Lions receive Bucs insider scouting report from their new cornerback

ALLEN PARK – Carlton Davis is a quiet guy. Even when it was the team's turn to trade him, he didn't say much.

“For me, it's not personal at all,” emphasized the Detroit Lions cornerback. “I could never take these games personally because it's just business. They're just the next opponent on our road and it's a long road.”

Seems pretty straightforward, right?

But don't let him fool you.

Davis played six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading the team to the Super Bowl, and is excited to show them what they're missing when Detroit (1-0) hosts Tampa (1-0) at Ford Field on Sunday.

“He's got a little something in him,” said defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. “He won't show it, that's just the way he is. But you can tell it's Bucs week for him.”

Glenn got his first glimpse of that little something this week. Davis has spent the last few years guarding Bucs wideouts Mike Williams and Chris Godwin in practice, and he gave his teammates a detailed scouting report to kick off the week. And it was spectacular.

“Listen, I'll tell you this,” Glenn said. “He's usually a quiet guy, but he gave The the best performance of these receivers that I've ever heard a DB talk about in my coaching career. And that's saying something. The way he articulated yesterday what these guys are like, how they behave, how they operate, was pretty amazing. I wish I had recorded that for myself so I could show other players. Like, “This is how you do it.”

Davis was selected in the second round by the Bucs in 2018, started 75 games for that team over the past six years and was part of a Super Bowl victory. He was never considered an elite cornerback, but he has long been a very good cornerback, using his strength, length and ball skills to intercept nine passes and defend 73 total.

The Lions, on the other hand, had one of the worst pass defenses in the league last year. Things got even worse in the playoffs, and despite allowing just 311 passing yards per game, they made it to the NFC Championship game.

They were able to watch Davis up close during the divisional round and valued his length and physicality to help fuel a rebuild in Detroit. On the first day of free agency, the Lions were able to get Davis out of Tampa for a third-round pick. They also got two sixth-round picks in the trade.

Davis' reaction at the time?

“I was like, 'Are you… what the (expletive)?'” Davis said.

As the initial shock wore off, the new reality sank in. He would be joining one of the NFL's best recruiting teams, would have the pleasure of playing in front of one of the league's best home crowds instead of against it, and would spend the year of his contract competing for a Super Bowl.

“You can tell the culture is good here because usually when you're in a tough fight, a team eventually gives in. And they never moved,” Davis said after the transfer was completed. “They kept the same energy and physicality and just brought that to their game.”

Now Davis brings it to the Lions' newly formed secondary. He opened the season by dropping a potential pick and was accused of allowing a 63-yard pass that had him slipping on the slick turf of Ford Field, but allowed just 36 yards the rest of the game and broke up a key pass on fourth down that took the defense off the field. He also excelled in run support, finishing the game with 10 total tackles.

“I'm glad we have him,” said head coach Dan Campbell. “I thought he had a good performance in Week 1 and he's only going to get better.”

Davis leads a new cornerback rotation that includes rookie Terrion Arnold, who also had a promising debut despite two pass interference penalties in the end zone, and Amik Robertson. Stafford had some success pressuring those guys with short passes, but ultimately scored just 20 points on 80 plays.

Things won't get much easier this week, as a resurgent Baker Mayfield returns to Detroit after leading Tampa to a 37-point win over Washington in Week 1. But if anyone knows how to slow these guys down, it's the cautious veteran who has something to prove, even if he doesn't quite want to say it.

“I'm not trying to stir up emotions or personal relationships or anything like that,” Davis said. “At the end of the day, it's a business. We have a game and someone has to win. It's my job to make sure we win.”

• BETS: Read our guide to best sports betting sites in Michiganwhere our team of sports betting experts reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for several sportsbooks. After their victory on Sunday evening, the Lions open as Almost touchdown favorite about the Buccaneers.