There is a good chance that Hue Jackson can sign both Al Saunders and Ray Horton to the Browns coaching staff. Saunders, especially, would be a great catch, as Mary Kay Cabbot thoroughly demonstrates.
Saunders is 68 years old, and came out of retirement a few years ago. My theory is that he just wants to "keep his hand in" to avoid dying from boredom, and that the probable position as "Assistant Head Coach/Receivers" is tailor made for him.
I read in another article that Saunders was up for offensive line coach, but doubt it. He could be called "passing offense" coach, or wide receivers coach, but the title doesn't matter.
Saunders has coached everything on offense, been an offensive coordinator, and head coach. He's worked with Hue Jackson before, and can help him in every way.
Ray Horton has question marks in his history: Notably in the all-important scoring defense category.
I haven't researched his defense's performance in Tennessee, but remember the year he spent with the Browns under Chudzinski.
That defense lacked the talent of the one Ray would inherit. That offense couldn't hold onto the ball long enough, and kept Ray's defense on the field too long-and often on a short field.
A real analyst like Paul DePodesta can deduce this from the statistics. Prior to coming to the Browns from Arizona, Ray had his Cardinals defense ranked at or near the top in every category, which is why he was a head coach candidate.
His scheme has some similarities to Mike Pettine's and Rex Ryan's in that he seeks to adapt every level of his defense each week to the given opponent. While Ryan/Pettine stick to a predominant 3-4 hybrid, Ray Horton gets wild and crazy with every conceivable front.
However, unlike Ryan/Pettine, Ray allows for specialists. An edge rusher will usually rush, and not be called upon to cover. A one-way penetrator won't be asked to two-gap (read and react).
While every coach seeks to develop a well-defined skill set in every player, Ray tries to let each player do what they do (and like) best. Especially the young ones.
There is also more continuity from week to week. Players in any front will usually have the same responsibilities as they had last week and the week before (within limits).
Because of all his wild and crazy fronts, Ray's defense appears very complex, but it actually isn't, for the reasons I just cited. It's good for younger players. Compared to Mike Pettine's "proven" system, the Ray Horton defense is checkers, and the players can stop thinking and just play.
Overall, it's a pressure defense, with consistent four-man and sometimes five-man rushes. The underlying principle is that Ray Horton (a former defensive back by the way), is willing to risk some big burns for more turnovers and sacks.
How would hiring a Day Horton effect current Browns players?
It's good for most of the defensive linemen, because there is a place for each of them here. If Horton were forced to pick just one base defense, it would be a 3-4.
In a conventional 3-4, the three defensive linemen two-gap, but that's deceptive. Ray will sometimes have a big linebacker line up next to them, and the four of them will attack; the linebacker taking a few steps and the linemen shifting turns it into a 4-3. It's semantics.
Xavier Cooper would benefit more from the change, even if his presence on the field would decline a bit. Ray would have him in there to penetrate and blow things up--not to two-gap.
Paul Kruger would attack from his best side, and not be wasted in coverage. Ray could mean the difference between Barkevious Mingo's retention or release. Mingo might be a good edge-rusher. We don't know, because he rarely came from wide of the nearest offensive tackle. Mingo also has a unique skill package: He can cover tight ends, and sometimes big wide receivers. Ray Horton could find a place for him. He uses every curve ball he can find.
Ray Horton spent last season working side by side with Dick LeBeau, and probably learned some new tricks from the meistro.
I'm not sure if he's the Arizona guy, the Tennessee guy, or somewhere in between. But he is the last experienced defensive coordinator left, and Hue will need to delegate that side of the ball to a veteran until his offense is up and running.
Continuity matters here, and the Pettine scheme has some similarities to Ray Horton's. Players like John Hughes, Craig Roberts, and Joe Haden played here for Ray, and can help with the transition.
After Pettine's PHD offense, the players will love Ray and his defense.
In other news: Terelle Pryor was recently seen at a gas station, confirming my persistent assertions that he still exists.
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