"One guy you might expect to be critical of the Eagles' decision to make Juan Castillo their defensive coordinator would be the man Castillo replaced.

But Sean McDermott had nothing but good things to say yesterday about the offensive line coach he worked with for 12 Eagles seasons.

"Juan has worked extremely hard for an opportunity like this," McDermott said during a weekend break in Philadelphia from his job as the Carolina Panthers' new defensive coordinator.

But isn't McDermott, dismissed last month after two seasons as Jim Johnson's successor, a little surprised to be replaced by somebody who hasn't coached defense since 1989 in a Texas high school?

"A good coach is a good coach," McDermott said, in his first Eagles-related remarks since he left the team. "I expect him to do a great job . . . Some of the best coaches start on one side, then go to the other.""