL offensive line coaching stints came with San Diego (1974-76), San Francisco (1977), Seattle (1978-82), Cleveland (1983-88), Kansas City (1989-92) and Seattle (1993-97). 

He is another one of those coaches whom the Eagles tout as "one of the best in the business." 

Just like Bobby April, right? How good were our Special Teams again last year?

Where does this wacky road end? With a SB victory? Or the end of the Andy Reid era?