The writing was on the wall regarding Ray Horton's chances as the head coach when Steve Keim said the 58-0 arse whooping to Seattle was one of the biggest motivating factors in Keim's career. Keim said that along with the NFC Championship in 08, the 58-0 drubbing were the two things that drive him the most to bring the Cards back to respectability.
Ray Horton did some really good things but it's not like this defense was the 1985 Chicago Bears. The first half of the 2011 season our defense sucked, and the 2nd half of this season we gave up huge chunks of rushing yardage. When you are the defensive coordinator of a team that gives up 58 points to a division rival, you give GM's serious reservations about leading a team.
One game, and a year full of negative support from the offense.
Say what you want about Horton, but the stats speak from themselves. His defense was one the tops in the league.
Look, Arians is the guy, and if he is the guy and it costs the organization Horton then it is what it is. No need to try and skew it as no big deal.
It is a big risk. A needed one, yes, cause Horton keeps the defense good, but doesn't fix the offense as a HC then the team goes 5-11 again. Cause it would be the same as last year.
Its not Arians fault that Horton is angry, and Horton has every right to be confident in his abilities, just look at the stats. For the one blow out, I can point to at least three games his defense won by themselves, with negative support from the offense (meaning they did more damage against their own team than anything else).
This ridiculousness is the fault of our owner (not surprising), and our new GM who is starting off on the wrong foot. There is no two ways about it. Never heard of something like this happening, so the Cardinals AGAIN are the 1st to do some horrible thing when it comes to NFL failure. Both already are in the doghouse.
And no matter what ? If Horton leaves it will be national news, and the Cardinals will be rightfully raked over the coals.
Leaving them that much more work to do, in order to win any confidence from fans, players, coaches, and all things football related.
Bad stuff in that regard, but really, what is new. This is the Cardinals.
Just enjoy the new hope of a new coach who, if anything, knows how to coach in the NFL. Can't do it for as long as he has, without producing.