Tag: Chris Horton

Ravens ST coordinator on if unit has performed adequately in 2024: ‘Not at all’

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton on if the unit has performed adequately in 2024: “Not at all”

The Baltimore Ravens have become known for their uncanny special teams ability over the last handful of years. The team hired former Philadelphia Eagles special teams coordinator John Harbaugh as its head coach in 2008 and has seen the unit’s performance soar since.

Despite Harbaugh’s special teams acumen, his group has struggled on that side of the ball over the last few years. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton was asked if his unit has performed adequately in 2024 so far, to which he said, “Not at all.”

“Not at all. Not at all. When you talk about our standard, there is no way … If anyone is out there watching that tape, you can’t say we’ve played a complete game [in] all six phases. Now, we’ve done a lot of good things. Last week, we covered more kicks than we’ve covered in a game, and I thought our kickoff team played pretty darn good. As we continue to go on, and we continue to develop our young guys, we’re going to get to do a lot more. And we believe that as long as we come out here and we work hard and we continue to get better, we’ll start to see what we do in practice come to life on gameday, because that’s really where it counts, and that’s the most important [thing].”

The Ravens’ special teams unit has been derailed by significant penalties and poor execution this year. They need to step up in the coming weeks and months, especially if they genuinely want to compete for a Super Bowl.

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton calls WR Deonte Harty a ‘special player’

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton called wide receiver Deonte Harty a ‘special player’

The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Deonte Harty during 2024 free agency to help bolster their special teams unit. The veteran is an All-Pro in the return game, and with the NFL’s new kickoff rules should factor in nicely for the team this upcoming season.

Baltimore special teams coordinator Chris Horton was asked about Harty, and raved about the team’s new returner. He called the former Saints wideout a ‘special player’ and said that he’s here for reasons that include both his pedigree and what he’s done in the league.

“Deonte [Harty] is a special player. He’s here for a reason. He’s because of his pedigree and what he’s done in this league. We all know what he can do with the ball in his hands, and this play fits him well. It’s a lot of space. It’s a big-fill play. We’re just looking forward to, really with all of our returners back there, and just seeing how they develop. What do they do well within the schemes that we’re going to put out there?”

It will be an adjustment for every team as they adjust to the league’s new rules surrounding kickoffs. However, having a player like Harty will likely ease some of the burden of the transition period for Baltimore, considering how skilled he is at what he does.

Ravens ST coordinator Chris Horton calls experimenting with new kickoff rule ‘pretty fun’

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton called experimenting with the NFL’s new kickoff rule “pretty fun”

The NFL implemented a massive change to kickoffs over the 2024 offseason, dramatically changing the way the game is played in that aspect. Every team in the league is trying to identify ways to maximize strategies within the bounds of the rule, which will be a work in progress for most for a while.

Baltimore has had a few opportunities in the preseason to experiment with the changes, and every team is looking to get as many opportunities as possible to hone in on what they need to do differently.

“It actually has been pretty fun, just watching something different and trying to come up with the best plan of what fits what we do; taking from [the UFL] game and with what those players did. What are we going to pull from it that’s going to benefit us, and just trying to figure out how to gain an advantage. I think over time, we’re going to figure those things out, but it’s fun just up there grinding it out, putting together different schemes. We had six days this Spring to kind of work [on] those things – that’s not a lot of time. [And that was with the players in] shorts and t-shirts. As the pads start to come on, we’ll start to find out a little bit more about the play.”

There will be plenty of ways teams can benefit from the league’s new kickoff rules, especially early on when most units will still learn how to defend it. The Ravens will certainly have some things up their sleeve, which should benefit them as the rule evolves and changes.

Ravens special teams Coordinator Chris Horton on WR Deonte Harty: ‘He’s electric’

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton says the team “love” WR Deonte Harty

The Baltimore Ravens have made a few additions to their wide receiver room throughout the 2024 offseason. While they re-signed Nelson Agholor and drafted Devontez Walker, the team also signed All-Pro returner Deonte Harty to bolster their special teams unit.

Baltimore has been a special teams factor for years, and Harty’s addition is the latest in a long line of moves to bolster the unit. When asked what Harty brings, special teams coordinator Chris Horton mentioned how the organization already loves him, calling him ‘electric’.

“I think this guy – he’s electric. He’s been a Pro Bowl player. He’s been an All-Pro player, and when he was sitting there and his name came up, it’s just, ‘Oh, man. We lost our guy. We need a guy to fill these shoes, a guy with some experience.’ You like to have a guy with some experience so [that] you’re not really relying on young guys, especially in the punt return game. Then, it just allows us to do a little bit more back there. I’m excited about him. I know the coaches are. The players are. When I talk to the guys, some of the veteran guys, ‘Hey, we’ve got Harty coming in.’ Those guys ask ‘Is that the guy from the Saints, the guy who used to be on the Saints? I say, ‘Yeah, man, that’s the little returner from the Saints.’ So, he’s a well-known and respected returner in this league, and we love him.”

Harty grew up in Maryland and has carved out an extremely successful NFL career. As the team’s new returner, he will replace former Baltimore wide receiver Devin Duvernay in the lineup, and his experience and skillset should be extremely valuable.

Maurice Jones-Drew calls for UCLA to hire Chris Horton as head coach

Maurice Jones-Drew wants Chris Horton as the next UCLA coach.

There are many opinions, thoughts, and predictions regarding the UCLA Bruins coaching search.

However, one interesting one that came up is from former UCLA RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Shortly after Chip Kelly left for Ohio State, Jones-Drew gave his choice to be the next UCLA head coach: Chris Norton from the Baltimore Ravens.

Here’s what Jones-Drew wrote on X:

UCLA needs to Hire Chris horton of the baltimore Ravens. He’s a bruin it’s that simple.

Horton played college football at UCLA and was drafted in the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was only in the NFL for a few seasons between practice squads and active rosters.

After that, he spent two seasons as a Quality control assistant with UCLA in 2012 and 2013 and has been with the Baltimore Ravens ever since. He spent his first few years as an assistant special teams coach before taking over as special teams coordinator in Baltimore beginning in 2019.

Horton isn’t a name that has circulated much, but Jones-Drew advocating for him is certainly worth consideration.

Ravens ST coordinator Chris Horton talks about evaluating LB Trenton Simpson

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton talked abut third-round linebacker Trenton Simpson

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

The Baltimore Ravens were confident that they were getting a special player in Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson when they selected him with the 86th overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft.  From the way he’s handled himself after being drafted, it’s easy to see why the team fell in love with him during the draft process.

The Ravens held a football camp, with plenty of their players showing up to get work in at the team’s facility. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton was asked about Simpson, and he couldn’t contain his excitement when discussing what the former Clemson star can bring to Baltimore.

“It was pretty easy to love this guy. You turn on the tape, and you watch him fly around, you watch him get to the football, you watch him make plays. When I had the privilege to evaluate that guy as a special teamer, it was a no-brainer for me; I want that kind of player. That guy has the traits – those Raven traits – that we look for; he was tough, he was fast, he was physical. He loved playing football, and his energy was just off the chart. That’s the kind of players we’ve had in this building, so I truly believe that guy’s going to do some good things for us this year.”

Ravens ST coordinator Chris Horton discusses big Week 17 kick return by RB Justice Hill

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton couldn’t contain his excitement about running back Justice Hill’s big kick return

While they have been dealing with an injury to MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens have relied on other aspects of their game to try and help set the table for wins in recent weeks. While they didn’t pull out a victory in Week 17 against the Pittsburg Steelers, they had multiple

Among their biggest plays against the Steelers in their last matchup was a 56-yard kickoff return by running back Justice Hill that almost scored points. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton was noticeably excited about the play on the sideline when it happened, and told reporters about what he was feeling as the play unfolded.

“I talk about it all the time,” Horton explained. “When you get plays like that, it’s not often that you get a lot of returns. So, when you do get a return out to the plus-40 [-yard line], it’s obviously a combination of a lot of things, a lot of guys doing a lot of things right. We work too hard to really not have those plays happen weekly, but we also understand the type of opponents that we’re playing. So, I’m always excited; anytime our guys make a play, you’ll see me running up and down the sideline. It’s just football; it’s just a part of who I am, and it’s a part of me being really excited for knowing how hard those guys are out there working.”

Baltimore will continue to rely on Horton’s special teams unit to give the Ravens an edge against stiff competition in Week 18 when they face the Cincinnati Bengals. Special teams has been the calling card of of the team for years, and plays like Hill’s return demonstrate why.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby9dgr2e1eyts4 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Ravens ST coordinator Chris Horton shares thoughts on replacing WR Devin Duvernay

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton discussed the loss of wide receiver Devin Duvernay in the return game

The Baltimore Ravens are preparing for a Christmas Eve showdown with the Atlanta Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium.  On Tuesday, Ravens Pro Bowl returner/wide receiver Devin Duvernay was placed on injured reserve with a significant foot injury that he sustained in practice.  To take over return duties for Duvernay, a multitude of players could step in as the team looks for answers.

Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton spoke to the media post-practice and talked about the return game with the absence of Duvernay. He talked about how big of a loss Duvernay is, but expressed his confidence in the other options on the roster.

“It’s huge. I think one of the things with us [is] Devin [Duvernay] was valuable for what we were doing, for what we have done over the past two years. So, we have guys, though. We have guys that will come in and fill that role. [I’m] very confident in all the guys that we have. As you guys have seen, throughout the course of the last couple weeks, we were starting to rotate some guys back there anyway. So, I’m not really concerned that much about that part of the game. The biggest thing for us is just to go out there and execute all 11. I think those plays will take care of themselves.”

Hopefully players such as running back Justice Hill and wide receiver James Proche II can step up and make an impact on special teams during the last three weeks of the regular season and hopefully into the playoffs. Whoever takes Duvernay’s spot will be vitally important, whether it be just one player or a committee.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby9dgr2e1eyts4 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Ravens ST coordinator Chris Horton shares early impressions on WR Slade Bolden

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton shared his thoughts on wide receiver Slade Bolden

The Baltimore Ravens had a phenomenal 2022 draft, securing an extremely talented 11-player draft class. However, they were also able to add many solid undrafted free agents, something that the team has been known for over the course of their franchise history.

One of those undrafted players was wide receiver Slade Bolden out of the University of Alabama. After Baltimore’s second open media session of 2022 voluntary organized team activities, Ravens special teams Chris Horton was asked about his early impressions of the former Crimson Tide wideout, and he talked about Bolden’s experience on special teams as a returner.

“Slade [Bolden] is another guy that comes in who’s a returner. We’re always looking for returners, and he’s done that. He’s done that at [the University of] Alabama. His job is just going to have to be able to come in here, work and get better, and just try to compete for a job. Just take it one day at a time. We give every guy an opportunity. He’s going to play a lot in these preseason football games. But he’s just got to get better, that’s all.”

Bolden got run as a returner both in his second and third seasons in college, putting together a 6.7 yards per return average on 22 punt returns as well as a 13.4 yards per return average on kick returns. Baltimore wide receiver Devin Duvernay established himself as one of the better returners in all of the NFL during the 2021 season, but having a player with potential like Bolden behind him doesn’t hurt whatsoever.

Ravens ST coordinator Chris Horton shares thoughts on Baltimore’s 2021 special teams unit

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton discussed his thoughts on the teams’ special teams unit from the 2021 season

The Baltimore Ravens have been a franchise that has long been known for their stellar special teams play. Not many teams take the special teams aspect of the game as seriously as Baltimore, and they’ve won countless games due to key plays in that aspect.

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton spoke to the media on Wednesday, and talked about many different topics. When he was asked on his thoughts about Baltimore’s special teams unit from 2021, Horton expressed that he felt like his group did a good job over the course of the year.

“I feel like we did a great job. Our players played hard. I stood up here every week and I said in order to be at the top, you just have to be better than the team you played the week before. We gave up a play – that kickoff return [for a touchdown]. Those things, I’ll never let it go, but we did finish pretty high on kickoff coverage. Because we did a really good job earlier in the year of just putting that play in our back pocket, and we came back and we coached it. So, I do feel like our guys have done a great job, will continue to do a great job, but it’s going to be different. There’s going to be a lot of different guys. But it’s my job as a coach, [special teams coach] Randy’s [Brown] job, and [special teams coach] T.J.’s [Weist] job to challenge those guys, get them better, and get them ready to play. So, when September 11 rolls along, we’ll be ready to roll.”

The Ravens’ special teams play is at or near the top of the NFL year in and year out, and that was the case once again in 2021 despite a rough overall year that encompassed injuries and so much more. Moving ahead into 2022 expectations for the unit are high once again, and many expect them to deliver due to great play and great coaching.