ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- This was the turning point for Darius Slay a year ago this week. He had been a starter for two games. Didn't play well in either one of them his rookie season.

So entering the third week of the season, former coach Jim Schwartz pulled Slay from the lineup in favor of veteran Rashean Mathis. It turned Slay's rookie year into an educational one on the side, as he mostly watched, played special teams and then spot duty when there was an injury to another corner.

This season, the thought of pulling Slay out of the lineup would be blasphemous. He has turned into a viable starting corner for the Detroit Lions in his second season. While not always facing the team's top receiver -- Mathis handles that from time-to-time -- he has turned into a more consistent and comfortable cornerback.

"He's improving," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "All along everyone has noted his speed, all of his measurables and he's a willing tackler. He'll come up and put you down and obviously the other things he has innately.

"I see him continuing to get better."

Through two games, Slay has seven tackles, although he is waiting for his first career interception. He's only been credited for one pass breakup, but what isn't seen is when he covers an opposing receiver well enough that the quarterback either forces a bad throw or doesn't even look his way.

Slay received positive grades in pass coverage from Pro Football Focus in both of Detroit's games. According to PFF, Slay has been thrown at 15 times this season, allowing six receptions. More importantly, he has been close enough to the play that he has allowed only 10 yards after the catch.

"I played pretty decent [against Carolina]," Slay said. "Played pretty good [on Sunday]. Made plays that I'm supposed to make and breaking up a lot of balls. That's my job to do. Came up, made tackles when I needed to but I played pretty good."

Slay knows he's getting closer to grabbing that first interception, too. He is being patient with it and after last season understands eventually it will happen. He just needs to bide his time and continue to make plays breaking up passes.

One of those should turn into a turnover one day. He is trusting himself more and using what his offseason tutor, Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson, told him during the offseason. The pair went through his whole season and worked on small technique issues in Woodson's backyard.

With the improvement Slay has seen from his rookie year to his second season, he is already planning on making another offseason trip to see Woodson.

Slay is also trusting defensive coordinator Teryl Austin's scheme more. Prior to the season, Slay said the aggressive nature of what Austin calls and how he likes to press receivers fit in more with his style, especially since he possesses catch-up speed.

It has helped him knock down those passes, too.

"Just my breaking and what I'm seeing," Slay said. "I'm trusting my instincts on what I'm reading."

The trust goes a bunch of ways. Slay trusts the defense. The Lions coaches trust Slay. So do his teammates. After a season where he shuttled in-and-out of the lineup, they realize they have to.

"He understands that we're counting on him and he's an important part of our defense," linebacker Stephen Tulloch said. "He's holding up pretty well for us so far."