Schiano: Knee Surgery For “Elite” Casillas
December 2nd, 2013
Joe loves this photo of a rare edge rush by Jonathan Casillas
Greg Schiano told a hell of a story tonight on WDAE-AM 620 about the knee injury Sunday that claimed linebacker Jonathan Casillas’ season. Casillas needs surgery and is headed to injured reserve.
Schiano painted a picture of a warrior-like Casillas, who played on the knee after injuring it without telling the coaching staff.
Schiano also detailed how big a loss Casillas will be.
“He’s locked up with a guy and [the knee] gets twisted, and that’s the way that kind of knee injury usually occurs. And he kept playing on it. Jon is one of the tougher guys that I’ve been around,” Schiano said. “And he kept playing on it and then finally, you know, I didn’t know that it happened. He just came to me and said, ‘I can’t run anymore. And I didn’t even know anything had happened. That’s the kind of guy he is. I said,’Ok, go see the trainer.’
“It’s unfortunate because he not only is playing very well, about midseason there he claimed the starting [strongside] linebacker job, but also has been an elite player on special teams. I’m talking about elite in the whole league, not just on our team. So it’s a big loss. But as we’ve said all along this season, the next guy’s got to come in and if it’s your job, do the job.”
Joe’s a big Casillas fan. He’s a candid, well-spoken guy. And Joe likes how hard he plays. There’s that little extra bite in Casillas’ game that you see on great defenses.
He’ll be missed. Schiano didn’t offer specifics on Casillas’ injury or pending surgery.
December 2nd, 2013 at 10:24 pm
That was a solid signing, not as good as signing cliff Avril and resigning micheal Bennett could have been.. Ugh
Wonder why were always in the basement, bowers to 10!
December 2nd, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Next man up! Ka’lil Glaud (sp) I think. Rutgers man – another chance to step up. The ranks are getting thin!
December 2nd, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Thank you for your service. Hate to hear about an unfortunate knee injury at the end of the season. Especially when the you man was playing for a contract. Wish him the best. NEXXXXXXXXXXT! #58 LB Ka’Lial Glaud, it time to shine brotha.
December 2nd, 2013 at 10:44 pm
Bowers for 1!?
Hello?
Go Bucs!
December 2nd, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Sucks. With the way he was playing, he really deserved the starting strong side linebacker job. By far our hardest hitting linebacker. Next man up.
December 2nd, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Elite? This man is delusional
December 2nd, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Think he’s solid, if he was so elite then why wasn’t he offered a contract extension prior to hitting the free agency market again next year? Olb’s in the 4-3 don’t usually get big contracts as it is.
If we have all of these elite players why are we 3-9?
December 3rd, 2013 at 12:26 am
Schiano claimed he was an “elite” special teams player…..is there anyone that can dispute that?. If not, there is no basis for being critical of the comment.
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he is elite and wish him well….I hope he gets himself in shape to be re-signed…
December 3rd, 2013 at 12:56 am
@tampabayfan
“also an elite player on special teams”, that is plural. He also said league wide, it’s resally semantics at this point. Schaino always makes comments that leave him open to be called out ex: Freeman, Bowers, etc. It goes with the terrritory.
December 3rd, 2013 at 1:00 am
Watson is elite talent on special team. Casillas is a solid player but not elite.
That elite word is abused nowaday..
I guess Mike Glennon will be labeled as elite too if he gets hurt.
Maybe Sheridan is elite DC too and we just don’t know
Schiano? Definitely elite at 3-9 this year. I can’t wait to see the Glazers this week come out and praise the high achieving elite bucs..
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:55 am
@bucsqccity – there us a lot of nuance to special teams that isn’t necessarily apparent on the TV version of the game. Perhaps cassillas’ play is the reason that Watson has been able to do what he’s done. Schiano sees a lot more of the intricacies of the game than we do so i’m not going to take that from him. I’d say that you’re one to factor a player’s stat line in pretty heavily to their value. I think Joe proved with the McCoy piece that there’s a lot more to football than what shows up in the stat line
December 3rd, 2013 at 6:34 am
I am ready to see this coach jettisoned, however you guys are just nitpicking at this point on this statement.