The true top candidate to fill the Eagles' defensive coordinator vacancy has not yet shown his face.
Just two days ago, Jim Mora Jr. and Dick Jauron were considered the top contenders. But on Wednesday, Mora withdrew his name from consideration, and on Friday, Jauron accepted the Cleveland Browns' offer to become their defensive coordinator.
After each announcement, Eagles sources said that neither had been a serious candidate to fill their opening.
Jauron made sense in certain respects. He spent last season as an Eagles senior assistant in charge of the defensive backs, and he has an extensive resume that includes two stints as a head coach. But if the recently fired Sean McDermott was held accountable for a franchise-worst 31 passing touchdowns allowed, then Jauron would have to share some of the blame.
The Eagles never had a formal interview with Jauron, never offered him the job, and would have had no problem hiring the 60-year-old if they had wanted to, one team source said. The Eagles, after all, are not the Browns. Jauron also has a relationship with Cleveland president Mike Holmgren - having coached under him in Green Bay - that probably played into the decision.
So, if Jauron and Mora are out, who are the Eagles courting?
The only candidate for certain is New Orleans Saints assistant Dennis Allen. The defensive backs coach will interview with the Eagles this weekend. Allen met with the Broncos on Friday and did not have an offer as of the end of the day, according to reports out of Denver.
Waiting until after the Broncos wooed Allen suggests that the Eagles aren't necessarily hot for the 38-year-old, who has no experience as a coordinator. By bringing in Allen, the team may have been buying time until after the conference championship games, when they would be able to interview their true target(s).
In fact, team sources have said the Eagles are interested in at least one coach on a team still in the playoffs.
Andy Reid's weeklong vacation in Antigua suggests that the Eagles aren't in any rush. The coach returned Thursday to accompany his son Spencer on a recruiting trip to the University of Delaware, according to the Wilmington News Journal.
Of the teams remaining in the playoffs, there is one assistant that screams, "Defensive coordinator candidate." Green Bay defensive line coach Mike Trgovac was at the helm of Carolina's defense from 2003-08 and had a certain level of success under coach John Fox.
Fox recently was named coach of the Broncos, so a reunion is not out of the question. Trgovac, though, may prefer to work under an offensive-minded coach such as Reid. If the choice were between the Eagles and the Broncos, the 51-year-old would be deciding between a 10-6 playoff team and a 4-12 rebuilding squad.
The Eagles also have personnel better suited to the 4-3 defense Trgovac has employed in the past.
Trgovac told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he would consider an offer to become a coordinator again, but his family would factor into his decision.
There are other candidates, including Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine Jr. - who coached at William Tennent and North Penn High Schools.
Now, with Jauron's departure, the Eagles have to find another assistant. They fired defensive line coach Rory Segrest and brought in the highly respected Jim Washburn from Tennessee this week. They may wait to find a defensive backs coach until naming a coordinator.
If they want to remain in-house, defensive quality-control assistant Mike Zordich, a former Eagles safety, could earn a promotion.
While the Eagles' coaching turmoil has remained on the defensive side of the ball, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that offensive line coach Juan Castillo was "in the mix" for the Browns' vacant offensive coordinator position.
As of Friday afternoon, the Browns had not requested permission to talk with Castillo, a league source said.
