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Suggest pagesBob Casullo
| Date of birth | March 21, 1951 |
|---|---|
| Position(s) | Special teams Coach, Tight Ends Coach |
| Team(s) as a coach/administrator | |
| 1970-1973 1985-1994 1995-1998 1999 2000-2003 2004 2005 2007-2008 2009-2010 |
Brockport State College Syracuse University Georgia Tech Michigan State University Oakland Raiders (ST) New York Jets (TE) Seattle Seahawks (ST) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TE) Syracuse Orange |
Bob Casullo (born March 21, 1951) is a journeyman NFL coach who most recently coached for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, having started his NFL career in 2000 coaching Special Teams for the Raiders. Casullo was most recently the Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for Syracuse University but left that position in November 2010, one week before the team's final regular season game. He is married with 2 boys who also coach football
Contents |
[edit] Career
Little Falls High School -Class of 69' Bob was a 3 sport athlete for the mounties & was a captain for
all 3(football-basketball-baseball) teams.After starring at QB
in high school casullo went onto a stellar career at running back for Brockport State in New York earning honorable mention All-America honors in his senior season.
[edit] Raiders
Though his career in the NFL started only a short time ago, he has distinguished himself as one of the league's better Special Teams coaches.[citation needed] 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 led the whole of the NFL in net punting average. In 2001, they led the AFC sending their punter to the Pro Bowl. That year he also produced an outstanding kickoff coverage unit (best in the NFL), that kept opponents less than 20 yards from their own end zone 17 times. In his final year with the Raiders he produced a unit that was third in the NFL in punt return average.
[edit] Jets
During his 2004 season with the New York Jets as Tight Ends Coach, Curtis Martin won the NFL Rushing title (by 1 yard).
[edit] Seahawks
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. Louis 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.[citation needed] 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.
[edit] Criticisms
The criticism of Casullo that sticks the best is his choosing punter Tom Rouen over Donnie Jones who led 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.[citation needed] 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. But this is a minor ding in a stellar reputation of a coach that also is responsible for bringing in both sabastian janikowski & shane lechler.. both have been pro bowlers & lechler is cementing himself as one of the best raiders of all time.
[edit] Buccaneers
On January 19, 2007, Casullo was reunited with Coach John Gruden & 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.
[edit] Coming home
On Friday, February 13, 2009, Syracuse University announced that Casullo had been hired as Syracuse University's assistant head coach for football. This represents a significant accomplishment for Casullo who has maintained a respectful, intense passion for the team that gave him his first big break..He also was part of the coaching staff of local power Henniger High School..He was born & raised in nearby Little Falls High School & Played his college football at Brockport State. [1]
On November 22, 2010, Syracuse Head Coach Doug Marrone announced that Casullo was no longer a part of the coaching staff. Marrone gave no further explanation.
