The receiver, cornerback, football and penalty flag all came together at roughly the same moment at Saturday’s practice in Napa. The next moment, receiver Amari Cooper was streaking downfield, and cornerback DJ Hayden and the flag were on the turf field side by side.

Hayden pounded the turf in frustration — but the 2013 first-round pick says it’s different now than in his first two injury-plagued seasons. He is mad that he didn’t make the play, but knows he will attack the next one.

He doesn’t have time anymore for self-doubt.

“My mind-set this year I am just going full-force,” Hayden said. “Whether I make a mistake or not, I am going to do it full speed. Last year, I was hesitant about making mistakes.

“This year, I don’t give a damn.”

A No. 12 overall pick probably should be starting by his third season, and yet Hayden had missed 14 games and a lot of offseason workouts because of injuries and hadn’t been particularly impressive in the 18 he played. He came to the Raiders a little on the small side but has worked hard to add bulk to his 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame.

Hayden is competing with Keith McGill for the second cornerback spot. (TJ Carrie played well last season, is having a good camp and is currently No. 1.)

McGill is 6-3, 210 pounds with long arms.

“I call him Inspector Gadget,” Hayden said. “You might be able to beat him, but he just swats the ball down because he is so long.”

All three young cornerbacks — McGill is 26, Hayden 25 and Carrie 25 — have had a heck of a time trying to contain impressive new receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Coooper at training camp.

“They’re great players and we’re just making each other better.” Hayden said. “I’m just looking forward to our next practice.”

Hayden said he has heard people questioning why the Raiders would go with such a young trio. And saying that the secondary is the team’s biggest weakness.

“I say screw all that,” Hayden said. “We’re young, so what? We’re about to ball. We’re going to take advantage of our plays and make plays.”

Safety Charles Woodson didn’t say he was surprised the Raiders didn’t sign an experienced cornerback, but he didn’t say he wasn’t, either.

“These guys are working, man,” Woodson said. “The awesome thing about them is they are soaking it all in and you can actually see it. They’re competing, because they know once this season starts, there isn’t any going back. They are what we have and we need them all to step up.”

After Crabtree beat Hayden on a sideline touchdown route to end Thursday’s practice, Woodson pulled Hayden aside.

“He was right there, just a little bit off,” Woodson said. “I told him just watching him, it’s getting closer and closer, and eventually those plays will become break-ups or interceptions.

“The biggest thing with him will be experience. Once he gets into those games and gets that game experience, he’ll continue to grow.”

Hayden agrees and thinks people will be congratulating general manager Reggie McKenzie and headcoach Jack Del Rio for not signing an older corner.

“They want us to be guys,” Hayden said. “They just want us to get in there earlier, The earlier it is, the better it is. It’s going to help us a lot down the road.

“It’s just a matter of time before we take this league over.”

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vtafur@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VicTafur