“I’ve got the perfect mix here of big guys that can run and little guys that will hit,” Horton said.

“Big guys that can run and little guys that will hit.” That was the overall theme of Horton’s first press conference in Cleveland, as he professed his love for the current makeup of the defense.

The main concern, though, is about the shift to a 3-4 defense. Former general manager Tom Heckert had been building for a 4-3 the past three seasons, and many have considered the potential growing pains that would arise from making the switch yet again.

Horton, though, doesn’t see this as a problem. If anything, it will be impossible to truly pin down what kind of defense the Browns are, and that’s the way he likes it.

“I don’t really care what we are on defense,” Horton said. “I want to know what are we going to look like. We’re going to look like an aggressive, forward-attacking defense . . . and I’ve seen that on tape.”

This means the Browns could be lining up in a variety of defensive fronts. It doesn’t matter if it’s the 4-3 or the 3-4 – the key is that the defense will keep the opposing offense guessing.

Horton may only be here for one season, but his experiences in Pittsburgh and Arizona will be invaluable to this young, emerging defensive unit.