Cornerback Casey Hayward played just 87 snaps last season. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — Again, the "owners" are not pleased. The Green Bay Packers are letting other teams spend big bucks on free agents.

News flash: Ted Thompson's blueprint has not changed.

But there is one pseudo free agent returning, one new face. Maybe you've forgot about him. He led the team in interceptions and pass breakups two years ago. He was the one who made Charles Woodson's absence inconsequential. And in 2013, he played only 87 snaps.

Casey Hayward doesn't only view himself as one of the top playmakers on the Packers, either.

"I feel like I'm one of the top playmakers in the league — especially when I'm healthy, especially when I'm at the top of my game," Hayward said. "I feel like there aren't too many players who do what I do because I play inside, outside. I can press, I can play off. I think my game is very different than a lot of people."

Ponying up for a Jairus Byrd, a T.J. Ward would spike Thompson's approval rating. It signals change. A new direction. True, this unit may still need a veteran or two to reach a Super Bowl. But the 2014 Packers defense will look vastly different with Hayward's return alone. A nagging hamstring injury rendered his sophomore season a wash, a 16-game migraine.

Now, the 24-year-old Hayward is ever so carefully inching his way back. He started running two weeks ago and is aiming to be back at full speed by Day 1 of organized team activities.

In a strange, twisted way, he believes a year off actually did his game a lot of good.

"It was definitely frustrating," Hayward said. "But it's a lesson learned. I felt like it made me a better player. It made me know this defense better, know what offenses are trying to run and also help my teammates."

Hayward initially injured his hamstring last July in a "freak accident," working out on his own. He admits he didn't stretch properly before running. Part of being "a better pro," he says. Hayward re-aggravated the injury in the preseason, waited until Oct. 27 to return and then suffered a "slight tear" of the hamstring in Green Bay's 27-13 loss to Philadelphia on Nov. 11.

At which point, the Packers shut him down for the season.

So it's no surprise that Hayward is being ultra-cautious this off-season. Training in Atlanta, he's not overdoing it. Hayward's first goal is to strengthen the muscle.

Three days a week he does weight training. Four days a week, agility and (now) running. The running isn't too strenuous. Hayward's trainers are easing him back to football speed.

"At a time like this, in the off-season," Hayward said, "there's no need to push it and go to the extreme. When we get to OTA's (oragnaized team activities), hopefully I'll be able to push it to that extreme....I'm still hesitant on it. It's being cautious more than anything. Trying to be smart with it."

His magnetic pull to the ball was missed. Without Hayward, the Packers created turnovers at a five-year low under defensive coordinator Dom Capers. The year prior, as a rookie, the second-round pick from Vanderbilt led Green Bay in interceptions (six) and pass breakups (21).

He won't sugarcoat last season. Rehabbing and reinjuring the hamstring — powerless all along — was absolutely frustrating. The defense finished 25th in total yardage and opposing passer rating. So Hayward tried to keep busy. He started watching film of more cornerbacks across the league. One player specifically piqued his interest: Cincinnati's Leon Hall.

After Green Bay's 34-30 loss at Cincinnati, Packers receiver Randall Cobb mentioned that Hall was one the toughest cover corners he ever faced. Against the gnat-like vet, Cobb only managed five receptions for 54 yards on 10 targets.

"And I said, 'You know? He's right. I'm going to watch a lot of film on him,'" Hayward said. "He does a great job inside and outside."

This is the player Hayward wants to become. He sees himself excelling inside on slot receivers and outside along the boundary.

Hall is always yapping with teammates before the snap, he notes. He'll disguise coverages. And then, he's patient off the line of scrimmage.

Hayward hopes all this film study takes his instincts, his football IQ to "another level." With Sam Shields re-signed and Tramon Williams under contract, Hayward isn't sure how he'll fit in.

"Right now, we don't know what our role is, but bringing Sam back was huge for our team," Hayward said. "He was one of our best defensive players. I'm glad we have him back. He's one of our premier defensive players, so with him playing outside and Tramon playing outside, I can play inside, I can play outside. Whatever my role is, if anything happens, I can play many positions.

"I can play three positions — dime, nickel, outside, left, right, wherever they ask me to play."

Skeptics will note a gaping hole at safety in Green Bay's defense. Hayward sees something much different.

"I feel like with everybody back healthy in the secondary," Hayward said, "I feel like the sky's the limit for us. I feel like we can be one of the top secondaries in the league.

"Hopefully we can come in and be a top-five defense. And I feel like we do that by taking balls away. You get turnovers and that's what happens."

Asked if Green Bay must add a veteran safety, Hayward quickly cites Morgan Burnett as "one of the best communicators back there," adding that the defense needs to "be consistent as a whole, not just safety-wise."

Green Bay couldn't get too creative on defense in 2013. The attack plan was, often, vanilla. Coach Mike McCarthy made it clear he wants a more complex unit next season. Wherever he lines up, Hayward will be part of the solution. He doesn't want a subpar defense holding back a potent offense.

Next season, the corner repeats that "the sky's the limit" for Green Bay's defense.

"We, as a defense, shouldn't take a back burner to the offense," Hayward said. "If we can be the best defense, they can be the best offense, we can't be stopped."