What to Expect from Ray Horton

DawgX · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 9909

Pretty much every Browns fan is stoked that they hired Ray Horton and from what we cant tell, most Arizona fans are very upset that he's gone. I know the Cardinals had a very good defense under Horton and that he came from Pittsburgh, but could you guys give me more details on what to expect out of Horton? Any other information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Also, what defensive players are set to become free agents for you guys? I ask this because it would make sense that Horton would want some guys he knows from Arizona and bring them over to Cleveland.
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khodder · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 48157 Location: New New York

1 - Aggressive, attack the ball defense.
2 - A lot of nickel sets that use one safety consistently in and around the box.
3 - A lot of press coverage
4 - A lot of A-Gap blitzing
5 - 2 gapping on the DL. One ILB playing a read and react 2 gap role in 2-4-5/4-2-5 sets.
6 - A lot of Man Coverage on the outside and with LB's on backs and TE's. Safeties on TE's.

Back end, you will see a lot of Cover 3 (Zone) and Cover 1 (Man) shells with the odd 2 Man show. A lot of Cover 0 blitzing inside your own 10 yard line.

Front end, confusions. LB's and DL'men dropping into coverage with DB's blitzing off the same edge. Horton likes to blitz his DB's. As I mentioned A Gap "sugar" blitzing. Overloading the guards and Center with 4 rushers through their gaps. I could see Horton being a huge fan of Sheldon Brown (Good in Man Coverage, Physical at the LOS and in the running game). Don't expect too many rookies to play early on defense unless they are truly exceptionally talented. Horton will slow play rookies.

That is essentially a "cliff-notes" version.

We have a few guys set to be free agents. Would not be surprised if some of our DB's (Toler/Johnson) might end up in Cleveland with the lack of depth there. Toler is a guy who did pretty well for us along the back end of the season and could very well be a starter opposite Haden in Cleveland.
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iRobot · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 777 Location: Mesa, AZ

khodder · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 48157 Location: New New York

iRobot · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 777 Location: Mesa, AZ

DirtyDez · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject:

Expect a top 10 defense in two years. I'm not sure how much talent Cleveland has on defense but Ray will get the most our of them.
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127 · Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Posts: 73 Location: Arizona

Mwanamatapa · Joined: 17 Jan 2013 Posts: 2

Horton likes, "small men who can hit and big men who can run". Look for good tackling DBs and fast, athletic D-line men and LBs to do well in his schemes. Rashad Johnson is a free agent who might be of interest.

DawgSoldier · Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5947 Location: Medina OH

92 Rucker, Frostee DE 6-3 280 29 7 USC
67 Kitchen, Ishmaa'ily DL 6-1 330 24 R Kent State
71 Rubin, Ahtyba DL 6-2 330 26 5 Iowa State
98 Taylor, Phillip DL 6-3 335 24 2 Baylor
90 Winn, Billy DL 6-4 295 23 R Boise State
93 Hughes, John DT 6-2 320 24 R Cincinnati

all these guys are under contract and expected to be back.

IMO projected depth chart be:

34DE Taylor, Winn, Rucker & Hughes
NT Rubin & Kitchen

How do you think this would jive with what Horton likes to do with his 3 man front?
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