Skins Demote Horton

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

I think this is the team's weak attempt at satisfying the fan base by "shaking things up". They need to make wholesale changes in their attitude, before making personnel changes, IMO.

Reed Doughty has been playing well, but, he is only a safety after all. If we're relying on those guys to make the plays for our defense, that only means the team is not doing enough up front.

At last check, they are the last lines of defense. the Skins should focus on not allowing the other teams to get that far down the field.

[Countertrey]

Horton Won't Start Sunday (Updated)

Chris Horton said he won't be starting against the Buccaneers on Sunday at FedEx Field.

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache confirmed Horton's statement, adding that Reed Doughty, who practiced with the first team Wednesday, would replace Horton.

Blache, who said that Doughty is playing the best football of his career, added that he didn't like the play on which Horton was called for pass interference late in the loss in Detroit. Two plays later, the Lions scored for a 19-7 lead.

"Reed's actually played better the last couple of weeks," Blache said. "And Chris has struggled a little bit. He had a play last week with bad eyes; we got a big interference call. He had an incident the week before where it was not a good fit. And it's not that we're down on him, but the fact that you have a guy in Reed that's so close to him, gives him an opportunity, gives Chris a chance to catch his breath, refocus and come back strong."

WOW but maybe a shake is what's needed. We've seen Horton miss on quite a few tackles and miss some things in coverage. TV commentators have mentioned that Doughty is all over the field making plays. That he is always flying to the ball. Hope this works out for us. Would love to see him get an INT this weekend.

Horton is a good player and being used as a scapegoat - it sucks. I can name you a few others that need to sit their arses down:

D. Hall, Smoot, Rogers.........they all screwed up the last few games too. Tell me I'm wrong. But, I do like Reed - he's a survivor.

OK... you're wrong. Look, this is simple. Horton is slumping a bit... and Doughty is everywhere. It's not about scapegoating. It's about the fact that Doughty is simply playing better than Horton right now. Unfortunately, no one has stepped up to make Blache sit down any of the others. Not everything is a conspiracy.

At the risk of whacking on the hornet's nest...
I don't think that even the Redskins front office is so cynical that they would believe they could placate the fans by sitting a fan favorite (Horton). Were it not for the fact that Doughty has been conspicuously around the ball every time he's on the field, folks would be up in arms over this move. If they were looking for a scapegoat to soothe us, they would have found someone on the offense to try it with.

[Irn-Bru]

When it comes to this switchup, I can agree that Doughty has earned it, but I don't think that Horton "earned" it.

Don't get me wrong, I've noticed that Doughty has been fantastic. But Horton, at least in week one, was playing really well. I thought the PI call on Horton late in week three was just a bad call, personally. But Blache is the one who has broken down the tape time and time again — I'm just going off of what I remember seeing, from one viewing.

And I have to say that it'd probably suit us better to have Horton - Doughty on the field right now rather than Landry and either of them. Too bad that the two safety spots aren't as convertible as CB spots.

[Countertrey]

When it comes to this switchup, I can agree that Doughty has earned it, but I don't think that Horton "earned" it.

Don't get me wrong, I've noticed that Doughty has been fantastic. But Horton, at least in week one, was playing really well. I thought the PI call on Horton late in week three was just a bad call, personally. But Blache is the one who has broken down the tape time and time again — I'm just going off of what I remember seeing, from one viewing.

And I have to say that it'd probably suit us better to have Horton - Doughty on the field right now rather than Landry and either of them. Too bad that the two safety spots aren't as convertible as CB spots.

Yup... unfortunately, at least one of them has to have good cover skills... I can recall poor Reed in the Dallas game following Taylor's death. He clearly cannot play Free Safety. Horton can't do it either.

I'm not worried about Horton. He'll be back. He and Doughty will push each other hard, and both will get better, as a result.

[CajunSkin]

I'm not worried about Horton. He'll be back. He and Doughty will push each other hard, and both will get better, as a result.

Anybody think we could ever see a Doughty/Horton package?

[USAFSkinFan]

Both Horton and Doughty play with great energy. I'd like to have more like them. I have no doubt Horton will try his best to make an impact on special teams...

[Fios]

[quote="Irn-Bru"I thought the PI call on Horton late in week three was just a bad call, personally.[/quote]

100% agreed, I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation for that flag

[skins2357]

trade LL for a 2nd rounder. Im sick of his crap and he cant tackle

[KazooSkinsFan]

I thought the PI call on Horton late in week three was just a bad call, personally.

100% agreed, I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation for that flag

I wanted to think that when I watched it, but after rewinding on the TiVo a few times, I thought it was a good call even though it was frustrating. He turned his head because of the the receiver, he wasn't playing the ball. He turned his head too late. Basically if they allow that any DB could just start to turn their head when the receiver stops and run into them. I'm sorry, but there just wasn't a feasible way Horton saw the ball yet, he was reacting to the receiver.

[Uaintready]

This is a dumb move, now I will say I think Dought has been playing much better when he has gotten in the game. But in the packages hes been put in, dont require him to do much. He dosent get put out in coverage or have to read anything. Just react and make a play in the backfield. That pass interference call on Horton was touchy, if that would have been Doughty it would have been a TD. Bottom line he cant cover, he would not start for anyteam in the NFL, well maybe the Raiders. If anybody needed to benched its Landry. Did anybody know that Landry is the 3rd highest paid saftey. He couldnt hold Sean Taylors jock strap. I think Hall is talking about Landry when he said that, Landry missed all of OTA's. He thinks cuz hes big and fast his talent should carry him. It hasnt!! Blache needs to bench Daniels, Landry, and move Orakpo at DE. Our D would improve.


Please respond and tell me what u think!!!

[DEHog]

I thought the PI call on Horton late in week three was just a bad call, personally.

100% agreed, I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation for that flag

I wanted to think that when I watched it, but after rewinding on the TiVo a few times, I thought it was a good call even though it was frustrating. He turned his head because of the the receiver, he wasn't playing the ball. He turned his head too late. Basically if they allow that any DB could just start to turn their head when the receiver stops and run into them. I'm sorry, but there just wasn't a feasible way Horton saw the ball yet, he was reacting to the receiver.

Agreed even thought he looked as if he played the ball he knocked the WR down, had he turned and caught or tipped the ball while running into the WR it would have been OK...He has just as much right to the ball (but can't knock the WR down when doing so)

[KazooSkinsFan]

This is a dumb move, now I will say I think Dought has been playing much better when he has gotten in the game. But in the packages hes been put in, dont require him to do much. He dosent get put out in coverage or have to read anything. Just react and make a play in the backfield. That pass interference call on Horton was touchy, if that would have been Doughty it would have been a TD. Bottom line he cant cover, he would not start for anyteam in the NFL, well maybe the Raiders. If anybody needed to benched its Landry. Did anybody know that Landry is the 3rd highest paid saftey. He couldnt hold Sean Taylors jock strap. I think Hall is talking about Landry when he said that, Landry missed all of OTA's. He thinks cuz hes big and fast his talent should carry him. It hasnt!! Blache needs to bench Daniels, Landry, and move Orakpo at DE. Our D would improve.


Please respond and tell me what u think!!!

You're confusing staring with playing. I interpret this as a message to Horton that the job isn't his and he needs to keep working and to Doughty that it's not hopeless, Horton isn't running away with it. But they make changes all the time, your characterization this means Horton is sitting now is just wrong, at least from this announcement.

[gholmesbm]

I think both Doughty and Horton have been among the better playing members of the defense. Doughty playing really well now and have no issue with him getting the start - just like before, both will play a lot.

Many others on the D need to lift their game.

IMO main issue the team faces is poor fundamentals so far - blocking and tackling has ranged from poor to adequate at best. Can't win games that way.

[Countertrey]

I think both Doughty and Horton have been among the better playing members of the defense. Doughty playing really well now and have no issue with him getting the start - just like before, both will play a lot.

Many others on the D need to lift their game.

IMO main issue the team faces is poor fundamentals so far - blocking and tackling has ranged from poor to adequate at best. Can't win games that way.

Exactly. Those of you who think Horton is being screwed, keep in mind that all that has happened is that he an Doughty have swapped rolls. There was a reason that Doughty's play got noticed, and that is because he had many opportunities and took advantage. Horton will have just as many opportunities as Reed... now, he needs to have the same mindset as Doughty, and make Blache change his mind. I have no doubt that he will see every play as an opportunity to recapture his starting position.

People, this isn't a bad thing. We are going to end up with a problem that many defensive coordinators would love... which very good SS do I start this week?