Broncos coach Mike Shanahan often has said a cornerback must "be an incredible athlete just to stay on the field" in today's NFL. Thursday, Shanahan surrendered two starters and a draft pick to acquire just that.

The Broncos' acquisition of two-time Pro Bowl selection Dré Bly for their secondary adds a proven player with the skills that could fit well into the Broncos defense.

At least, that's the opinion of four NFL personnel executives who assisted the Rocky Mountain News in compiling a scouting report on Bly.

Benefits of experience

Bly has played in two Super Bowls, winning one, with the St. Louis Rams and was chosen to two Pro Bowls with the Lions.

Set to enter his ninth season, Bly will turn 30 in May.

He has played in big games, been the focal point of opposing quarterbacks and dealt with the pressure of being a team's marquee free agent signing when he joined Detroit in March 2003 with a five- year, $24.5 million deal that included a $6.5 million signing bonus.

Put that kind of résumé and skill set across from Champ Bailey, and Bly often will find himself defending a team's No. 2 receiver, a matchup he should win far more than he doesn't.

Also a willing tackler, Bly was a nickel cornerback, down in the slot, early in his career with the Rams. So the Broncos also could play him inside on some third downs if they determine it could be a productive alignment.

Many offenses have taken to moving one of their top two receivers into the slot on some passing downs because the feeling is it would force a No. 3 cornerback onto the field. Bly's versatility would give the Broncos some flexibility on those third-down plays if they wanted to move him around.

Despite the Lions' struggles on the field, Bly kept producing. In 2003, he recovered a fumble, forced a fumble or intercepted a pass in 10 of the 14 games he played, led the Lions in interceptions in each of the past four seasons and was the first Detroit cornerback selected to the Pro Bowl since Lem Barney in 1977.

Big-play impact

Lions offensive coordinator Mike

Martz, who also was one of Bly's coaches with the Rams, has said the cornerback could read receivers' "body language (during a pass route) as well as any defensive back I've ever been around."

Bly has gambled at times, which also has caused him to surrender a big play sometimes. But he tracks the ball in flight better than most, plays with athleticism and defends bigger than his 5-foot-10 frame because of his leaping ability and his ability to jump while on a dead run.

He knows what receivers like to do in given situations and has the speed and flexibility to move where he needs to counter. Scouts say he plays with composure, recovers from mistakes and likes pressure.

In short, Bly is around the ball plenty and takes it away plenty as well. He has 31 interceptions, has forced 17 fumbles and has turned eight returns (five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one punt) into touchdowns.

He led the Lions last season with four forced fumbles, a total that would have led the Broncos as well.

Durability

In the whirlwind of free agency, this cannot be overlooked as one of the more important items, and the NFL executives contacted said it made Bly a popular target.

One NFC personnel director said he believed as many as 11 teams had looked into acquiring Bly, and a big reason was his consistent productivity and his consistent presence in the lineup.

With the University of North Carolina, Bly didn't miss a game. Then, in his four years with the Rams, Bly never missed a game and played in 71 in a row before missing the first of two games in 2003 because of a left hamstring injury.

He missed three weeks in 2004 because of a sprained left knee and missed four games in 2005 after breaking his right wrist. He played for a time that season with six pins in the wrist. (He since has had four surgically removed; the other two are permanent.)

He played in all 16 games in 2006, finishing with 58 tackles and three interceptions.

The system

The Broncos are among the teams that have made a conscious decision to align their defensive backs - most of the time, anyway - away from the line of scrimmage because they believe league rules make it difficult for the defense to get an advantage up close.

With the continued strict enforcement of the 5-yard contact zone - little bumping is allowed down field as well - offenses continue to look for bigger receivers to take advantage of that freedom and defenses have backed off some in search of more quickness.

Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, who oversees the defensive backs, has said the situation makes it more important than ever for cornerbacks to be able to "win with your feet."

Playing "off" allows the cornerback to face the line of scrimmage during the play because he has a buffer zone between himself and the receiver as the play begins. He doesn't have his back to the line of scrimmage as he would defending in man coverage.

Shanahan has called it "cover without touching."

Bailey is considered the league's gold standard, a once physical cornerback who has made the adjustment. And in the Broncos' scheme, Bailey has made 18 interceptions the past two seasons - he tied for the league with 10 in 2006 - 21 in three seasons, or three more than he had in six seasons combined with the Redskins.

Bly has quickness and savvy and is fearless in launching himself to the ball if he believes there is a play to be made.

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