Watch Hue Jackson’s fiery presser where he called out his Raiders team
January 17, 2016
Cinematic NFL Playoffs, Kanye and Kendrick, and streaming Future’s new mixtape: While We’re Waiting…
January 18, 2016Ray Horton was in Cleveland briefly as a part of Rob Chudzinski’s staff that ended up being fired immediately following their first season on the job. The Browns weren’t great that season, but even most demanding fans were pretty shocked with the swiftness and decisiveness barely a year after the crew was hired. When the Browns hired Hue Jackson, Ray Horton’s name quickly cropped up in the rumor mill for defensive coordinator. The Titans hadn’t, however, given permission for the Browns to interview Ray Horton who needed said permission due to the circumstance that it would be a lateral career move to Cleveland. That seems all the more confusing now that the Tennessean reports that Ray Horton was kept around only to be “insulted” by the Titans before being granted his release to join the Cleveland Browns.
“They insulted him,” said John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes NFL minority hiring.
“The Browns had put in a request to interview him, and then Tennessee interviewed him (for the head coaching job Saturday),” Wooten said. “And they said that they didn’t know that he had any interest in being a head coach. Well, that’s an insult to the man. That is just an insult.”
Wooten goes on to say that the Titans acted surprised that he was prepared for the interview. (Tugs on collar.)
So what does it mean for the Browns if Horton is the new defensive coordinator? It’s so hard to say with the fluidity of NFL rosters. One encouraging thing is that the most pressure the Browns got on opposing quarterbacks in the past three seasons happened with Ray Horton running that side of the ball. In 2013 the Cleveland Browns amassed 40 sacks on the season. In 2014 it was 30 and in 2015 it was a mere 29. The team leaders in sacks when Horton was here were Jabaal Sheard with 5.5, Barkevious Mingo with 5, and Paul Kruger with 4.5. Other than Sheard, that crew is currently intact, although I’ve written about how his contract could make Paul Kruger a cut candidate should the Browns’ brass find him to be an inefficient use of funds.
**UPDATE**
Well, not so fast my friends. According to ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky, Ray Horton may not be headed to Cleveland after all. Kuharsky tweeted out this response to the reports of Horton leaving Tennessee:
Just spoke to Titans DC Ray Horton who is upset by a report that he was angry after his interview for the head coaching job.
“I’m not insulted. I was very happy Mrs. Strunk gave me an interview. I think she was very impressed with me. I was told some ideas I gave are going to be implemented. I’m still under contract. I’m talking about a contract extension. The insulted comment is not true. I’m very happy. I was very happy to be interviewed.”
Horton’s contract is not expiring.
I guess the defensive coordinator spot is still up in the air for the Cleveland Browns.
24 Comments
Only thing I don’t necessarily like about this is Ray has been trying to get a HC job for a while. He’s likely gone first chance he gets. Not that I blame him, and that would also only come after a successful season here, but I hope they at least bring someone on staff to groom for the takeover, so we don’t have to start with yet another new system.
Ok, I’m worrying about what happens if we’re successful. I’m starting to sound like my Mother, worrying about not having anything to worry about. I fully understand that. Flame away
Obviously, it’s nice they hired a guy who’s held the position before. And that the players seem to like him. Just not sure how good a DC he is. When he came on board in ’13 many were worried he was passing through, the next obvious HC hire in the league. When he left the defense was collapsing late in games despite Ray’s steady stream of good sound bites.
We’ll see how he does, and whether he can play nicely with all the other children. Especially if he perceives new ideas are blocking his path to get that head coaching gig.
Looks like the FPA got a little carried a way with this one. I’m happy that they are in Hue’s corner, though, since they basically act as an extra lobbying group for coaches that happen to be black, and there are many such coaches. It would t surprise me if the sentiment was true, but that Horton didn’t want it out in the media since he’s still up for HC.
I wonder how many of those “140 text messages” Hue has worked through, here’s hoping there are other hooks in the water.
Let’s be successful before worrying! He wasn’t that successful last time he was here.
Although O’neil set the lowest bar imaginable.
Is he my favorite hire? Not really.
But he was allowed to come here (thanks NFL for blocking your doomed coaches), he has experience, knows most of these players, And we don’t have to switch systems again.
I’m in.
https://media.giphy.com/media/vaG6cg6OhyY7u/giphy.gif
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/vampirediaries/images/f/f0/Do-not-want-dog.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151108003822
Uptick for The Good The Bad and The Ugly.
So we can keep the same crappy system?
We’ve had kind of lock on two of the three. Bringing Horton back only continues the madness.
“You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”
Soooooo, if we’re supposed to be all about analytics now, how do we hire this guy whose defenses have been, ummm, statistically not so good.
Well he breaks down players in the simplest of analytical ways… small guys who can run and big guys who can hit, or was it the other way around??? Analytics are confusing.
Greatest movie ever.
High Plains Drifter is the movie I can watch over and over. Think it was his first go in the director’s chair.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2f/22/92/2f22929d21b4efd4a83ae7436ca6eefd.jpg
Better than a new crappy system?
I’m not willing to subscribe to “the devil that you know” system.
If only there was a former HC with DC experience floating around out there…
TEN is the worst org in football. Their ownership is a fiasco. Could be a while on this one.
THE RETURN
http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/07/large_butch-davis-cleveland-browns-01.jpg
Who also happens to have a family and house rooted in Nashville…….
Not what I meant…
http://cbssports.com/images/blogs/2014_Hard_Knocks_HBO_NFL_Browns_Mike_Pettine.jpg
THE RETURN PART II
http://wfny.shoutitoutdesign.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Mangini-Browns-compressor-665×434.jpg
I’ll keep clamoring until he’s gone