Chris

Horton

Earlier this month, the Ravens blocked Horton from making a lateral move to another organization. Now, the 12th-year NFL coach will join John Harbaugh in New York as the Giants’ new special teams coordinator, meaning new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter will have another staff member to add in the coming days.

Horton has been the Ravens’ special teams coordinator for the past six seasons and the team would like to have the option of retaining him under the impending head coaching hire. He can only leave for roles that are promotions from his current job. Garafolo reports “Assistant Anthony Levine Sr. and senior ST coach Randy Brown might also be retained, pending the new HC hire.” As Baltimore gets closer to a head coaching hire, decisions are being made about the surrounding staff.

Horton went unsigned last season after being waived by the Redskins at final cuts. A seventh-round pick in 2008, he started 10 games in a rookie, but has made just 15 appearances since. He’ll compete for one of the Giants’ final roster spots.

Chris Horton, who is recovering from toe surgery, will be part of the battle as well. Doughty is the most effective of the group and held the starting job down the stretch last season. We’d expect him to win out.

Doughty is fully recovered from the back injury that ended his season in October last year. Horton, better in run support, could see more early down work with Doughty coming in for nickel packages.

The Washington Post reported earlier in the week that the job was up for grabs, but “it’s not the battle that right tackle will be,” said Zorn. Reed Doughty admitted that the job is Horton’s and that he’s concentrating on special teams.

This would limit the IDP potential of both. Horton is the better playmaker and run stopper, and should see the most snaps. He was burnt in coverage late last season, however, and could lose time to Doughty in the nickel set.

Horton won the job over Doughty early in the offseason and was expected to be solid in run support, but the Skins are giving up 127.7 rushing yards per game right now. “Reed’s actually played better the last couple of weeks,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said.

Still, Chris Horton has played so well that Washington could consider rotating the two. Doughty is reliable, but Horton has more big-play ability.