Dre Bly: The Definition of a Double Edged Sword

For the money he wants and as good as he thinks he is, we can’t keep him as a #3 CB, which is where we would want him. He’s a decent CB, but hasn’t been great for us, and I don’t think he’ll be a Bronco next year.

The problem is I really don’t know who you could bring in here that would be as good, yes he makes some mistakes, but no more than many other CB in the league. I mean there is something to the fact that the best CB usally have good pass rushes, look at Deanglo Hall and Cromartie, both looked silly when Cutler had time and matched against top WR, the Kansas City CB who probably aren’t as talented looked a lot better because Cutler was pressured. So unless we are planning on using a 1 or 2 round draft choice on a CB, I think he will be back next year. Because I doubt Paymah or Williams are the answers.

and I’m indefatigably interested in nuance, so here goes. On nearly every play, the Broncos corners play outside technique off-coverage. What this means, for those who may not know, is that they line up with their backs to the sidelines, and 8-10 yards off the line of scrimmage. You can see this every play.

Now, this is really good for Champ Bailey, who is the best I have ever seen at playing off-coverage. From this alignment, he can watch the QB, and jump a route when he sees a 3 step drop. He can also read the run, and fill quickly in setting the edge, which he is also brilliant at for a CB.

This alignment does not suit Dre as much, however. He needs to be in bump-man to be most effective. The receiver is getting a free release off the line in this outside-off technique, and he has the middle of the field available to him on virtually any play. More often than not, catches on him have been on slants and square-ins, and there was no LB or S help.

Dre is a better player than the scheme makes him look like. He has actually been very good at filling in the run game this season, which was a persistent complaint against him last season. With the bend-but-don’t-break mentality of the coverage scheme, we have to live with some passes being completed inside on Dre.

I think he’d be good in the right system. I don’t think we can expect success from him when he’s on an island (the way we do with Champ).

…of two deep safeties as opposed to one. We’ll be touching on the affect it has had on Bly.

But for now, here’s my opinion.

First, the lack of pass rushing has hurt both Bailey and Bly (as well as our other DBs).

It hurts Bly the most. Consider that opposing QBs will avoid Bailey (he wasn’t even thrown at in the last game) so that most throws go to Bly to begin with.

Now add in the fact that Bly plays a completely different style than Bailey does (Bly is a “gambler” as opposed to a "cover"), and depends more heavily on the safeties than does Bailey. Bly loses a step because he needs to ensure that a safety has his deep zone so that he can do his thing, which is cutting off the pass lane. This move can’t be done without a safety covering over the top. In Detroit’s cover two, Bly racked up interceptions. In Denver, even without the cover two scheme, we could play formations featuring two deep safeties (the norm in most systems) to allow Bly to maximize his style.

Bear in mind that for a stretch of several years, Bly was second only to Champ Bailey for receptions (before coming to Denver), and a pro-bowler. Bly’s production took a downturn at the same time as Bailey’s.

I’m a big fan of the DBs positions (CB and SAFs), and devoted a lot of my studies as a defensive coordinator to maximizing CBs. In my opinion, Bly is getting a raw deal from the lack of pass rushing and the lack of a zone being covered to allow him to charge the lane. I’m in Bly’s corner on this one.

And recommended (for the great conversation your solid post will get started). : )

Thanks guys for the excellent insights to the CB position. I will most definitely be looking at our CB with this information in mind during the next couple of games.

really, all of our problems stem from that. We got better than usual pressure against TB and look what happened, only 13 points and a solid defensive output.

I think his play is much better this season. Don’t give up the big play deep and continue to improve tackling and I am okay with him. Keep up the DLine pressure!

that being said, I think he has played pretty good this year. Without much of a pass rush so far this season he hasnt been abused as I thought he would. Really IMO the lack of a rush has hurt the defense more than anything. I would love to see him gone, but I have realized there isnt really anyone who is good enuff to replace him. Like if Williams, Paymah, or Foxworth (who BTW cant even get on the field in ATL) were good enuff they would have replaced him. So I think he is a good complement to Champ. (BTW where are all the clowns who were criticizing Champ last week? I am tired of you. Speak up NOW! Cant HEAR YOU)