There is perhaps no NFL cornerback more familiar with the Buccaneers’ formidable duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin than current Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III. The Lions cornerback – acquired from the Bucs in an offseason trade – spent the first six years of his career facing off against these wide receivers every day in practice.
As he prepares to face his former team this week, Davis is doing everything he can to prepare his new teammates for the daunting task.
“He’s normally a quiet guy, but he gave the best performance of those receivers that I’ve ever heard from a DB in my coaching career, and that’s saying something,” defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Thursday. “The way he articulated yesterday what those guys are like, how they carry themselves, how they operate, was pretty amazing. I wish I had actually recorded that for myself so I could show other players that this is how you do it.”
The Lions could use all the help they can get. Detroit’s secondary is full of young players. Terrion Arnold is in his first year, while safeties Brian Branch (year 2) and Kerby Joseph (year 3) are also still on their rookie contracts.
Detroit is familiar with these receivers, having played them twice last year, but they haven’t really been able to contain them. In Game 1, Godwin and Evans combined for 10 catches and 126 yards. But in the playoffs, Evans alone managed 8 catches and 147 yards, while Godwin contributed 40 yards of his own.
On Wednesday, Davis gave his own scouting report on what makes Evans so dangerous even though he turned 31 last month.
“He just has good body control. His mentality is different, the way he approaches the game,” Davis said. “He’s always been a big player, always been a playmaker. He’s always been someone you could count on.”
Of course, you’d expect this game to mean something more to Davis. Being sent away from a team you spent six years with can be both shocking and insulting. Publicly, however, Davis says nothing about this week is personal.
“I’m not going to get too personal or emotional,” Davis said. “It’s just business, and they’re just the next opponents in our path.”
Glenn knows better, however. And although Davis doesn’t show it directly, there are signs that this week means more to him.
“He’s got a little something in him. He’s not going to show it. That’s just the way he is, but you can tell that this is Bucs week for him,” Glenn said.
