Oakland Raiders in Good Shape After Huge Win

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Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) has the ball knocked away by Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Cornerback Starting to Get it

Cornerback D.J. Hayden is the player showing up these days that I am most proud of. He has been widely criticized and labeled a bust for his play early in his career. But many including myself forgot what he went through a near death experience just before the Raiders drafted him.

So it took Hayden a while to learn is way around NFL and for the team to learn about him. Here in Year 4, Hayden has carved out a role as a nickel cornerback. I wondered what would happen before the game but he actually did a good job on Smith and others in the slot.

Throwing Hayden’s way, Flacco was 50 percent, a good number for the short passes thrown at slot corners. He has become a good tackler, keeping the short passes his way to minimal gains too. But it’s his quick feet and change of direction that make him a good slot cornerback.

Like the rest of the secondary outside of Amerson, Hayden started the season slow then came on Sunday. Pro Football Focus graded him at 82 out of 100 as he had a couple of passes defensed. The big one was the one he knocked away right before Nelson’s big hit to seal the game.

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