The Detroit Lions bounced back in a big way, doing just what they needed to do. They didn't pull punches against a lesser foe to enter the bye week with some momentum, making defensive shifts to turn things around.
While that was encouraging, and even though the final score was misleading because two of the Arizona Cardinals' touchdowns happened with the game out of reach, that game is no barometer. They still need to make some adjustments and moves to work things out.
That's why they should make the most of Riq Woolen's recent woes to try to lure him to Michigan. He has not been the same guy in Philadelphia, and the Eagles may not mind shipping him right to Kelvin Sheppard's defense.
The Lions should explore a trade for Tariq Woolen
Deploying rookie DB Keith Abney II at safety worked like a charm, and Brian Branch will most likely be back next week. Kerby Joseph is still working his way back to the field, so their safety unit should be good. That's not the case with their cornerbacks.
Woolen lost his starting job to Josh Jobe, but he was an instrumental piece of the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl-winning 'Dark Side' defense last season. He joined the Eagles on a one-year, $12 million deal, but he might be having a tough time adapting to Vic Fangio's system.
Given his expiring salary and struggles, plus the cap-clearing moves the Eagles are making, they might not hesitate to let him go at a significant discount. The Lions can probably offer a Day 3 pick and get him.
Also, it's not like Woolen has been any worse than any of the Lions' cornerbacks. Yes, he's giving up 13.0 yards per catch and has given up two scores in five games, but he's holding opposing quarterbacks to a 52.2 percent completion percentage.
Moreover, Woolen is a physical player and a perennial mismatch because of his jumbo size, and his ability and willingness to contribute against the running game are also a plus. He can stack the box with the same ease and prowess he drops back into coverage.
The Lions still have the worst pass defense in all of football. Getting another win was great for boosting morale after such a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers, but the fact of the matter is that they're still not in the clear.
Woolen is coming off a Super Bowl-winning organization and has the physical tools to turn things around. The Lions can then move Abney back to the outside once Joseph is back to full strength, giving them a much more dynamic secondary.
Also, if he's being singled out in Philadelphia, he might also appreciate a change of scenery. It's a win-win situation for all parties.
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