Casey Hayward: The Numbers, The Tape, The Verdict

titmfatiedNo Code

I've never seen anything like this, guy goes through every snap. Long read, but looks to be well worth the click. Pretty impressive and the kind of article that makes fantastic use of the All 22 camera angle from high above. Not sure of the guy's credentials but I love the idea and the effort.

quote:
Casey Hayward: The Numbers, The Tape, The Verdict
presnapreads.com
by Cian Fahey on 05-27-13

The Packers had been preparing for Woodson’s eventual departure as far back as the 2012 NFL Draft. More specifically, they selected Casey Hayward from Vanderbilt in the second round of the draft to eventually fit into his role on defense. When Woodson was injured during his rookie season, Hayward was forced into a more prominent role than he expected.

Although the plan had altered slightly, Hayward rarely ever looked uncomfortable on the field. Not only was he impressive for a rookie, he quickly won over analysts to the point that he was competing to be considered one of the best cornerbacks in the whole league. Hayward had 53 tacklesm six interceptions and one forced fumble during a season when he made Pro Football Weekly’s 2012 NFL All-Rookie team.

Hayward’s reputation is very flattering, but it must be found out if that reputation is based on big plays and babying from the coaching staff or if he was legitimately one of the best young cover cornerbacks in the NFL last year.

As has already been done with Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson, Brandon Flowers and Richard Sherman, Hayward got Pre Snap Read’s All-22 Analysis for every snap of his rookie year.
continue

The excerpt above is merely the set up. Didn't have a chance to read the whole thing yet, but it looks worthy of some time.

5/28/138:54 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

Breaks down all 19 games and gave great analysis with All-22 stills. Thanks for posting!

5/28/139:21 PM

HenryYou rang?

Good stuff and definitely gets one excited about Hayward being a full time starter.

5/28/1310:04 PM

TdogProspective Member

yep, increased Dline pressure and Casey lurking will be fun!

quote:
DB Casey Hayward is a natural football player. He jumped some routes today. "He makes it look like it comes very natural to him."

5/29/138:41 AM

WolfPackMember

Instead of Revis Island, we have:

Hayward Bay

Ill be here all week. Try the Kiel

5/29/1310:01 AM

MN SnowBongMember

5/29/131:12 PM

Rusty42 inch pythons brother!

quote:
Ill be here all week. Try the Kiel

Waiter! There's a soup in my hair!

5/29/131:32 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

Hateful.

5/29/137:39 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

This is one of those stories that's better to read the whole thing, there's a lot more past the click.

quote:
Packers coaches seek more interceptions from Casey Hayward
jsonline.com
by Tyler Dunne on 05-29-13

Whitt envisions Hayward being a "double-digit intercept guy," adding that he could have — no, should have — been one last year.

"He's smart, he's instinctive," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "You guys saw some of his strengths last year as far as taking the ball away. Guys who have football instincts and football smarts end up in the right place more often than guys who don't have those qualities."

He's in the right place at the right time. For Hayward, there's no buffering period with the ball in flight. He quickly shed the hiccup of hesitation so common in rookie defensive backs, deflecting 14 passes in his final eight games.

"He can smell routes and see things and do things that not many people can do," Whitt said. "Now, what 'Wood' can do that he has to learn how to do is he's got to learn how to catch the flash of the ball. That's one thing 'Wood' can do better than anybody. And Casey needs to continue to improve on that."

As the coach explained, cornerbacks don't have the luxury of tracking the ball in flight like wide receivers. They can't follow the ball to their hands. Thus, outstanding peripheral vision is a must. This is one of Sam Shields' best traits, Whitt said. He peeks, sees the ball and gets his hands on it.

From the slot position, Hayward can read the quarterback's eyes and react more freely. In nickel, Green Bay would prefer the corner stay inside. But with the restricted free agent Shields still not practicing — likely eyeing a lucrative, long-term deal instead of his one-year tender — Hayward has been the starting cornerback opposite Tramon Williams in the base defense. continue

Get the feeling with Hayward that he's so natural at CB that he's not really feeling the pressure to perform. He just goes and does whatever they ask in a matter of fact way and the coaches seem comfortable in asking him to do some exceptional things. Doesn't mean he'll have 10 picks this year, that's pretty lofty and secondary guys stats go up and down depending on the offense's gameplan and sometimes just dumb luck.

Also think Whitt is going to start getting much more consideration for D coordinator jobs moving forward if he's interested and if the defense reaches it's high end potential this season.

5/29/1310:34 PM

TschmackMember

He lacks ideal size and speed, but he's got very good ball skills and instincts. To some extent, those traits are more important for a corner because there are bigger and faster receivers out there as well, but you have to have an idea where the ball is going and how to react once the ball is in the air.

5/30/135:02 AM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

CB coach Joe Whitt Jr. on Hayward: "This guy has a skill set that, in the past, is very similar to Woodson. And that's rare."

They love Hayward's instincts. If he now "catches the flash of the ball," Whitt says he'll be see double-digit interceptions

5/30/139:14 AM

vitafloMember

I've said it in the past but I think Hayward is going to be a very special player indeed.

5/30/1310:43 AM

Satori"...going where the climate suits my clothes"

quote:
Originally posted by Hungry5:
CB coach Joe Whitt Jr. on Hayward: "This guy has a skill set that, in the past, is very similar to Woodson. And that's rare."

We talked about this earlier, but what Woodson brought to the defense is probably the single most difficult thing to replace. And it appears the Packers front office has found a viable candidate- late in the 2nd round. Draft & Develop works and Casey Hayward is a fine example of how it can happen outside of the first round.

Still a long way to go, but the early returns are exceedingly positive and finding another playmaker in the 2nd round is pretty damn cool. ( Collins, Jennings,~ Nelson, Cobb, Hayward )

5/30/1311:00 AM

packerboiI lick rainbows

Not putting the cart before the horse here, but if a GM single handedly manages to replace not only a HOF QB (Favre=Rodgers) but also a HOF CB (Woodson=Hayward) that is an accomplishment I'm not sure another GM has ever done so seemlessly.

It's very early with Hayward but I don't see a sophmore slump like Shields had. As long as he remains healthy coupled with a much improved pass rush (Jones/Perry), this kid could have a hell of a season.

5/30/1311:24 AM