How Andy Reid, Eagles Handcuffed Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo

The next time you clock in for work, try doing so with handcuffs on. Then, see just how well you can do your job.

That's how Philadelphia Eagles new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo feels this season.

Head coach Andy Reid took a lot of criticism for promoting Castillo to lead the defense. After all, the majority of his experience in the NFL has been coaching the offensive line. However, Reid defends the move because of all the conversations that he heard between Castillo and the team's legendary former defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Reid felt that Castillo would be able to attack offensive lines with a variety of blitzes never seen before.

Then, for some odd reason, Reid decided to handcuff Castillo with a defensive line coach who isn't suited to Castillo's system. 

Reid added Jim Washburn to coach the defensive line in January. While Washburn is really great at what he does, he is not a good fit with Castillo. 

Washburn brought with him the Wide 9 technique for the defensive line. In his system, the defensive ends focus solely on getting up the field. They don't worry about gap control or coverage. That means that the linebackers bare more of those responsibilities.

When your linebackers have to "stay home" on defense, there's not going to be a lot of blitz opportunities available to them. Since the linebackers can't blitz frequently, that negates whatever blitzing schemes that Castillo may have drawn up over the summer. 

This is like asking Michael Vick to never run with the ball. Or having Clay Matthews focus solely on coverage.

When you want someone for a particular skill, then you can't prevent them from doing so.