Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Ray Horton isn’t married to the 3-4 defense

Cleveland Browns v Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Jonathan Dwyer #27 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Joe Haden #23 and Trevin Wade #26 of the Cleveland Browns during their game at Heinz Field on December 30, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton admits that he’s disappointed that he didn’t land a head coaching job this year, but that disappointment doesn’t take away his excitement over his new job.

Horton, who left the Cardinals after Bruce Arians was named the team’s head coach, said that he’s excited about the defense in Cleveland and about reuniting with new Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Horton’s first coaching job came as a member of Turner’s staff with the Redskins and Horton told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the two of them are “going to put up points and we’re going to stop ‘em from scoring points and we’re going to have a fantastic team.”

As for how the Browns will stop ‘em from scoring points, Horton said that he’s not married to the 3-4 defense that he ran in Arizona and when he was on Dick LeBeau’s staff with the Steelers. He only promises one thing about the defense you’ll see in Cleveland.

“Aggressive. I don’t know if anybody pressured more than I did last year and that’s the kind of stuff we’ll do here,” Horton said. “I’m a coach of men, whether it’s 3-4, 4-3, 5-5, I don’t care. I’m going to coach men.”

The Browns ran a 4-3 last season so there would likely need to be some adjustments to personnel if Horton does decide to stick with the familiar 3-4 look he’s been running for the last decade.