Our best safety: Horton

[Irn-Bru]

It's hard to resist jumping to conclusions. Many people are taking a definite stance on Jason Campbell or the offense as a whole.

My own conclusion after just two weeks of play is that Horton is the better safety than Landry. (Yeah, I know they are playing two different positions. But still.)

I remember an offseason story that ranked Horton as the better player, and at the time I thought it was a reach. Horton had a tremendous first year, especially considering where he came from. . .but the better player right now? Nah.

Then came these reports of his offseason work ethic. Tons of working out and, more impressive, constant film study (and calling his coaches to pick their brains with his questions). In preseason the man looked ready. And now, after two weeks, I think he's the best safety on our team. . .and he's getting better each week.

He didn't achieve this in my mind without some "help." Landry has not looked good. I'm wondering whether keeping him as a free safety and hoping that he'll become Sean Taylor will ultimately limit the amount of good he can do.

(Regardless, you don't have to be Sean Taylor to take good angles, contain things to the inside, and finish on tackles. Something is up with Landry this year.)

Keep up the good work, Horton.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Definitely, agreed. LL was nowhere to be found today, as I said last week, he's been MIA since the seahawk playoff game.

[HEROHAMO]

LOL! I was saying this last year. But lets not be to hard on LL. Horton is a good player Landry has the "Potential" to be a great player. Horton just has the natural instincts to sniff out the ball. While Landry is athletically gifted. I have seen moments the Seatle playoff game where Landry was in the zone. I have yet to see the same player. Then again teams are reluctant to throw towards Landrys side.

[oneman56]

He's not a natural free safety and I never think he will be able to make the conversion to be considered a top level free safetyl. He was drafted to be a strong safety and I think if he were put into that role he would flourish, just as Horton is doing. I thought Moore had showed some promise but I haven't seen him in any of the D packages, Doughty seems to have taken his playing time. I was kind of hoping Moore would take some strides at FS so that we could put LL down in the box some this year.

[MDSKINSFAN]

I completely agree with you. Landry took a few more bad angles today and Horton was making stops, deflections, and making the play that ended the game. Horton seems to be the more fundamentally sound, smarter player.

Sometimes I feel sorry for Laron though. We drafted him assuming he would be next to Sean Taylor for at least the next 10 years and he has been forced into Sean's position with high expectations. He is a natural SS and if Sean were next to him Laron could afford to make some stupid mistakes and gamble like he does but he can't now... and he has got to realize that and play smarter. Actually he should watch some of Sean's or Polamalu's game film and look at how to tackle, take good angles, and play safety the smart way.

[Gibbs4Life]

Sometimes I feel sorry for Laron though. We drafted him assuming he would be next to Sean Taylor for at least the next 10 years and he has been forced into Sean's position with high expectations. He is a natural SS and if Sean were next to him Laron could afford to make some stupid mistakes and gamble like he does but he can't now

Precisely.

LL is a great player I'm glad we have him.

DHall is the one that worries me

[SkinsFreak]

I just think it's easier to second guess... ... I'm kidding.


I do like Landry, but I have to agree Irn. I've been peeved by the poor angles and poor tackling for a while now. He did this last year as well. The lack of participation during the offseason seems to be catching up with him. And what more can you say about Horton. Talk about a true find in the draft and a late round gem. He's tenacious, making all the right moves, both on and off the field.

[tribeofjudah]

This UCLA product is way better than the LSU product.... for now anyway.
I kinda regret buying the LL30 jersey.

[ChocolateMilk]

Mr Landry reminds me of ST, I said it in the game day post. He's hotheaded and seems to go for the big hit too often. He's crazy fast and scary strong too.. He just needs to mature and keep his head straight.

[USAFSkinFan]

Landry looks like he's trying to tackle with his eyes closed... I hear a lot of excuses about playing out of his natural position, or bad angles, bud a couple of these missed tackles had nothing to do with any of that... he was in position with a guy in his sights and he whiffed at the last second... it's happened at least 3 or 4 times in 2 games...

[SkinsJock]

I've got to agree that Landry has not played as well as he can these last 2 games - I do know that we are lucky to have 2 very good safeties in both Horton and Landry - I don't think that Horton would be as good a Free Safety as Landry is and while I would love to see Landry at Strong Safety, I think the team needs him playing the other safety position for now - we just have to let it play out and hope that Landry can pick it up a little better in the coming weeks

[roybus14]

The lost of Sean Taylor has a bigger effect on this defense than people realize. Gregg Williams was building his defense basically around Sean because Sean finally got it and was able to use his outstanding speed to cover and his "sickness" to lay people out. With Sean back there, the CBs could afford to take chances and play more press instead of what they are doing now playing 10 yards off on a 3rd and 6.

The Rams had some fast receivers out there yesterday and it was like Carlos was playing off the ball to not allow them to get by him because there is no Sean back there.

Landry is best suited as the "banger" at safety. But he has to perfect his fundamentals, especially tackling and getting the right angle. He can hit no doubt but he has to learn to make the tackle first and add the hit with it.

[Redskin in Canada]

The lost of Sean Taylor has a bigger effect on this defense than people realize. Gregg Williams was building his defense basically around Sean because Sean finally got it and was able to use his outstanding speed to cover and his "sickness" to lay people out. With Sean back there, the CBs could afford to take chances and play more press instead of what they are doing now playing 10 yards off on a 3rd and 6.

VERY good observation Roy.

[USAFSkinFan]

With the exception of Springs our corners have always played with huge cushions, even when ST was back there...

[HarleyHog]

not always. We had good success with press coverage last season

[mastdark81]

It's hard to resist jumping to conclusions. Many people are taking a definite stance on Jason Campbell or the offense as a whole.

My own conclusion after just two weeks of play is that Horton is the better safety than Landry. (Yeah, I know they are playing two different positions. But still.)

I remember an offseason story that ranked Horton as the better player, and at the time I thought it was a reach. Horton had a tremendous first year, especially considering where he came from. . .but the better player right now? Nah.

Then came these reports of his offseason work ethic. Tons of working out and, more impressive, constant film study (and calling his coaches to pick their brains with his questions). In preseason the man looked ready. And now, after two weeks, I think he's the best safety on our team. . .and he's getting better each week.

He didn't achieve this in my mind without some "help." Landry has not looked good. I'm wondering whether keeping him as a free safety and hoping that he'll become Sean Taylor will ultimately limit the amount of good he can do.

(Regardless, you don't have to be Sean Taylor to take good angles, contain things to the inside, and finish on tackles. Something is up with Landry this year.)

Keep up the good work, Horton.

I don't disagree with you but I think it is difficult to say in my opinion. If you put Landry in Horton's position I feel Landry would be just as effective if not more, however he is not (he's playing out of position) and generally has played way out in outerspace (seems like 30 yards downfield) where it is difficult to judge him when he is never close to the action.

Both have some work to do before they become consistently good, right now they play well in spurts. I've seen both go at plays with bad angles and missed tackles. I feel the big thing with these two is coaching and what strategy Blache is using that particular week. Last year when Springs was in the game and healthy, they gave Laron alot more freedom and he played better, however seems to me they don't trust the current DBs and they just sorta play safe and scared of the big play all game. I don't blame them of not wanting to give up big plays when our offense doesn't score, seems to work...however you have to mix it up a lil more.

[mastdark81]

It's hard to resist jumping to conclusions. Many people are taking a definite stance on Jason Campbell or the offense as a whole.

My own conclusion after just two weeks of play is that Horton is the better safety than Landry. (Yeah, I know they are playing two different positions. But still.)

I remember an offseason story that ranked Horton as the better player, and at the time I thought it was a reach. Horton had a tremendous first year, especially considering where he came from. . .but the better player right now? Nah.

Then came these reports of his offseason work ethic. Tons of working out and, more impressive, constant film study (and calling his coaches to pick their brains with his questions). In preseason the man looked ready. And now, after two weeks, I think he's the best safety on our team. . .and he's getting better each week.

He didn't achieve this in my mind without some "help." Landry has not looked good. I'm wondering whether keeping him as a free safety and hoping that he'll become Sean Taylor will ultimately limit the amount of good he can do.

(Regardless, you don't have to be Sean Taylor to take good angles, contain things to the inside, and finish on tackles. Something is up with Landry this year.)

Keep up the good work, Horton.

I don't disagree with you but I think it is difficult to say in my opinion. If you put Landry in Horton's position I feel Landry would be just as effective if not more, however he is not (he's playing out of position) and generally has played way out in outerspace (seems like 30 yards downfield) where it is difficult to judge him when he is never close to the action.

Both have some work to do before they become consistently good, right now they play well in spurts. I've seen both go at plays with bad angles and missed tackles. I feel the big thing with these two is coaching and what strategy Blache is using that particular week. Last year when Springs was in the game and healthy, they gave Laron alot more freedom and he played better, however seems to me they don't trust the current DBs and they just sorta play safe and scared of the big play all game. I don't blame them of not wanting to give up big plays when our offense doesn't score, seems to work...however you have to mix it up a lil more.

[MEZZSKIN]

lets keep in mind that SAFETY has slowly become one of hardest if not the hardest position in the league to evaulate
Deon Sanders even mentioned that college itself has become an awful learning ground for safeties for the NFL

Most safeties in the NFL are converted corners from college mainly because 85-90 percent of the safeties in college lack the true atheletic demands of an NFL SAFETY

Landry and Horton are just fine-- both make plays and both occasionally get beat ---thats expected

Ill take my safety tandem over just about any in football barring a few pairs. Landry sometimes does his best work when we the fans watching on Tv do not notice......I will say this... its very very rare a team goes "uptop" on the Skins D ....Mainly because Landry covers enormous real estate back there...WE JUST DONT SEE IT.......