Comments on: Rams to interview Ray Horton

By: footballguru80

footballguru80 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:22:44 +0000

@Polegojim nice response genius, he specifically said Horton turned around the defense in the 2nd half of the season. In the last 9 games of the season, the defense gave up an average of a little over 16 points a game, and 327 yards a game: top 4 and 9 in the league respectively. Plus they were number 1 in 3rd down defense, and top 3 in red zone defense; not bad when you start with some of the worse OLBs (e.g. Joey Porter, Haggans) in the league.

By: darksidecowboy

darksidecowboy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:33:17 +0000

Damn, just when the Cards find a real DC he might leave! Being a selfish Cards fan I hope the Rams don’t pick him and he makes the Cards defense a top 5 next season. Although if he does that it will probably be his last season, getting hired as a HC for some team.

By: canjura

canjura — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:22:32 +0000

He seems like a viable option to me, not just someone to meet the Rooney Rule. I think Kroenke is intend on keeping McD and this is a way to do so: hire a defensive coordinator, first time head coach.

By: cliffordc05

cliffordc05 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:03:23 +0000

Ray Horton hasn’t tasted success? The Pittsburgh secondary is testament to his coaching ability. This interview satisfies the Rooney rule but could end up being similar to the Tomlin interview a few years ago. All of the so called experts had Whisenhunt or Russ Grimm pegged as the next Steelers coach when Pittsburgh brought in a little known assistant coach from Minnesota for a quick chat before they selected one of the real candidates. So how did that work out?

By: jcullen71

jcullen71 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:49:35 +0000

Ray Horton will be a head coach in the NFL, it is a matter of when not if. His defense is pretty complex and the lack of a full training camp and off-season workout program really hurt him. The second half of the season the Cards defense really started to gel and I would expect a top 10 defense next year. Listening to talk on the radio yesterday, he really came across as very polished and someone who really “gets it” when talking about players and putting them in a position to suceed.

By: scchamil

scchamil — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:06:22 +0000

Ray Horton was a solid DB for the Bengals the last time they made the Super Bowl… a little depressing to think about actually.

By: nflfollower

nflfollower — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:57:25 +0000

Rooney rule is unfortunately the first thing that came to my mind, right after “who is Ray Horton?”

Sad thing is, he very well may be the best candidate, but as long as requirements like the Rooney rule exist, it will make others wonder if a guy like this really earned the interview. And that’s just not right.

By: westcoastredbird

westcoastredbird — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:44:52 +0000

The Cardinals second half surge was due primarily to the defense. Horton is the best DC Arizona has ever had. It seems like we go through a DC every two years. Make him an assistant head coach like Russ Grimm and pay him the money. If we don’t keep him Whiz may be looking for a job next year.

By: polegojim

polegojim — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:33:26 +0000

@choco – you mean the Arizona Cardinal defense that’s 18th in the league and giving up 350 per game. THAT defense?

OK…. so the D was the strength of the team…. that’s not saying much – it’s A-R-I-Z-O-N-A. He doesn’t know success, he’s not tasted success, nothing in his Arizona results should lead anyone to believe he’ll BRING success.

Does the fact that Dallas…Dallas…Dallas??? was looking to hire him actually instill confidence? Cuz Jerry’s got SUCH a good record of identifying Coaching talent, right?

Those types of hires are the #1 reason why teams CONTINUE to struggle.

By: 700levelvet

700levelvet — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:15:33 +0000

Hell, he’s the leagues newest version of Leslie Frazier…..The Rooney Rule desiginated interview……….

By: rammerray

rammerray — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:09:54 +0000

RAMS fan here, this would be an interesting pick up.

By: chocolatebaconbutter

chocolatebaconbutter — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:56:51 +0000

Probably won’t get the job, but he certainly is deserving. Ray really turned around this AZ defense in the 2nd half. It was clearly the strong point of the team. Plus it’s clear that he had a great impact in helping develop all the young talent on that side of the ball. Patrick Peterson, Richard Marshall, Daryl Washington, and Calais Campbell to name a few, all young players that made tremendous strides. I hope he stays DC in Arizona for a long time to come, but clearly he’s destined for bigger things.

By: dldove77

dldove77 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Nice hair.