DC Ray Horton says pride must be put aside to learn defense
Sep 30, 2011, 8:41 PM | Updated: 10:23 pm
Cardinals Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton feels good
about the strides his group made last week against Seattle
but knows some things will have to change.
“You have to add something,” he said. “You can’t do what
we did last week for 16 games and be successful. You have
to come after people, and we are.”
In saying that, Horton knows some guys are picking up the
new system faster than others. One of those struggling a
bit is linebacker O’Brien Schofield.
“Well, I sensed some frustration after the Green Bay game.
He said ‘Coach I can do this, I can do this,'” Horton
explained. “I said ‘Yes, but you also have to be able to
run the defense. If you don’t know where to go you can’t
do what you’re supposed to do.'”
Horton said Schofield is one of the key guys that they
have to get going.
“We found a way to get him on the same page. He’ll have a
wristband. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just kind
of a cheat sheet.”
When asked if Schofield is too prideful to wear it, Horton
didn’t seem to care about pride getting in the way. “Could
be, but I tried to explain it to him though. I think he
understands now. It’s a way for him to play faster on the
field.”
Schofield was injured for much of 2010 but still made his
mark. The Cardinals expect a lot from the linebacker and
they’re hoping the extra time he puts in to study the new
defensive scheme will give him more time on the field
Sundays.
