AP

Juan Castillo was the most criticized assistant coach in the NFL over the last couple of seasons, as he went from the Eagles’ offensive line coach to their defensive coordinator, to unemployed and blamed for the team’s decline.

But Castillo’s new boss, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, says the most criticized assistant coach in the NFL may just be the best assistant coach in the NFL.

“I would say Juan is maybe the finest teacher of football in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said. “He teaches the game as well as anybody you’re ever going to see, and those guys – they like to work for him.”

Castillo, who was hired as the Ravens’ run game coordinator in January, is such a good teacher that players on the Ravens are eager to do extra work after practice to get an opportunity to get more instruction from Castillo.

“They want to stay out to get extra reps because they understand that the things that he’s teaching them are going to help them be a better player,” Harbaugh said.

Former Eagles head coach Andy Reid probably threw Castillo into a deeper part of the pool than he was prepared for when Castillo became the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia. But no one disputes that Castillo is very knowledgeable about NFL offensive line play. Castillo now has a job that matches his experience, and the Ravens will benefit from that.