Middle linebacker Gary Brackett said a healthy Hayden would be a huge lift for the defense.
“He's a difference-maker,” Brackett said. “Obviously, as a former receiver, he's not going to drop a lot of passes thrown his way. Having a guy of his caliber out there definitely changes the game any time we can get him on the field.”
Said Hayden, “It's good to have goals going into the season, but my main mindframe right now is to play the whole 16 and see what happens. Then, when I'm out there in the whole 16, just be consistent in whatever it is – whether it's consistent in tackling or consistent in covering.
“Whatever it is, I just want to be a more consistent player. When you're consistent good things happen, so my main this is to be consistent.”
If Hayden is consistent, and if he plays, there's every possibility he can be an elite-level corner. He has shown in his time as a starter not only an ability to hit hard and defend the run, but to break on balls quickly enough to not only break up passes, but to create game-changing turnovers. He also is a relatively unique corner in that when playing well, he has the ability to create big plays while also having the discipline to rarely get beat deep. Colts safeties have talked in recent seasons of their comfort playing alongside Hayden, knowing they rarely must make up for lapses in his coverage.
The Colts have had that player in spots in the last two seasons, but not nearly as often as they or Hayden would have liked. And while Hayden played solidly last season, he rarely looked like the dynamic player he did in 2007.
If he can stay healthy, and play consistently at the level he played in 2007 and parts of the last two seasons, the Colts are a vastly improved defense. And if that happens, there's also little reason Hayden can't be in his first Pro Bowl next off-season.
Comments
I find it difficult to believe that the safeties find it a relief that Hayden takes care of the deep ball. I remember us being repeatedly being beat down field over Hayden by the jets in the championship game all.
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