Oakland Raiders: Preseason/Training Camp thoughts

August 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) runs out of bounds against Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Relax

I know what everyone was thinking after that very first pass that went at DJ Hayden during the Rams opening drive last Friday. “Here we go the bust got beat”. Before you ream Hayden for that play, it should be noted that he was playing in a cover two against a corner route which is a schematic loss. The corner route is the perfect call against a cover two because it splits the deep safety and the corner who is generally sitting on the short route.

The very next play, the Rams threw a screen to Tayvon Austin and Ray Ray Armstrong overpursued the play. That caused a huge gain and of course the negative reactions started flowing. However, immediately following that play, the Raider defense tightened up and forced a field goal. The following drives were all capped off by solid defensive performances. It is understandable that there are concerns about a young cornerback group, but we will not know what this group can do until we seem them paired with a pass rush for several series.

The front seven is what will make this defense successful or on the flip side an utter disaster. I have confidence in the defensive back group and through the course of the preseason as they compete with the talented wide receivers, the group will get better and better. Steel sharpens steel and unlike most years, the talent at receiver is going to push the cornerbacks.

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