Darius Slay Ranked 6th best CB in NFL per Bleacher Report

[tbone413]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ing-the-top-101-cornerbacks-from-2015/page/56

6 out of 101 CBs ranked


Rankings:

Coverage: 71/75

Darius Slay is the most overlooked cornerback in the NFL. The Detroit Lions defensive back played outstanding football in 2015, combining good size with quick feet and awareness to excel in the different coverage assignments the Lions asked of him. Slay carries a fluid frame and relies on his ability to disrupt receivers through their routes and at the catch point. He understands how to use his length against receivers so that he can be physical without being so aggressive he will be flagged unnecessarily. Slay has 19 pass breakups over the past two seasons because of his awareness at the catch point.

Run Defense: 5/10

Slay is a smooth cornerback. He naturally flips his hips to change direction in coverage. That trait also comes in handy when he is changing direction to transition from coverage to run support. He has the size and physicality to counteract blockers and bring down bigger ball-carriers, but there are question marks over his intensity closing to the line of scrimmage.

Tackling: 5/5

Slay is a form tackler who makes the most out of his length and smartly wraps the legs of bigger ball-carriers. He missed just four tackles on over 1,000 snaps last season. He has an ideal combination of size, strength and athleticism to be a great tackling cornerback.

Postion Value: 9/9

Overall: 90/99

Pretty high praise for Big Play Slay. I was super frustrated with him after the first few games when he got burned a few times, but he turned it around in a major way from week 6 onward...was arguably the best CB in the league for the second half of the season.

I hope he can maintain his play, and I hope the Lions can sign him to an extension soon as well!

 

[boogerlovejoy]

He's been elite for two years now. He got beat a couple times early last year but both of those balls were perfect throws. He was right there both times. Sometimes balls get caught even with great coverage.

Time to lock him up long term!

 

[atxlion82]

The only thing that worries me a little is the Patriot way with star players seems to be let them walk and replace them. Very few times did they lock up players with elite contracts. While I hope we lock him and Ziggy up, wouldnt surprise me if we did not with both

 

[boogerlovejoy]

The only thing that worries me a little is the Patriot way with star players seems to be let them walk and replace them. Very few times did they lock up players with elite contracts. While I hope we lock him and Ziggy up, wouldnt surprise me if we did not with both

I think the patriot way is to sign veteran FA's to team friendly contracts and let them walk.....but their history is to lock up their own good young talent. Can't think of a single really good player they let walk going into his prime.

 

[cheeno]

I think the patriot way is to sign veteran FA's to team friendly contracts and let them walk.....but their history is to lock up their own good young talent. Can't think of a single really good player they let walk going into his prime.

Chandler Jones, 2016

 

[tonyballs]

Chandler Jones, 2016

But he never walked. Didn't the Patriots get a starting Guard and a draft pick for Jones? Meanwhile, building the defense up too.....

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Chandler Jones, 2016

He was traded.

 

[brewer229]

The patriots way is to have a elite QB and coach. Nothing else really matters. You will always be in the hunt if you have those two.

 

[tomdalton22]

The patriots way is to have a elite QB and coach. Nothing else really matters. You will always be in the hunt if you have those two.

Exactly!

 

[Mitchrapp]

Slay is good, really good. But Bleacher Report hasn't a clue..

 

[sggatecl]

Slay is good, really good. But Bleacher Report hasn't a clue..

It's that site where if they post something positive about the Lions everyone is all excited and then when they post something negative it's:

THAT SITE DOESN'T KNOW SHIT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT FOR READING IT

 

[Mitchrapp]

It's that site where if they post something positive about the Lions everyone is all excited and then when they post something negative it's:

THAT SITE DOESN'T KNOW SHIT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT FOR READING IT

It's more that site that is just made up a bunch of normal bloggers who aren't in the know on anything.

 

[sggatecl]

It's more that site that is just made up a bunch of normal bloggers who aren't in the know on anything.

For sure. I avoid it like the plague.

 

[tonyballs]

I don't need a Bleacher Report to tell me if a player is bad or good. Thank you very much...

 

[mhughes0021]

The patriots way is to have a elite QB and coach. Nothing else really matters. You will always be in the hunt if you have those two.

They have had a history of trading high performing players they know they cant afford right before they decline and fade away into obscurity. In exchange they typically get a bunch of high round picks. This is a case of knowing your personnel and that chandler jones isn't worth what he will be asking for next year.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

They have had a history of trading high performing players they know they cant afford right before they decline and fade away into obscurity. In exchange they typically get a bunch of high round picks. This is a case of knowing your personnel and that chandler jones isn't worth what he will be asking for next year.

That's what's called getting Roy Williams'd.