Oakland Raiders: 3 Reasons To Be Excited, 3 Reasons To Be Worried

Oct 6, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ronnie Brown (23) carries the ball against Oakland Raiders cornerback DJ Hayden (25) during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Reason To Be Concerned #3 – A Thin Secondary Didn’t Get Much Help This Offseason

McKenzie and Del Rio are committed to youth this year, that much is certain. With the team jettisoning everybody even close to the age of thirty, and bringing in players who are all twenty seven and under, it’s abundantly clear that Oakland is letting youth pave the way in 2015.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the defensive backfield. More specifically, with Oakland’s starting cornerbacks this season. Carlos Rogers was pretty much a bust as a free agent signing. But Tarell Brown actually played fairly decently last season. While certainly not spectacular, he was solid.

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But McKenzie has it in mind to make this D.J. Hayden‘s year to either rise to the top or fall flat on his face. Given the fact that he was coming off of a major – and nearly fatal – injury, selecting Hayden in the first round of the 2012 draft was something of a controversial move to begin with. Now, two seasons in that have been marred by injuries – he’s started just ten games in two seasons – Hayden finds himself very close to being labeled a bust.

On the other side is last year’s seventh round selection, Travis Carrie, who really wowed the Raiders’ coaches last season. But Carrie too, was limited by injuries last season, appearing in just thirteen games – with four starts.

Both Hayden and Carrie have shown tremendous potential. There is no doubt that both of them can play the position. The question is whether they are actually ready for the responsibility of being starting NFL corners. They don’t have much of a choice though, as McKenzie jettisoned the veterans and has decided that Hayden and Carrie will be the starting cornerback tandem. Which is fine in and of itself. You have to see if they can genuinely play and stay healthy.

The reason for concern though, is in how thin the secondary is behind them. James Dockery, Keith McGill, Neiko Thorpe, and newcomer Dexter McDonald – another seventh round draft pick – are the only truly viable corners backing up Hayden and Carrie.

Perhaps McKenzie decides to add a veteran corner at some point. Or perhaps he finds a gem amongst the crowd of undrafted free agents. At this point all we really know is that Oakland’s defensive backs are very long on potential, but very short on actual experience.

McKenzie feels good about both Hayden and Carrie and believes that they will carry the Raiders’ secondary very well. And fans have to hope he’s right. Because if McKenzie’s plans don’t come to fruition, and either Hayden or Carrie – or even worse, both – cannot manage to stay healthy, or prove to not be the solution, the Oakland defense is going to be in a world of hurt.

Next: Reason to Be Excited #3