Cory's Corner: Time is not on Casey Hayward's side

Everyone’s heard of the expression “Hit the ground running.”

That couldn’t be truer for Casey Hayward. Because of a nagging foot injury, he has missed OTAs and minicamp this year.

But yet, he expects to start at cornerback and fill in for Tramon Williams, who decided to see greener pastures in Cleveland.

Hayward didn’t waste time by raising eyebrows as a rookie in 2012. But the next year, injuries ruined his chances to follow up his breakout campaign. Then he bounced back last year with five takeaways to increase his value, which caused the Packers to say goodbye to Williams and Davon House.

But he can’t just do the job well. Hayward has to do the job well right away. The Packers cannot afford to have their former nickel and dime back struggle, which could cause Demetri Goodson to prove why everyone has been gushing over the second-year pro.

But even the Packers’ coaching staff is keeping its expectations tempered for a secondary that is going to have its growing pains this season. But you also have to remember that the Packers don’t face an elite passer until going to Denver on Nov. 1.

“If he’s healthy, he’s going to be really good,” Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. “Casey Hayward is the last thing I’m worried about. Casey can be as good in this league as he wants to be, if he’s healthy.”

That’s the best way to say that, because Hayward is your prototypical nose-to-the-ball type guys that coaches love. However, if he cannot get and stay on the field, just how valuable is a guy that is in the final year of his four-year rookie deal?

Hayward is bound to get nicked up during the season. That’s why he has to come out from training camp very strong and play at Chicago like his hair is on fire. It will give the coaching staff some insurance to keep playing him when he gets healthy and more importantly, it will give him needed leverage in the upcoming contract negotiations.

Hayward can start slow, but he’s going to quickly find out that others don’t have the patience.

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (9)

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senor embalador's picture

June 30, 2015 at 02:38 pm

Hopefully having Hayward healthy at the start of the season will allow the Packers to spoon feed Rollins and Randall.

By the second half of the season the two rookies can take over and Hayward can be phased out.

Next year Hayward can sign somewhere else and the Packers will already have his replacement in place.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

June 30, 2015 at 05:32 pm

I hope Hayward stays and is healthy we need him. The others need some experience but live fire on the rookies could get them going.

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Tundraboy's picture

June 30, 2015 at 06:05 pm

Which is why him not being ready from Day 1 makes you wonder, He must be healthy and ready at TC because so much depends on him being there.

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porupack's picture

July 01, 2015 at 12:01 am

All this "injury prone' talk is way premature, and way too simple and inaccurate perception. People said same BS on ARodgers and BBulaga and CMatthews, and on and on. SImple minded people let simple perceptions grow and reinforced by people with no medical clue. RELAAAAAX, and let the guy show up, ok? Throwing a proven player under your bus-of-doubt, when he's had some challenges is not my idea of loyal fan. I'm proud of players like Hayward, and what a fine packer. Have you ever experienced how difficult to go through an injury as an athlete? It is very very depressing and take incredible resolve to deal with personal doubt, and then to hear all of the external BS. Plenty of other teams full of divas, so pick one, and I don't care if you throw them under a bus if they face a rough patch of injury. I'll support a GB player till the coaches don't.

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senor embalador's picture

July 01, 2015 at 05:54 am

Maybe you shouldn't have included Rodgers and Bulaga and Matthews in your argument seeing as all three of those guys ARE injury prone.

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porupack's picture

July 01, 2015 at 11:43 am

My point was more about the comments to phase Hayward out because of injury proneness. Bulaga, Rdgers, Matthews have had numerous injuries (not all of which were preventable) but haven't gotten the hook. Bulaga came back from 2 injury plagued seasons, and had superb year 2014....so what if he would have been axed b/c of injury proneness? I would give benefit of doubt on Hayward until at least end of season.

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NickPerry's picture

July 01, 2015 at 06:46 am

Sorry Cory but I didn't get your remark about Goodson. WHO'S gushing over him? Everything I read this off season since the draft has Randell and Rollins blowing right past him. Maybe I missed something but I haven't read a thing positive about Goodson, maybe no news is good news when it comes to him.

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Idiot Fan's picture

July 01, 2015 at 07:38 am

The only person I've seen gushing over Goodson is Goodson himself. I've even heard Whitt talking more about Gunther than Goodson.

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sonomaca's picture

July 01, 2015 at 10:18 am

Hayward's absence might help to accelerate the development of Randall and Rollins. Glass half full.

Better hope and pray that Shields doesn't go down.

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