New 4 - Legged Addition to the Horton Family

NEW 4-LEGGED ADDITION TO THE HORTON FAMILY
With the long and arduous rehab process ahead, Chris could use some support in his corner. Kobe to the rescue! No, not that Kobe…
Chris recently got a new puppy, a fuzzy little Rottweiler he named Kobe.

Chris is very proud of his mini-predator.

PREDATOR SHEDS THE DREADS

It’s a transitional time for Chris, and part of that transition came in the form of a haircut a couple weeks ago. That’s right, Predator fans. Chris’s signature dreads hit the floor recently, and he had this to say about it:

“Well it's been a long time coming for the hair. Every year I tell myself I would cut it but never followed through. But when the season started this year, I told myself I would cut it at the end of the season. Well my season ended early, so I cut it. Just wanted some change.”

With the change this time of transition has become a time of transformation for the Predator. What will this mean for Chris going forward? Only time will tell, but fans can be assured that when the Predator returns to the gridiron, healthy and with his new look, his ball-hawking hunter mentality is unlikely to change.
Chris also went on to say that he is “really loving the new look now.”

Chris the Gamer

As Chris dedicates his time now to rehabilitating his ankle injury, he would like to hear from his fans about a very important subject to him. As you may already know, Chris loves video games, and considers himself an avid gamer. When he gets free leisure time, Chris can be found in front of his Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii playing today’s hottest games.

So now he wants to hear from you! What are your favorite games out there in the gamer-verse right now? Chris would like to hear your reviews on one of the newest games on the market, EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp. In this game, users can run through a football-based training program that simulates the football drills and conditioning workouts of an NFL training camp. Developed in collaboration with NFL strength and conditioning coaches, users can experience the thrill of competition while challenging friends and family in authentic NFL football drills. It includes Total Body Tracking with a heart rate monitor and wireless motion tracking that delivers an accurate, challenging workout with measurable results. Users can also track and share training results via the EA SPORTS Active online hub.

Chris would like to hear what you have to say about it!

HORTON ON THE IR

The Redskins placed Chris on Injured Reserve last week, cutting short what was shaping up to be a promising season for the Predator, his third in the NFL. Injured Reserve (IR) is a list of players who have been sidelined for the season due to an injury. Teams will place a player on the IR when they wish to keep him on the team without having to replace him to fill his spot on the depth chart. NFL teams are allowed 53 spots on the active roster.

The loss of Chris comes as a big blow to the Redskins’ secondary, for a team that’s ranked 31st in the league in passing yards allowed per game. Every man is valuable at this crucial point of the season, and losing a good talent like Chris to injury is never good. Chris will now focus on rehabilitating his injury in order to come back strong and healthy next year, and help the Redskins achieve their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

Predator's Way

This time last year things where much different for Chris and the Redskins but what a difference a year can make. The Redskins of late have been playing some of their best football, especially on the defensive side of the ball. In the NFC East you can't sit back and relax because next week everything could change. So look for Chris and the Redskins to keep preparing for every game as if it was their last and to keep fighting in order to make their mark in the NFL.

Hunting With The Predator: When You Go To The Ball, Good Things Happen

Through the turmoil of a few tough games, taking a game-changing pass interference call against the Lions, and ultimately ceding his starting job to Reed Doughty, Chris Horton has remained a consummate professional.

I caught The Predator on the local DC sports talk station Wednesday night on Holden Kushner’s Overtime, and if you didn’t hear the interview, I highly suggest you check out the podcast.

Chris answered every question Kushner threw on the table with genuine poise. When asked how he feels about not starting, Chris stated that he’s just going to continue to play his hardest, as he always does. When asked if he ever gets on other guys on defense for not making plays, he said there’s no room for criticism on the field, and he doesn’t believe in casting stones. And to what was going through his head when he recovered the fumble last week to seal the win, (somewhat of a softball question) Horton refused to take credit for the play, and said he was just in the right place at the right time. In his words, “when you go to the ball, good things happen.” It would have been easy enough to celebrate his success on air, even just a little bit, but he gave credit to rookie Jeremy Jarmon for forcing the fumble.

In his conversation with Kushner, it was easy to tell that all his answers were candid and unrehearsed. It’s a testament to his character that given a soapbox to talk about his successes or complain about his setbacks, Horton chose to humbly applaud his teammates instead.

And starting or not, The Predator will continue to play his heart out in each game because he’s part of a team working to win games and deliver a good show for fans.

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Heading out to Fed Ex Field last Sunday for the Buccaneers game, there couldn’t have been a greater day for football. The sun was out, the parking lots were full, and spectators were out in force. I stopped by the annual Redskins Extravaganza tailgate, benefitting the DC Boys and Girls Clubs, and fans were as fired up for a game as I’ve seen.

Coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Lions in Week 3, fans, players, and coaches alike needed a win against the Bucs to boost morale and to get back to .500. In what most consider the softer part of their schedule this year, a second loss in a row would have been detrimental.

The game started off as a nail biter. An early turnover deep in the Skins territory led to a Bucs touchdown. Fans were on edge. Getting behind a team they were supposed to beat on paper was all too reminiscent of Week 3. Not good.

But the team fought through the first half, and finally opened up the flood gates in the second. The Campbell-to-Cooley connection linked up again, and Moss found another deep ball, capping off another solid performance. The electricity was palpable. Whatever displeasure roiled in the stands at halftime gave way to an explosion of cheers and applause.

The Bucs managed another field goal in the fourth quarter to keep it interesting, coming within three. But on Tampa Bay’s last drive of the game within the two-minute warning, Horton made a stop on first down. He then came out of the pile on third down with the fumble recovery to seal the game.

He might not have started that day, but The Predator came up big when the team needed him the most.



2009 tackles to-date: 24



Now at 2-2, the Skins head to Charlotte to take on a very dangerous 0-3 Panthers.

The mood is that Carolina’s capable offense could give the D some trouble, and the Skins offense is still looking for a breakout game. With that little extra bit of pressure comes an urgency that wasn’t there in the last three games. The Redskins were favored in each, even on the road against the Lions. Now that they are essentially the underdogs, there is no complacency left to hold them back from their best effort.

They know that it’s time to go out and hammer out a win, favored or not. And regardless of the starting lineup this week, Horton will put forth his best effort on each down he sees. It’s the only way he knows how to play.

Stay Fired Up!


Prey of the Week: DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Two solid running backs who had over 2300 yards combined last year. If Horton and the D shut them down, the secondary should take care of whatever Delhomme throws at them. Advantage: Horton has Stewart’s number from continually shutting him down in PAC 10 games. Bad news for Stewart.

Hunting With The Predator: Visualize the Victory by Matt Wallace

Here’s all you need to know about Sunday’s matchup vs. the Lions: the Redskins will come out of Detroit 2-1.

Usually my superstitions dictate that predicting a win ultimately jinxes a team. But in this case, I’m going to go ahead and say that the Redskins will come out on top. Why? Because they have to win. It might not be pretty. It might not be the sublime masterpiece of a ball game fans have been yearning for the past ten years, but they will win. They will. It’s a fact.

It’s no secret that the Redskins tend to play to the level of their opponent. That was plainly clear last week. Following the trend, many prognosticators and fans alike are worried, or even certain, that the Lions will at least cover the six-point spread, if not win. Fair enough. But to them I say, have some faith! It’s all about seeing the win before it happens. And if spectators are down enough that they can’t visualize a positive outcome against the Lions, then what’s the use in even following the team?

Many consider the eternal optimist to be naïve (and annoying), but at some point fans need to set aside their doubts, get behind the team, and believe they can put together a solid 60 minute performance. It’s true that the team has yet to really prove themselves this year, or even over the past eight games or so. But what use is it to dwell on missed plays and poor performances? Despite some lackluster showings recently, I believe the Redskins have every position filled with a very capable individual, and it’s only a matter of time before all those individuals finally start playing together. Why not look towards the game that finally starts things off (which could very well be Sunday) rather than hate on what has already happened?

Last year they had a few big wins early on, and then lost to some very mediocre opponents later in the year. The result was a very medium 8-8. Could it be that their close games early on this year will give way to some bigger wins later in the year? I won’t be surprised if it happens. I would much rather peak late in the season than fizzle out come December.

Ultimately the point is: it’s early.

No reason to call for anyone’s head just yet and no reason to fear a loss, even if it’s a means of self-preservation. It may not feel like it, but the Skins are still 1-1. Going up against an 0-2 squad this week is just what they need to finally set the tone. It’s true that Johnson and Stafford can be ball players when they show up, but the Lions as a whole are very beatable. The Lions rushing game is paltry so far, and should be demolished by the Skins’ run defense. Look to Stafford to throw quick screens to try and open up the field for both Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith. He only has 50% pass completion so far, so going deep won’t be a high priority in the Lions game plan.

Players need short memories to forget missed opportunities so they can play to their potential. I think a win on Sunday will help shorten the memories of some fans and turn the current tide of skepticism into support for the Redskins.

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In all the commotion and bickering between fans and players and the media this week, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard very little coming from Chris Horton. He was the man of the match, arguably the lone game changer with his forced fumble and pass breakup against the Rams last week. And aside from a few folks in the media who recognized The Predator’s contributions, nobody’s heard so much as a blip or a tweet about him. Where some would celebrate their accomplishments, Horton doesn’t take himself out of the game. Undoubtedly he’s got his head down, playing through practice, studying film, and focusing on the next game on the schedule. He knows that a season is made one week at a time.

Sunday’s match up is the kind of game Predator fans should live for. Horton should roll on his solid showing last week to make some big stops if the opportunities arise. (Is it time for Horton’s first professional pick six?)



Prey of the Week: Matthew Stafford. Calvin Johnson is solid, but he can’t score touchdowns if he doesn’t get the ball. Stafford is young and has yet to settle into his role, and Horton has the potential to introduce him to the turf several times this week.