Detroit Lions: Top Position Battles to Watch in Preseason Week One

The final contest to watch tonight is the starting outside cornerback position opposite Darius Slay. We know if everyone remains healthy come week one that Slay is playing outside as the teams’ top corner.  We also know Justin Coleman is going to primarily work inside on the slot receivers who’ve become extremely relevant in today’s’ game.

More from Detroit Jock City

• Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
• Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
• Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
• This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
• 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings

The Detroit Lions will need more than just those two corners to perform at a high level if they want to be a top-five defense this season. I expect Quantre Diggs to work as a corner at times from his safety spot.  He will lock up with tight ends and slot receivers in man to man coverage throughout the year.

The Lions will still need contributions from either veteran corner Rashaan Melvin, rookie Armani Oruwariye, Jamal Agnew or Jalen Tabor.  With how thin this list is of impact corners don’t be surprised if we see plenty of three safety sets if this is the group that enters the regular season. Diggs is a former corner who had his best year last year playing as a safety.

Tracy Walker is likely going to be the starting free safety.  He’s exceptionally talented and can be used in many different ways.  The Detroit Lions also drafted safety Will Harris in the 3rd round of the NFL draft this spring.  You don’t use a third-round choice on a player without a plan. The trio could find themselves making up for the lack of cornerback depth by playing together in different formations.

Expect Melvin to start the year as the starter.  He’s the most experienced; he’s played briefly for Matt Patricia in the past. Melvin has mentioned recently that Detroit is a fresh start for him, he liked the man to man scheme they play.  Most recently he wasn’t very good in Oakland but blamed the zone coverage as his downfall.  He prefers to lock up man to man and not worry about anything else.  That mentality is perfect for an outside corner in this defense.

Rookie Armani Oruwariye is a player people raved about on draft day when the Detroit Lions selected him in the fifth round.  He’s a big corner similar to Melvin at 6’2.  In today’s league, you need the outside cornerbacks to be big and athletic enough to guard the A.J. Green, Davante Adams of the world.  At the NFL combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47.  Pretty good speed for a player his size.

I expect Oruwariye to become a starter for the Detroit Lions at some point this season, but at this point, it’s Melvin’s job to lose.  It will be a fun battle to watch, and something to keep an eye on in tonights’ preseason opener.