Bob Casullo

Infobox NFL PlayerCoach


Name=Bob Casullo
|DateOfBirth=Birth date and age|1951|3|21|mf=y
Hometown= [Little Falls, NY]
Birthplace=
College=
Position=Special teams Coach, Tight Ends Coach
coach=yes
coachingyears=1970-1973
1985-1994
1995-1998
1999
2000-2003
2004
2005-2006
2007-
coachingteams=Brockport State College
Syracuse University
Georgia Tech
Michigan State University
Oakland Raiders
New York Jets
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bob Casullo (born March 21, 1951) is a journeyman NFL coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, having started his NFL career in 2000 coaching Special Teams for the Raiders.

Career

Raiders

Though his career in the NFL started only a short time ago, he has distinguished himself as one of the leagues better Speacial Teams coaches. His special teams unit helped the Raiders to three consecutive AFC West titles (2000 - 2002) including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII. In 2000, his unit lead the whole of the NFL in net punting average. In 2001, they lead the AFC sending their punter to the Pro Bowl. That yeat he'd also produced an outstanding kickoff coverage unit (best in the NFL), that kept opponents less than 20 yards from their own endzone 17 times. In his final year with the Raiders he produced a unit that was 3rd in the NFL in punt return average.

Jets

During his 2004 season with the New York Jets as Tight Ends Coach, Curtis Martin won the NFL Rushing title (by 1 yard).

eahawks

His first season with the Seahawks, in 2005, was rocky but not without success. The special teams were plagued by injuries and saw a rotation of injury replacements. Casullo had lost former Special Teams Pro Bowler Alex Bannister to another broken collar bone, and the other injuries to WRs, LBs and DB began to eat into his personnel. There were also miscues: Several fumbles on kick and punt returns, some lost, notably at (certainly not in) the hands of Josh Scobey seemed to portend ill tidings. Blown coverages that allowed a kick return for a touchdown in St. Loius versus the hated Rams, and a punt return for a touchdown by Steve Smith in the NFC Championship game threatened to doom the Seahawks greatest season. But converted safety Jordan "Big Play Babs" Babineaux forced a fumble on special teams which was recovered by long snapper J. P. Darche to seal the victory in St. Louis. There was evidence of an illegal block in the back freeing Steve Smith for the punt returned for a TD, but the officials picked up the flag, surprising and elating the Carolina radio crew. Josh Brown who provided his share of game winning kicks ultimately tied a franchise record of 8 50+ yard field goals and earned an invite as a Pro Bowl alternate.

Criticisms

The criticism of Casullo that sticks the best is his choosing Punter Tom Rouen over Donnie Jones who lead the NFL in Net Avg Punt yards (for the Miami Dolphins). Rouen did have a few standout performances, particularly in the NFC Divisional game in Seattle and parts of the NFC Championship game. But he was prone to getting off the occasional flat, exceptionally returnable punt. Casullo was adamant that Rouen's veteran touch would made him a better choice than the somewhat more powerful Jones. Rouen may well have been the difference for the Seahawks as they struggled in the first part of the Divisional matchup against the Redskins, but his performance in the Super Bowl left much to be desired. At the start of 2006, Rouen has gone off to San Francisco, leaving Wake Forest University standout Ryan "The Mule" Plackmeier and Gabe Lindstrom the promising NFL Europe veteran to battle for the solution to last year's problem.

Buccaneers

On January 19, 2007, Casullo was hired as the tight ends coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replacing the departing Ron Middleton. He joined the staff immediately and will be part of the coaching staff for the Senior Bowl.

Casullo was born in Little Falls, NY in 1951

References