Reports: Cleveland Browns looking at Ray Horton, Leslie Frazier for DC role
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns are reportedly looking at Ray Horton and Leslie Frazier as defensive coordinator candidates.
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson is starting the process of filling out his coaching staff and is reportedly considering Ray Horton and Leslie Frazier for the position of defensive coordinator.
Browns HC Hue Jackson targeting Tennessee's Ray Horton as his DC, but uncertain whether Titans will grant permission to leave, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2016
#Browns Hue Jackson reportedly likes Ray Horton as DC; Leslie Frazier could be on radar too, source says https://t.co/jk70LzqA0p
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 14, 2016
Horton, who is currently the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, worked as the Browns defensive coordinator in 2013 under one-and-done head coach Rob Chudzinski. This season in Tennessee the Titans were 27th in points allowed (26.4 per game), 12th in total defense (342.2 yards allowed a game), 18th against the run (112.3) and 26th against the pass (229.9).
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Frazier, a former head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, was let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a day after the team fired head coach Lovie Smith. The Buccaneers finished this season 26th in points allowed (26.1 per game), 10th in total defense (340.4 yards allowed per game), 11th against the run (100.4) and 16th against the pass (240). How much of that falls on Frazier is a bit of an unknown as Smith called the defensive plays in Tampa.
The Browns, by comparison, finished the 2015 season ranked 29th in points allowed (27 per game), 27th in total defense (379.2), 11th against the pass (250.8) and 30th against the run (128.4).
When you look at the numbers, Horton and Frazier didn’t do much better than former Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil – especially when it came to points allowed, which is pretty much the only defensive statistic that really matters.
Jackson did not go into specifics during his first press conference about just who he would look for in a defensive coordinator, but did talk about the qualities he is looking for in a coordinator.
“I’m looking for the person that can bring energy that can bring tenacity,” he said. “(I want) a guy that understands how to lead men, and a guy that understands how to defeat offenses, the real good offenses in this league.”
There are sure to be additional names link to the Browns coaching staff, but for now Frazier and Horton lack the same level of excitement that the hiring of Jackson brought to the club.