Lions GM: Martin Mayhew says CB Darius Slay has ‘a lot of work to do’
By Mike Dyce
The Detroit Lions didn’t have quite the offseason they had last year but they’re looking to build on the talent already on the roster, specifically with cornerback Darius Slay. At the league meetings in Orlando, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew.
“He has a lot of work to do,” Mayhew said, via the team’s official website. “I think he’s up to the challenge. He finished up strong for us the last half of the season. I’m looking forward to seeing him this season.”
It reiterates comments defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said in his introductory press conference
“He needs to improve in a lot of areas, but a lot of it is growing pains,” Austin said. “I’ll use an example of a guy I just coached, Jimmy Smith, who we (Baltimore) drafted in the first round. Jimmy didn’t become a full-time player until this year. He was a lot like Darius. He kind of flashed and has some tremendous talent. He would flash, but he didn’t quite play as consistently as you’d like. But then he finally, like a lot of them, sometimes it just clicks.
“It takes reps it takes time and when it does, he starts improving in certain areas and everything else picks up.”