Raiders head coach Dennis Allen had
confirmed Hayden had an ankle injury during Minicamp, but later tests revealed
that Hayden had a stress fracture in his foot after no progress was made in his
recovery from the injury sustained during practices last month. Yesterday it
was reported that DJ Hayden’s foot injury would likely put him on the PUP list
for training camp, a big setback for the second year Oakland Raiders
cornerback. That was confirmed today as Hayden was one of the Oakland Raiders
on the Physically Unable to Perform list, officially ruled out with a stress
fracture in his foot that required a small surgery. Raiders DJ Hayden, Several
Raiders reporters confirmed the news, and a stress fracture in the foot could
take up to eight weeks to heal which is a massive blow to the team’s plans at
developing consistency at the cornerback position. Raiders DJ Hayden, Hayden
will likely return to action this season based on the timeline for return from
his injury, but when he does there will be a huge spotlight on the 2013 first
round pick who after hitting the IR during his rookie season is being labelled
as injury prone. Perhaps that is unfair for a player who can still come back
and play the large majority of the 2014 season, but Raiders fans who are upset
over Reggie McKenzie not drafting the likes of Sheldon Richardson and
Star Lotulelei have been harsh on Hayden in the wake of his recent
injury. Raiders DJ Hayden Hindsight is 20/20 and Hayden can still return to
have a successful second season with the Raiders, but impatient members of
Raider Nation are slowly turning on their former first round draft pick, Raiders
DJ Hayden.
Oakland Raiders This
is one of three nominations for the most memorable play in Raiders' history.
Oakland Raiders In the previous two days we featured the Sea of Hands, when
Clarence Davis somehow came down with Ken Stabler’s flip in the end zone to
upend the defending two-time Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins in the AFC
divisional playoffs in 1974; and the Holy Roller, Oakland Raiders which gave
the Raiders a "zany" victory in San Diego on the final play of
regulation when Ken Stabler purposely fumbled forward while being sacked and, Oakland
Raiders after Pete Banszak batted the ball even further forward, Oakland
Raiders Dave Casper recovered in the end zone for a touchdown in 1978. Please vote for
your choice as the Raiders’ most memorable play. Oakland Raiders The Raiders,
then calling Los Angeles home, Oakland Raiders were already trouncing defending
champion Washington 28-9 in Super Bowl XVIII when their offense lined up for
the final play of the third quarter. Oakland
Raiders What happened next has gone down in NFL lore as “Marcus Allen, running
with the night,” courtesy of legendary NFL Films voice John Facenda. Oakland
Raiders Because it was a busted play, one in which Allen had to improvise, it
is seen in many corners as the greatest run in Super Bowl history, a
reverse-field 74-yard scamper that put the dagger in Washington. Oakland Raiders “Yeah, I called
it, but Marcus made it work,” Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett told me with a
laugh as he recounted the play. Oakland
Raiders “It was one of our steady plays: When in doubt, call ‘Bob Trey O.’ It
was always solidly blocked where you shouldn’t lose any yards on it. But their
safety messed it up.” Oakland
Raiders The play was supposed to be a simple power run to the left, right guard
Mickey Marvin pulling to clear space for Allen. But Allen went too far wide of
Marvin and safety Ken Coffey blew it up by closing in. Allen stopped on a dime,
spun to his left and reversed field. A hole had opened on the right side of the
line and Allen sped through it, after Coffey lunged for the ball and Allen’s
waist in the backfield. Oakland
Raiders Accelerating through the gap, Allen ran past defensive end Todd
Liebenstein and linebacker Rich Milot. “After I made that turn, everything
slowed down,” Allen told ESPN radio affiliate 95.7 The Game during Super Bowl
Week this past winter. Oakland Raiders “I remember Neal Olkewicz just grasping.
I could almost see the anxiety on their faces and the tension as I was running
by. And then, about 20 yards from the goal line, everything came back to normal
speed.” Oakland Raiders The lone Washington player with a
shot at Allen past the 50-yard line was cornerback Anthony Washington, but he
was cut off by Raiders receiver Cliff Branch. Oakland Raiders Allen, who was
supposedly too slow to be a game-breaking running back coming out of USC as the
1981 Heisman Trophy winner, had nothing but open field to the left pylon. After
the score, Oakland Raiders which was then the longest run in Super Bowl
history, Allen was joined in celebration in the end zone by nearly the entire
Raiders team. Oakland
Raiders “You can’t teach that kind of running,” John Madden, the former Raiders
coach-turned-broadcaster, said while describing the replay. Oakland Raiders
“You don’t teach that. You don’t practice that. You
don’t see that on film. That happened,” Oakland Raiders.
Begin Oakland Raider fans. It has been 12
years since we’ve made the playoffs. Oakland Raider The harsh yet honest truth.
However, Oakland Raider I am willing to say that we will get there this year. Oakland Raider A few
reasons why: On March 13, 2014 the Oakland Raiders signed what could
be the best defensive men we’ve had in a while. LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck.
Oakland Raider Get used to those names being said quite a bit when our defense
is on the field. Oakland Raider These guys have something to prove and they’re
looking to do it with the Raiders. Oakland Raider On the offensive side of the
ball, I was quite amazed with what Reggie McKenzie brought in. Oakland Raider Matt Schaub, James Jones,
and Maurice Jones-Drew. Now I can’t be the only fan thinking we got
lucky for being able to sign Schaub. I personally think the Texans gave
up way too easy. Yes, he had an abysmal season last year but that’s no reason
to trade him for a 6th round pick. Oakland Raider Also, I know for a fact that
I was not the only Raider fan who cried a little bit when I heard the news that
Rashad Jennings was leaving for New
York and Darren McFadden had been resigned. But since
then, McKenzie has made it clear he wants to win now. Bringing in MJD is going
to make an instant impact for us. Yes, MJD & DMC both bring an injury prone
running duo to the table yet deep down inside I feel one of them is due a 2000
yard season. (I’d be fine with both). Now, to the best part in my eyes. Oakland
Raider When was the last time the Raiders had a receiver that was reliable more
than 50% of the time? I am looking forward to Schaub connecting with Jones on
20+ yard receptions/touchdowns. Oakland Raider We are bringing in old guys, Oakland
Raider but these guys that are “over the hill” in the eyes of most analysts are
winners. And they bring competition to the table. All the Nation needs is hope.
Oakland Raider Next to “old man” LaMarr Woodley will be our 1st round pick
Khalil Mack. (6 ft 3 in, 248 lbs) The 23 year old coming from Buffalo is going to be the main man on our
defense. Oakland Raider He was the MAC Defensive Player of The Year in 2013 and
is looking to pick up where he left off in 2014. Oakland Raider I am definitely
looking forward to the 2014 Season. My prediction is that we go 8-8 or better.
As the great Bo Jackson once said “Set your goals high, Oakland
Raider and don’t stop till you get there” Let’s set our goals to playoffs
and hope for the best. Oakland
Raider Have an amazing day Raider Nation Oakland Raider.
Oakland Raiders Some players make you want
to draw, and there was Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver on
draft night scribbling down possible formations and pass rushes as he waited
for Oakland's
first pick to arrive. Oakland Raiders The Raiders got their man, Oakland
Raiders taking Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack with the fifth
pick of the first round, Oakland Raiders and the special athlete now has
teammates excited after a month of practices and a three-day minicamp, Oakland
Raiders which ended Thursday. Offensive tackle Donald Penn said
the 6-foot-3, Oakland Raiders 255-pound Mack "moves like a defensive
back" and "has a motor that's relentless." Quarterback Matt
Schaub said it's early and players aren't wearing pads yet, but he can see
the comparison to his former Texans teammate J.J. Watt, Oakland Raiders
the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. "You can see the impact
that he can create," Schaub said. "You can see his physical gifts and
his ability to shed blockers and be able to disrupt the passer and the timing
of the route." Even coach Dennis Allen, who'd rather bite his
tongue than make grand overstatements, has been gushing over Mack. He said
Mack's power, length and ability to bend and move reminds him of feared Broncos
pass rusher Von Miller, who Allen coached in Denver in 2011. "I know we've
thrown out some comparisons, I've thrown out some comparisons, but really I'm
focused on Khalil Mack being the best football player that he can be,"
Allen said. "I think he's an outstanding talent. I think he's got a huge
upside. If he continues to work the way that he has, I think he'll fulfill
those goals and the expectations that we have of him." Mack doesn't
worry about the expectations to be a playmaker. "I'm a relaxed
individual," Mack said. "I don't really think 'pressure, pressure,
pressure.' I think, 'OK, this is what it is, work on this, work on that, do
your job.' " Mack will start at strong-side outside linebacker, but
will also move around and have his hand on the ground as a third-down
pass rusher. "We've got his head spinning right now, which is a good
thing," Allen said. "We're going to throw as much at him as we can
into the early part of training camp, and then we'll settle down into the
things we can execute as a team at a high level." Mack said he is
still getting comfortable before each play, figuring out all of the defensive
calls by teammates. Oakland Raiders "It is a lot of voices behind my
head, Oakland Raiders trying to figure out what safeties are saying," Mack
said. Oakland Raiders "You've got to listen to the right things. I'm
trying to break down and assess the game at a high level like those
guys are." Oakland Raiders Once the play is over, Mack seeks the
voices of defensive stalwarts Justin Tuck and Lamarr
Woodley. Oakland Raiders "It'd be dumb for me not to ask questions
knowing the skill level they play with and that they're pretty much the best in
the game when it comes to pass rushing," Mack said. Oakland Raiders The
players all went their separate ways Thursday, Oakland Raiders to return to
training camp July
24 in Napa.
Mack doesn't relish the time off. "I want to work on stuff tomorrow
if I could," Oakland Raiders he said. "I want to do what I can to
prepare myself, especially for training camp and be that immediate
impact player," Oakland Raiders.
