Will the Detroit Lions get Greedy as they overhaul their secondary?

The Lions defense was a mess to start this past season. They couldn’t come close to stopping the run and they weren’t much better against the pass. Despite Matt Patricia’s best efforts to install his defensive system, the pieces he had to work with couldn’t even assimilate a passable level of play.

Much less look like the defense Patricia was envisioning in his head. At least until they acquired Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison and then made huge improvements against the run which allowed the Lions to finish 10th overall in total defense.

As we look towards next season the two biggest needs for this defense are an edge rusher and a cornerback. A pair of needs that the Lions are expected to fill in free agency and the draft.

Right now the conventional wisdom has the Lions making a big play for New England Patriots free agent defensive end Trey Flowers. We’ve heard a thousand times about what a great fit that Flowers would be. After all, he played in the same system in New England and would absolutely know just exactly what Matt Patricia would expect from him.

Which would mean that unless the Lions sign a cornerback from a rather thin group of free agents or possibly trade for a quality corner, then Greedy Williams of LSU would most likely be the favorite to be Detroit’s pick at number eight overall in the draft.

We’ve all heard the hype about Williams. He is an exceptional athlete that has a chance to be a lockdown cornerback in the NFL. Something every team, including the Lions, could use.

However, the question still needs to be addressed whether he is a good fit for Patricia’s defense.

Williams has great speed and hands. He sticks to receivers well and only allowed a 38.7 rating to opposing passers that threw his way last season. All of which adds up to some of the characteristics any coach would like out of his cornerbacks in coverage.

The downside is that while Williams has great length and height as he stands in at 6’3″, he only weighs 185 pounds. Which means he will have trouble matching the physicality of veteran NFL players early in his career.

There is also the question mark about his desire or willingness to help out against the run.