Oakland Raiders: Hayden, Carrie May Be The Biggest Keys To The Season
By Kevin Saito
Whenever you hear the talking heads in the media discussing the Oakland Raiders, most tend to agree that Oakland is a team on the come, but one that is still a few years off from being a “serious” contender. The “conventional thinking” is that a team doesn’t go from a decade plus of losing to jumping into a division race just like that.
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When hearing people reiterating the “conventional wisdom,” and pontificating about how the Raiders will be 6-10 this year, or if they’re really lucky, 8-8, the question most of the Oakland diehards should be asking is – why not this year?
When you’ve been as bad as long as the Raiders have been – and they have been really bad for a really long time, there is no argument – some people seem to believe that getting better and contending in your division should be a gradual thing — like you have to slowly acclimate to success, or pay your dues or something. They seem to believe that if a team goes 3-13 in a season, as the Raiders did, that same team certainly couldn’t win more than six games the following season – or perhaps, eight if they catch a lot of lucky breaks.
It’s hearing commentary like that which makes a person doubt the wisdom of the “conventional wisdom.”
With some solid performers from a much maligned 2013 draft class – Mychal Rivera, Latavius Murray, Sio Moore – still on the roster and expected to have big impacts this year, along with a 2014 draft class that was pretty well flawless, headlined of course, by Khalil Mack and Derek Carr, and a 2015 draft class that has some very good, young talent, not the least of which is superstar receiver, Amari Cooper, Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders have had two and a half very, very good drafts.
Oakland has arguably had the best draft class in the NFL in each of the last two seasons. Most certainly, the Raiders have had the best draft class in the AFC West over the last two seasons. They’ve done more to improve themselves through the draft, and have stockpiled more explosive, young talent, than any of their division foes.
Oakland’s detractors of course, will argue that if that is true, why has that infusion of great, young talent not translated to wins and better on field performances?
It’s a good and fair question. And the answer to that is very likely that Oakland was missing a key ingredient – an experienced head coach who knows what he is doing, who has a coherent plan, and a track record of success.
And now that the missing ingredient is in place and the roster is loaded with explosive, young talent, the winds of change will be blowing through Oakland as soon as this season.
With Cooper, Rod Streater returning from injury, Michael Crabtree playing in the slot, as well as pass catching tight ends Rivera and third round pick Clive Walford, Carr is surrounded by weapons who should help him take that next big step in his development — and the Raiders’ offense to the next level.
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With a potentially lethal passing attack in place, the Raiders feature a backfield of Murray, the versatile Roy Helu, and reclamation project Trent Richardson who could, with a very familiar playbook, have the breakout season he has yet to have since joining the NFL.
It could be a very solid running game which would open up Carr and the passing game, making for a very balanced, very dangerous offense.
Over the course of the offseason, McKenzie and HC Jack Del Rio have also taken on the task of rebuilding the defense. Starting with the front seven. Gone are Antonio Smith, Miles Burris, and LaMarr Woodley. In are Dan Williams, Curtis Lofton, and Malcolm Smith. And let’s not forget second round pick Mario Edwards Jr. who will factor into Del Rio’s game plan.
Stopping the run was problematic for Oakland last season – to say the least – and the upgrades made this offseason have strengthened that weakness tremendously. Being able to stuff the run does not look like it’s going to be a problem for the Raiders in 2015.
And if they drop Mack in as an edge rusher opposite Justin Tuck, or use Edwards Jr. there, given other positional upgrades – as well as a coach not afraid to blitz – the Raiders should be far more effective rushing the passer this season as well.
In fact, Oakland’s front seven has gone from being a relatively ineffective unit in 2014, to one that could be among the better groups in the league.
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The one thing that could bring Oakland’s whole house of cards tumbling down though, is the secondary. Specifically, the cornerback spot. McKenzie and Del Rio have both gone on record saying they have complete faith that third year CB D.J. Hayden and second year man Travis Carrie can be the sort of lockdown corners the Raiders’ defense needs.
The trouble is that their faith is not grounded in anything concrete. While it’s certainly nice for Hayden and Carrie to hear their coaches expressing such confidence in them, neither player has yet to do anything to earn that sort of trust or praise to this point.
Hayden, McKenzie’s somewhat controversial first round pick in 2013 has started just ten games in his two full seasons with the team. In that time, he’s picked off two passes and defensed twelve others, but he hasn’t been on the field long enough – in either season he’s been in Silver and Black – for the Raiders to truly know what sort of player he is, or where he’s truly at in his development.
With Carrie, the problem is much simpler – he’s still very green. As a seventh round pick, he wasn’t one of the more highly sought after college corners. But he caught McKenzie’s eye, and with good reason. He has natural talent, ability, and is a tremendous athlete. He has some solid ball hawking skills, and as a rookie – and making just four starts – picked off one pass and defensed eight others. He was also good in run support. But like Hayden, Carrie battled injury last season, missing five games.
With the other facets of their team’s units are coming together, the cornerbacks are the ones that Oakland has to worry about the most. Both Hayden and Carrie have a ton of ability and have showed flashes of how good they can be – but they’ve also been inconsistent and have both been burned big on a number of plays.
And of course, they both have problems staying on the field.
Oakland has a chance to have a special season in 2015. They have the chance to silence their critics, and prove their doubters wrong — they also have the chance to give the Raider Nation the opportunity to troll the haters, but that’s just a side benefit.
The point is, with all of the moves McKenzie has made over the last three years, the Raiders are in a prime position to really shake things up in the AFC West. Now. This year.
But the key to Oakland’s success – or lack thereof – is going to come down to the play on the corners of Hayden and Carrie. If they can be the kind of players we’ve seen flashes and glimpses of, the players who close quickly on the ball, who can be physical with receivers, and make the smart play, Oakland is going to be in terrific shape.
The Raiders’ offense is loaded with weapons and will put some points on the board this season. Their front seven is bulked up, filled with proven run stuffers, and will be vastly improved against the ground game. But one of the biggest keys to success in 2015 for Oakland, will be the play of their young, relatively inexperienced cornerbacks.
If the Raiders can get both Carrie and Hayden further along in their development than they currently are, can keep them healthy and on the field, and can minimize the boneheaded plays of the young, they have a really good shot to turn the AFC West – and possibly even the NFL – on its head.
Conventional wisdom, be damned.