How do you feel about Juan Castillo now?

[izvoodoo]

Obviously, this offensive line is much improved (and healthier).  Obviously Jeremy Zuttah has been a big upgrade.

 

But the thing that stands out to me the most is that Ricky Wagner has had Juan Castillo coaching him his whole career, and he'd better than Michael Oher ever was for us.

I personally think Juan Castillo has really helped this team, and I think he'll be here for a long time.

[Ravens1991]

To be fair for Wagner the FO was in love with him before the draft. A reporter said we had him on the same level as Fisher and Jockel. But I think he is meeting the hype he had as an oline coach. I assume his role is different then it was as a run game coordinator. He probably is just teaching techniques now and not making gameplans.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4yUu2GCfyI

[Inqui]

I think he had a perfect storm of bad things last year - injuries, poor chemistry, a second OL coach teaching different stuff and poor play in general. This year he has a perfect storm of great stuff - upgraded centre, getting his top guys back, being the only top voice on the OL and an offensive system that complements his own ideas nicely.

 

During the offseason I concluded that this will be his proving season, and if our line sucked the excuses had run out. Well, based on this year (and his prior record) I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt and say he wasn't the problem last year.

 

You could be onto something about him coaching up Wagner. If that's the case, I think there's reason to be excited about John Urschel and James Hurst in a few years.

[GrimCoconut]

He's done a great job. Definitely helped make something of Wagner. KO seems improved as well, and I am sure that's due to health but the man is dominant. 

[izvoodoo]

He's done a great job. Definitely helped make something of Wagner. KO seems improved as well, and I am sure that's due to health but the man is dominant. 

I think KO is secretly the best player on the team.

[NJ-Raven]

I must admit I was one of those people who wanted Castillo's head on a platter. But I must give props where they are due. He has done a great job with the O-line. He must be a great O-line coach to put an unknow player like Hurst in, at left takle no less, and still have a performance like we did. My hat goes off to Coach Castillo and the entire O-line. Now I hope I haven't just jinxed us 

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Still dont like him. He tried to fix something that wasnt broken. The players knew it but the coaching arrogance played it off like it was the players faults. It took a real offensive mind that actually knows what he is doing to make it work(zbs). Thanks Kubes, you took Harbs off the hotseat for him backing Castillos failed plan last year.

[ellicottraven]

I feel Juan Castillo now has a good zone blocking scheme since Kubiak is here overseeing that part of the game. Don't think that Castillo is the reason our O-line is playing so well. It is Kubiak's vision that is being coached by Juan, not his own.

 

So, I feel that Juan is blessed and lucky to have Kubiak as coordinator.

[The Raven]

I feel even better about him than I did before.

 

Yeah, I was right all along, wasn't I?

 

Edit: I think it's tough to tell what we had with Castillo and Caldwell. Two things are for sure: 1. The offensive linemen have better technique this year and 2. They are playing more aggressively than last year. These both go on the position coach. 

 

I think the problem last year was the reactionary footwork on the line. Now Caldwell, who players have openly said was conservative and forced players to overthink, is gone.

 

Maybe Caldwell was more of the problem than I thought. 

[ravensdfan]

Still dont like him. He tried to fix something that wasnt broken. The players knew it but the coaching arrogance played it off like it was the players faults. It took a real offensive mind that actually knows what he is doing to make it work(zbs). Thanks Kubes, you took Harbs off the hotseat for him backing Castillos failed plan last year.

 

A million times this.

 

IMO it is the addition of Kubiak who has fixed the O line issues & kept Castillo his job. In fact, at the time of the Kubiak hire, there was much talk of how he would do just that since he was a strong personality & had his own ideas of how the ZBS should be run.

[Grapple Raven]

Still dont like him. He tried to fix something that wasnt broken. The players knew it but the coaching arrogance played it off like it was the players faults. It took a real offensive mind that actually knows what he is doing to make it work(zbs). Thanks Kubes, you took Harbs off the hotseat for him backing Castillos failed plan last year.

Absolutely agree!

[5aiah]

I think he needs to continue doing a good job. I know people hated that he was brought in and the scheme changed to full on ZBS, but zone blocking is just superior to man blocking. It utilizes unique backs that other teams will ignore or miss often and makes league leading rushers out of them. No longer will we have to tie up great resources for RBs who are top physical specimen and warrant huge contracts and are rarer in the draft and free agency. I believe that ZBS lineman are more likely to be superior pass blockers as well as they must have refined technique and mobility instead of just brute strength which is easily taken advantage of by good pass rushers. Speed rushers in the 43 and the Outside backers in the 34 are easier to deal with when you have the agility and quickness ZBS guys usually have. ZBS guys usually have to be more aware too and I think that bodes well for dealing with the rise of Hybrid defenses currently and in the future. Yanda can do anything, KO can do anything, Eugene Monroe is a pass blocker and zone run type blocker already, Castillo should be judged on how well Wagner,Hurst, and the other young guys develop and play. Last year, all the coaches get a mulligan for. 

 

So far I feel great about Castillo because of the way Hurst and Wagner have played, I'm hoping he helps Ryan Jensen develop and keeps us from ending up like the Patriots offensive line, which used to be so deep and talented. 

[Tru11]

Monroe osemele zuttah and yanda where all already good players before castillo even touched them.

 

why people all of a sudden wanna credit him is beyond me.

 

mckinnie osemele birk yanda and oher where playing at a high level on that SB run only for them to kick the bucket the very next season when castillo got involved.

 

now insert kubiak and things are looking better again.

 

the wrong person is getting credit over here......

[rmcjacket23]

Monroe osemele zuttah and yanda where all already good players before castillo even touched them.

 

why people all of a sudden wanna credit him is beyond me.

 

mckinnie osemele birk yanda and oher where playing at a high level on that SB run only for them to kick the bucket the very next season when castillo got involved.

 

now insert kubiak and things are looking better again.

 

the wrong person is getting credit over here......

So, just so I understand you...

 

When things are going poorly, he gets all of the blame (or at the very least 90% of it)

When things are going well, he gets none of the credit

 

Welcome to the Cam Cameron effect (which didn't work out the way fans thought it would).

 

In summary, you either like Juan or you don't, and that opinion CAN'T change. Nothing that could possibly happen will change that.

[52520Andrew]

I think the big thing is people are on the same page now and I think that shows. Props to Castillo though for getting Wagner coached up, hopefully he can do the same with Hurst.

[The Raven]

I think the big thing is people are on the same page now and I think that shows. Props to Castillo though for getting Wagner coached up, hopefully he can do the same with Hurst.

 

Ya know what's cool about Juan and Hurst? Kubiak said in the presser that it was Juan Castillo who scouted and told the FO to sign Hurst. Eye for talent.

[The Raven]

I think the big thing is people are on the same page now and I think that shows. Props to Castillo though for getting Wagner coached up, hopefully he can do the same with Hurst.

Yes, I would agree. I think Caldwell, Castillo, and Moeller all had different ideas of how to block things. A big piece of evidence for this is the fact that Moeller is now the OL coach with Caldwell.

 

And again I'll note this: Position coaches are responsible for player technique. Our technique vastly improved from last year. That, along with Juan's track record, says something.

[The Raven]

Another thing!!! We keep hearing that Castillo ruffled some feathers. After thinking about who said it (Bryant McFattie), I think he ruffled feathers with his intensity. I heard that his practice drills are intense and much more physical than in the past. I think maybe he ruffled feathers more with the practice intensity than with any system change. Knowing that McKinnie is a lard, I think this is accurate.

[beasy2487]

Another thing!!! We keep hearing that Castillo ruffled some feathers. After thinking about who said it (Bryant McFattie), I think he ruffled feathers with his intensity. I heard that his practice drills are intense and much more physical than in the past. I think maybe he ruffled feathers more with the practice intensity than with any system change. Knowing that McKinnie is a lard, I think this is accurate.

Dude I was just thinking about that this morning! McKinnie was talking about himself and was just upset about the standards of the Ravens coaching staff. Tomlin likes to say "The standard is the standard." Wrong. The standard is the Ravens.

[BmoreBird22]

Monroe osemele zuttah and yanda where all already good players before castillo even touched them.

 

why people all of a sudden wanna credit him is beyond me.

 

mckinnie osemele birk yanda and oher where playing at a high level on that SB run only for them to kick the bucket the very next season when castillo got involved.

 

now insert kubiak and things are looking better again.

 

the wrong person is getting credit over here......

Zuttah was actually the definition of average before he got here and his sudden sure of exceptional play is something most fans who study other teams would not have expected

[ravensdfan]

Another thing!!! We keep hearing that Castillo ruffled some feathers. After thinking about who said it (Bryant McFattie), I think he ruffled feathers with his intensity. I heard that his practice drills are intense and much more physical than in the past. I think maybe he ruffled feathers more with the practice intensity than with any system change. Knowing that McKinnie is a lard, I think this is accurate.

 

 

Dude I was just thinking about that this morning! McKinnie was talking about himself and was just upset about the standards of the Ravens coaching staff. Tomlin likes to say "The standard is the standard." Wrong. The standard is the Ravens.

 

Bisciotti said the "ruffled feathers" remark.

[GrimCoconut]

Bisciotti said the "ruffled feathers" remark.

Maybe he did but Bryant did say something negative about Juan. Can't recall what it was but he did. It was after he left and went to the Dolphins.

[rmcjacket23]

Maybe he did but Bryant did say something negative about Juan. Can't recall what it was but he did. It was after he left and went to the Dolphins.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-bryant-mckinnie-says-he-left-ravens-with-no-regrets-weighs-in-on-transition-to-juan-castillo-20131026,0,1111283.story

[The Raven]

Bisciotti said the "ruffled feathers" remark.

Yes that's true, but it was McKinnie who came forth first saying that players were unhappy.

[Tank 92]

Maybe he did but Bryant did say something negative about Juan. Can't recall what it was but he did. It was after he left and went to the Dolphins.

 

 

I think he said  "can you believe that dude Castillo?  He wanted me to run at practice!" 

[GrimCoconut]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-bryant-mckinnie-says-he-left-ravens-with-no-regrets-weighs-in-on-transition-to-juan-castillo-20131026,0,1111283.story

Yeah that was it. Thanks. I knew it was something but I couldn't remember.

[BmoreBird22]

I just want to point out the fact that yes, Yanda and Monroe were very established players, but KO and Zuttah have taken their game to another level and Wagner has been amazing after so many of you worried about him. That's Juan Castillo coaching him up, not Kubiak installing a new scheme. In his rookie year, KO really struggled in space and with finding blocks in the second level, but he's been absolutely dominant in all phases of run blocking. That's Castillo. Zuttah was the definition of average before he got here, and now he's one of the better centers in the league, and actually top 5 according to PFF.

Last year, Castillo had a different vision for what the blocking would be and Moeller fit it better, but I'm sure having two offensive line coaches that are trying to teach you two possible techniques didn't help anything. Kubiak does have a blocking scheme that is more in line with what Castillo teaches, but it's still up to Castillo to teach the players how to run that scheme and help them learn how to effectively execute the scheme. Kubiak calls plays and sets the scheme, but Castillo helps teach it

[The Raven]

From the Baltimore Sun story:

"Juan likes to develop young players, because that's what he did in Philly," McKinnie said. "He is a good coach and he does help you with your technique, but he wants it done a certain way. My thing is everybody doesn't have the exact same talent or learn things the same way. I don't feel like you can coach everybody exactly the same. Not everyone is going to react the same.

"Five individuals can't do the same thing. That's what they have instead of trying to make everybody a robot. You need to learn about your players and know their strengths and weaknesses and coach them that way. Juan is highly-rated, but it takes time to adjust to what he's looking for. There's a lot of thinking involved. So, it's a lot of change for everyone to take in."

- McKinnie

 

Is it just me, or does that sound like a lot of excuses?

[BmoreBird22]

From the Baltimore Sun story:

"Juan likes to develop young players, because that's what he did in Philly," McKinnie said. "He is a good coach and he does help you with your technique, but he wants it done a certain way. My thing is everybody doesn't have the exact same talent or learn things the same way. I don't feel like you can coach everybody exactly the same. Not everyone is going to react the same.

"Five individuals can't do the same thing. That's what they have instead of trying to make everybody a robot. You need to learn about your players and know their strengths and weaknesses and coach them that way. Juan is highly-rated, but it takes time to adjust to what he's looking for. There's a lot of thinking involved. So, it's a lot of change for everyone to take in."

- McKinnie

 

Is it just me, or does that sound like a lot of excuses?

Sounds like someone is lazy

[The Raven]

Sounds like someone is lazy

 

Exactly my point. Juan is well known as a hard butt, and McKinnie is well known as a lazy bum.