Former Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay didn’t need long to zero in on what’s gone wrong with his old team’s secondary.
After watching Detroit get handled by Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football, Slay pointed to the same issue plenty of fans have been yelling about: the Lions can’t cover. And for Slay, the biggest mistake came before this season even started - letting Carlton Davis walk after just one year in Detroit.
“Honestly, the biggest mistake I think that the Lions did to that secondary was letting Carlton Davis go. That’s who I felt like was the most complete corner and could’ve been a stamp there since I left there.
I feel like Carlton Davis was a guy that fit that scheme. Them guys want to play a lot of man, a lot of matching, and I think Carlton Davis was a great addition to that.”
Slay knows Detroit’s cornerback problems from the inside. Drafted in the second round in 2013, he developed into a Pro Bowl defender with the Lions before a fractured relationship with then-head coach Matt Patricia led to his trade to Philadelphia. That move eventually paid off with a Super Bowl ring, but Slay made clear he still has plenty of affection for Detroit.
“I always wanted to stay in Detroit. But thankfully, I did go to Philadelphia and won a championship," Slay said.
"I’m loving it, I loved that part of my life, I am not lying. I always wanted to spend the rest of my career in Detroit, but I’m damn sure thankful that I went to an organization that really appreciated what I brought to the table and it shows.
That’s why I’ve got a lot of love in Philly.”
He also left the door open, at least a crack, for a comeback if somebody is willing to pay up. Slay said he still trains, still works out and even works with a few defensive backs, mostly at the high school level.
"I still work out. I still do my little dues.
I train, I stay in great shape," Slay said. "I've got a couple of DBs that I train, high school mostly.
I'm still in a groove, but it'd take a nice, pretty, pretty penny to get me to come out of retirement. I can go for real, I can really go.
I just chose not to continue because of the fact that I'm good, man. But I can really still go."
Detroit’s defensive issues have now put coordinator Kelvin Sheppard under the microscope, and Slay said he respects the coach while also believing the current approach isn’t matching the personnel.
"Shep’s a good dude. I played with Shep, he’s known well, I’ve got a lot of respect because he coaches hard, he holds players accountable," Slay said.
"I just don’t see them playing complete defense. I see the linebacking corps isn’t in sync with the secondary, and then I see the secondary is trying to play a lot of man but you don’t have man corners at this time.
I know Shep still wants to be aggressive, but he needs to address with the players."
The Lions have leaned on man coverage under Dan Campbell, first with Aaron Glenn calling the shots and now with Sheppard in that role. But Slay thinks the problem is simpler than scheme loyalty. Detroit, he said, needs to adjust to what it actually has.
"It’s more about the coaches adjusting to what they have. D.J.
Reed can play ball, but 60 plays of man, you’re gonna lose. You’re gonna lose some reps like that.
I was in a Matt Patricia defense, we played man 85 percent of the time. I lost some, but I won way more than I did.
But this group, as a group, is just not a winning group in the back end with that coverage scheme.”
In Other News...
Lions Pass Defense Problem Could Force A Trade Fans Didn't Expect
Through the first month of the season, the Lions pass defense has been one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and it has already pushed the front office into the trade market. Detroit has talked with other teams about cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search for help could widen if the right deal materializes. One name floating into the conversation is Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen, a player with the kind of tools that can change the feel of a secondary in a hurry.
Woolens contract situation and past performance make him an intriguing fit for a team trying to shore up the back end without overcommitting long term. Philadelphias recent roster changes, including the retirement of Lane Johnson and the trade of Cam Jurgens, have also fueled the idea that the Eagles could be willing to keep moving pieces to stockpile future draft capital. For the Lions, the question is whether a move like that is realistic, and whether solving the pass-defense issue will require a swing more aggressive than the one fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Secondary Problem Is Fueling A Trade Fans Will Want
The Lions search for help in the back end keeps circling back to the trade market, and Kristian Fulton has become one of the more interesting names attached to it. Detroit has already come up short on other cornerback targets, including Joey Porter Jr., which has only sharpened the focus on a defense that could use more stability on the outside. Fultons situation in Kansas City makes him a logical candidate to watch, especially with the kind of midseason deal that can sometimes benefit both teams.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Fulton is not currently a full-time starter for the Chiefs, and that matters for a Detroit team looking for a player who can step in without forcing a massive overhaul. A trade could come together if the teams are willing to split his salary, which gives the Lions a possible path forward if they decide to keep pressing for help. For a secondary still trying to find the right fit, this is the sort of move that can gain momentum quickly if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Goff Has Set A Brutal Standard Against Arizona
Jared Goff has made a habit of making life difficult for Arizona, and that matters again as the Lions head into a matchup that could turn into another test of Detroits offense. Goffs career track record against the Cardinals has been strong enough to stand out on its own, and it has usually come with the kind of production the Lions need when they are trying to stay on schedule and keep pressure on the opponent from the opening series.
The challenge this time is less about whether Goff can move the ball and more about whether Detroit can keep up if Arizonas defense makes the game tighter than expected. The Cardinals have enough strengths on that side of the ball to force a real fight, and Trey McBride looms as one of the names that can shape the flow of the afternoon, which leaves the Lions needing another clean, efficient outing from their quarterback if they want to keep the standard going. [Read more 🡒]