May 20, 2013; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It’s practice before the 10^th game of the 2012 University of Houston football season.  In a passing drill that D.J. Hayden has probably performed hundreds of times, he collides with one of his safeties.  The safety’s knee collided with Hayden’s chest, tearing his Inferior Vena Cava in his heart.  The injury itself is most commonly associated with high-speed vehicle accidents and the fatality rate is 95%, due to the massive loss of blood.  In an interview at the 2013 NFL Combine Hayden told the media, “When I was lying on the field, I couldn’t see out of my left eye.  It just went pitch black, and I suddenly felt cold and sleepy.”

In my previous line of work, I have seen this injury up close and personal.  One moment people are talking to you and telling you about the accident, all of a sudden, they get quiet and are never heard from again.  It’s a very scary injury.  Hayden is lucky to be alive.  The miracle of science allowed doctors to fix his heart, and he was medically cleared to play football again.

This is a shutdown cornerback.  He had a very good if not great college career at both Navarro College, (Corsicana, Texas) and the University of Houston (Houston, Texas).  He made tackles and picked off the ball.  He shut down the receivers he faced.  NFL Analyst and Draft Specialist Mike Mayock ranked Hayden as the best defensive player available in the 2013 draft.  With the well-known and discussed Reggie McKenzie draft trade, the Oakland Raiders dropped to the #12 position in the First Round and scooped Hayden up.

With the loss of Nnamdi Asomugha in 2011, it’s been a long time since the Oakland Raiders have had a shut down corner, but this is about to change.  Mark my words Raider Nation, Hayden is a player with so much talent and pure ability, he will rival the stats of the great Darrelle Revis (Now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Hayden received an additional surgery to his abdomen in June of 2013, but, fear not Raider Nation; this was not associated with his heart.  Hayden is scheduled to be ready for Training Camp in July.  Along with the additions of veteran players Tracy Porter (DB), Michael Jenkins (DB), Tyvon Branch (S), Usama Young (S), and Charles Woodson (S), our secondary will be a force to be reckoned with in 2013.  The Secondary will cover more receivers and allow our Defensive Line and Linebackers to get to the Quarterback.

Many analysts in the media have D.J. Hayden occupying the starting DB position across from Tracy Porter.  This would leave Michael Jenkins to fill the Nickel Cornerback position.  However, camp is around the corner and anything can happen.  The most interesting concept I see is D.J. Hayden being mentored by none other than Charles Woodson (A shutdown corner in his own right).  There aren’t too many other Mentor’s you would want to help the development of a rookie other than him.  You could probably count them on one hand.  Willie Brown would be on that hand, and he just so happens to be a member of the Raiders Staff.  Between Charles Woodson and Willie Brown, Hayden is a player that will be exciting to watch.

When you think of the Raiders, you cannot do so without thinking of their iconic owner.  As the team builds for the future with a new owner, Mark Davis (son of Al Davis), you are left to wonder if the late owner’s son will live up to the words of his father.  Following in the footsteps of a legend can be daunting for any child, especially when you must try to live up to those lofty goals under the lights and scrutiny of todays society in America’s most popular sport.  The task seems almost insurmountable.

The story of the late Al Davis would make for a great Hollywood story all by itself.  Raiders fans are all too familiar with the story of his life.  For those that do not know his story, here is a summarized biography:

Davis’ first turn as a professional coach started with the then Los Angeles Chargers of the upstart AFL, as an offensive coach in 1960 under coach Sid Gillman.  In 1963, Al Davis became coach and owner of the lowly Raiders, and he built the team into a perennial winner for over four decades.  In his first year as coach, he took a team that had only won nine games in three years and led them to a 10-4 record.  That great turn around garnered him coach of the year accolades, but the legend of Al Davis was just beginning.  He would eventually become a trailblazer who left an indelible imprint in the sport we know today.  His many accomplishments include:

- First owner to hire minorities for all positions on the field, including, first African-American quarterback to be drafted in the first round (Eldridge Dickey, 1968, 25th overall)

- First owner to hire minorities as head coaches and as executives (Tom Flores, Art Shell, Amy Trask)

- Only person to give induction speeches for nine Hall of Fame players

- Only person in NFL history to serve as assistant coach, head coach, general manager, owner and commissioner of the league

Al Davis was many things to many people.  If you were fortunate enough to have him as a friend, you would never find someone  more loyal to you and he was always there for you in your time of need.  If you had the misfortune of being a perceived enemy, there was no greater nemesis to have in and around the football field.  Al loved his players and retained many of them for positions within the organization long after their playing days had gone.  Al’s coined term, “Once a Raider, always a Raider,” is still true to this today.  Willie Brown, Jim Plunkett, and Tom Flores all still have roles within the organization.

In his final years, Davis tried to recoup the success that had once been synonymous with his proud organization.  As much as he was responsible for building the team into a winner, he was also responsible for its current demise and current spell of losing football.  Draft picks that didn’t pan out, overpaying for veterans that had lost a step, and constant turnover at the head coaching position.  All of these things were Al’s valiant efforts to win the big one more time.

Even when Al Davis passed away on October 8, 2011, his legend continued to grow.  The Sunday after his passing, and with heavy hearts, the Raiders played the Houston Texans.  In this game, the Raiders were able to pull off a victory for their great owner with a last second interception in the end zone.  It is much publicized that on that last play, the Raiders were on the field with only ten men and were still able to win.  Raider fans will say that the eleventh player was their beloved owner willing his team to “Just Win Baby!”

Mark Davis, Al’s only son, assumed ownership of the Raiders after his father passed away.  When the news broke that the team would remain in the Davis family, pundits and those outside the organization skewered the decision based on the speculation that Mark did not have as much football acumen as his father.  Truth is, most people would never know as much as Al did.

A year and a half into his tenure, the legend of Mark Davis has yet to be written.  I do believe, though, that he is taking the steps to right the ship and bring glory back to what his father built.  For starters, the new Mr. Davis was not pretentious, and he knew that he was in over his head in the daily operations of a modern NFL team.  As such, he has surrounded himself with those who have knowledge about today’s football.  When he searched for his new GM, he sought out the opinions of  some of his father’s confidant’s, including legendary coach John Madden.  That search led to Reggie McKenzie.  McKenzie was the only person that Mark Davis interviewed, but he knew he wanted him to lead the team.

In order to build his legacy and leave his own mark on the league, Mr. Davis must do several things.  First and foremost, he must have his team start winning football games again.  With the financial side of the operations ready for the next year, this current team must re-establish that foundation of winning and erase the mindset of what has become bad play over the last ten years.  That seems to be happening.  Several players in this years mini-camp have noted that the mindset has changed, and it has become a team first attitude.  Secondly, the Raiders must have a new stadium.  Whether that means splitting the season with their bay area neighbors or finding their own place to call home, this is something that must occur.  Thirdly, the team must remain in Oakland.  Two of their Super Bowl victories happened before the team moved to LA, and true, die-hard, fans believe that home is the bay area.

If and when Mark Davis does this, his legacy will be intact.  Will it be as mythical as that of his father’s?  Who knows, but those are big shoes to fill considering todays NFL.  I would say, though, that as a father, I would not want my son to follow in my footsteps.  I would hope that my son would make his own path in life and cultivate his own story.  I believe that Mark Davis is doing exactly that.  Making his own story and writing his own legend.  Not as a separate story from his iconic father’s, but as an addition to what makes the Raiders great.  As Mark said recently in a Mercury News interview,  ”The Raiders will be great again. Write it down. The Raiders will be great again.”

Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA;Oakland Raiders defensive end Lamarr Houston (99) lays on top of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) after he got a pass off during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Remembering the past is a way of looking forward to the future.  I relive Raiders glory days by recalling the menacing defenses of the past.  Players like Ted Hendricks, Willie Brown, Lester Hayes, Lyle Alzado, and Howie Long always cross my mind.  These are only a microcosm of the many talented and bone crushing Raiders that were on display during their years of play, but this is how I am able to look forward to the future of our defense.

General Manager Reggie McKenzie and Head Coach Dennis Allen are doing the job of bringing in the right players.  Yesterday, Defensive End Lamarr Houston was asked if he thought chemistry was an issue for the defense.  His response was, “Reggie (McKenzie) and D.A. (Dennis Allen) did a good job of getting the guys that they want for this team and guys that fit with the team.  Chemistry is already there.”

Good and great defenses of past had one thing that made them stand out from the rest, chemistry.  Players must buy into the system that they are playing under, but players must be able to get along and be able to feed off the intensity and play of the others.  When one player is having a good day on the field, the other players must be able to channel that energy and step their games up.  This will ensure that the defense is gelling.

It takes leadership from all facets of the defense to make sure this occurs.  From the defensive line, to the linebackers, and ultimately the secondary, there must be a leader that steps up to drive the others and instill the belief that greatness can happen.  According to Coach Dennis Allen, Lamarr Houston has stepped up on the defensive line and emerged as a leader for that group.  Likewise, Nick Roach and Charles Woodson have also emerged as leaders for their respective groups.

Dec 16, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Andre Carter (97) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn (9) during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 15-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

One quote stood out for me as I listened to Lamarr Houston’s interview.  He was asked if he thinks about getting sacks and pressuring the quarterback to improve his stats.  Houston replied, “The things I think about are team goals.  I want this team to do well.  Your personal goals only come from achieving your team goals.”

A leader is only as good as the people he or she is leading.  Greatness is only achieved when others are performing their jobs.  The only way for the others to perform their jobs well is for the great players, or leaders, to step up their game and lead by example.  It sounds like Lamarr Houston is finding that leadership.

Ultimately, with the leadership in place, the chemistry will continue and drive this defensive team to the next level.  Hearing that the defense is gelling, it makes me excited to usher in the new era of Raiders Football.  Raider Nation will be even more rowdy as the defense will fuel their fire.  A great quote from the late and great Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant comes to mind, “Offense sells tickets, but Defense wins championships.”  This quote has held true throughout the years for many teams who have won championships.  Will it hold true for the Raiders?