How Oakland Raiders Can Salvage CB D.J. Hayden After Rough Start
The criticisms of Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden have risen from a faint pitch to an overwhelming roar through the first four games of the season.
Many Hayden optimists hoped for a dramatic improvement in his third year after what most saw as a solid ending to the 2014 season.
That narrative felt slightly off base from the reality.
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Hayden’s health improved enough to keep him on the field, but he continued to struggle when active. Opposing teams were well aware of his struggles and targeted him week after week:
| Week | Snaps | Targets | Recs Allowed | Yards Allowed | TDs Allowed |
| 1 | 61 | 9 | 7 | 67 | 1 |
| 2 | 72 | 8 | 5 | 54 | 0 |
| 3 | 67 | 9 | 6 | 62 | 1 |
| 4 | 75 | 5 | 4 | 56 | 1 |
Did the targeting taper off toward the end of the 2014 season? No.
In fact, Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton went after Hayden in Week 16. He threw at the Raiders cornerback nine times and gouged the former first-round pick for eight receptions, 99 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus.
Orton didn’t buy into Hayden’s strong finish.
What’s Wrong with Hayden?
| Player | Snaps | Targets | Recs Allowed | TDs Allowed |
| Tarell Brown | 1000 | 67 | 42 | 1 |
| D.J. Hayden | 603 | 57 | 39 | 6 |
One complete offseason later, many expected Hayden to put together a solid 2015 on the false pretense of a promising finish in the previous season.
There’s no surprise that he continues to struggle—it’s much of what he displayed in 2014. Many chose to ignore the lack of development with the fact he remained healthy for the last 10 games.
In the first four weeks, Hayden allowed a pair of touchdowns that do not point to previous criticisms about his awareness. Instead, it’s a delayed reaction to diagnose a play, which indicates tentativeness and an uncertainty in what he sees as routes develop.
Film Study No. 1
In Week 3, Hayden lines up across from Cleveland Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin.
Benjamin takes a slant route inside, and Hayden falls behind from the beginning of the play to allow the wide receiver a clear pathway inward.
Browns quarterback Josh McCown notices the advantage and throws a textbook pass to lead the receiver for a touchdown.
Some analysts will say that McCown threw an indefensible pass. However, how did Benjamin establish that favorable position?
Hayden sat back on his heels, and Benjamin took advantage with his quickness, knowing the defender didn't have the speed to break up the pass.
Film Study No. 2
In Week 4, the Raiders line up with man-to-man coverage on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s strong side.
Hayden matches up with wide receiver Eddie Royal in the slot. The Bears wideout breaks his route outside before his defender takes a step.
That's a symptom of a player who’s either sleeping on the play or thinking too much. You’d hope it’s not the former, especially in the red zone.
Cutler delivers a timely pass, and Royal gains six yards of space by the time Hayden moves his feet. The wideout easily secures the ball and scores a touchdown, leaving Hayden on the ground after diagnosing the play late and subsequently missing the tackle.
Rehabilitating Hayden
The former first-round pick has only played 22 games—far less than two full NFL seasons. In perspective, it's irrational and premature to consider the idea of cutting ties or trading Hayden.
It would become a gross embarrassment to send him away or allow him to walk away before exhausting all possible options.
There’s nothing worse than watching a former player flourish elsewhere. The Raiders can still salvage Hayden’s reputation and place him in a position to succeed.
Transition to Safety?
Defensive back T.J. Carrie played well at safety against the Browns in Week 3. However, the Raiders need him on the outside because of the lack of high-end talent covering the opposing team’s best receiver.
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. should experiment with Hayden at safety, where opposing quarterbacks cannot target him in man-to-man coverage. It would also allow Hayden to use his footwork to break up passes and disrupt throws from a less reactionary position on the field.
As a cornerback, Hayden must react quickly to quick receivers and routes. He’s not the fastest or the strongest, which leaves him susceptible to quick-twitch wideouts such as Emmanuel Sanders or large athletic wide receivers such as Demaryius Thomas.
In a deep-safety position, Hayden could watch the play develop in front of him without acting immediately in freelance situations.
As an over-the-top safety, his footwork and moderate speed should help him gain position when a receiver burns a cornerback on the outside.
It’s easy to tear a player down when he’s struggling, but the coaching staff must find creative ways to utilize that player’s talent. Sometimes, it takes the right coaching mind to bring out the best in particular athletes.
In Hayden’s case, a schematic transition could benefit his play and detach his name from the “bust” label.
Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for news, updates and intriguing discussion about the Oakland Raiders.
All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
Week 4 statistics and play-by-play analysis provided by NFL.com.
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