Chris Horn Continues Football Education
Patrick Daly
Thursday April 24, 2003
Along the way, Horn has made learning a career, both on and off the field. When I caught up with him via the phone last week, he was placing the finishing touches on a final paper—only one exam remains—as part of his work toward a master’s degree in Sports Management at Montana State University.
At the same time, Horn has been working his way through the Kansas City playbook and watching more film than Ebert and Roeper. After beginning to master the playbook with the Rattlers, a playbook some players admit they’ll never really master, Horn now has the added complexity of 11-man formations to work through.
“I don’t want to say the Arena playbook isn’t difficult, but it’s simply a numbers game,” said Horn. “If you put more people on the field, you can do more formations. There’s just more variety in the things you can do.”
At this point, learning the playbook is the most important part of Horn’s education at the NFL level. Many athletically talented players have simply disappeared because they were unable to understand the formations and assignments that make up each play. For Horn, he feels that if he can get the playbook under control, he can let his performance on the field speak for itself.
“The most important thing is learning my stuff,” said Horn. “Once a player becomes comfortable with what they’re doing, and it comes to where they can react rather than constantly thinking on every play, the level of play goes up. That’s my number one goal. I feel like once I get a grasp on what’s going on, that’ll allow me to perform the way I want to.“
Assuming the Chiefs do not draft or sign another receiver, Horn will be the only major new receiver signing in camp. Based on current needs the Chiefs will most likely look at defensive help, especially in the secondary and along the defensive line. That means veteran receivers like Eddie Kennison and Johnnie Morton, along with Marc Boerigter and Dante Hall, will most likely be the top set of receivers, although that doesn’t mean they’ve ignored the new guy.
“I am the only new wide receiver, so I’ve got a lot of learning to do,” said Horn. “They’ve been really helpful. The veterans, much like the guys in Arizona when I started there, have been very helpful. They’re not the kind that are going to stand off and say, ‘I’m not going to help you.’ It reminds me a lot of the way I was treated in Arizona by the veterans.”
Horn has also said all along that his best chance to contribute initially and make the team may be on special teams. Dante Hall is the incumbent as the kick and punt returner, although Horn can and will expect to contribute on kick and punt coverage. In the days of tight salary restrictions, the players who can perform multiple duties will have an advantage. Horn is just looking for the opportunity to perform, a role he’s played well.
“You just basically have to let your performance speak for you,” said Horn. “That’s kind of the role I’m in, especially coming in as the new guy. I feel comfortable with that because that’s a role I’ve been in everywhere I’ve been. From college, through to the Rattlers, it seems like I always find myself in those roles where you have to perform, which is good. That’s what you look to do as an athlete.”
After the NFL draft this coming weekend, the Chiefs will hold a mini-camp beginning May 9th, followed by training camp in July. Assuming everything goes to plan, Horn’s first chance to suit up for the Chiefs will come in front of a national audience when Kansas City faces the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Hall of Fame game on Monday Night Football.
“That’s awesome the way that worked out,” said Horn. “I was excited to see that.”
There’s nothing better than to hear a player excited about the game of football. And, if Horn is given a chance to perform, come graduation day we should all be able to share that excitement with him every Sunday afternoon.
Patrick Daly has been an Arena Football League enthusiast since he first stumbled across the late-night ESPN broadcasts and has followed the Arizona Rattlers since their inaugural season in 1992. He graduated from Arizona State University with an engineering degree and is currently a member of a web development team for Direct Alliance in Tempe. Patrick currently resides in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Arizona with his beautiful wife, son and a very large football helmet collection.
