dre-bly-04jpg-4cc249a4b3ae9ce9_large.jpg

No Detroit cornerback has made the Pro Bowl since Dre Bly accomplished the feat in 2003 and '04. Could Darius Slay be next? (AP File Photo)

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions haven't had a Pro Bowl cornerback since Dre Bly accomplished the feat in 2004. But Bly doesn't expect that drought to last much longer.

He thinks Darius Slay could be that good.

"He's a kid that wants to learn," Bly said after watching practice Monday in Allen Park. "I think he's focused, based on what I've seen, but he's a very talented kid. He can move, good size and he has playmaking ability."

The Lions are gambling that Bly, who played here from 2003-06, is right. They took a secondary that ranked 23rd against the pass last year, didn't make any major additions and then cut a projected starter in Chris Houston.

They have little choice but to lean on Slay and veteran Rashean Mathis as the starting cornerbacks.

Slay's importance to this secondary was crystallized Monday when he had to leave practice with a minor neck injury. Veterans Cassius Vaughn and Bill Bentley replaced him, both of whom are dropoffs in athleticism.

Bly says Slay could be a big-time talent if his head catches up with his legs, and that he's fortunate to have an opportunity to lean on a veteran such as Mathis.

"Having a guy on the other side like Rashean makes his adjustment better and he can take it all in and understand what this team is expecting," Bly said. "With Chris Houston not being here and (Slay) going into his second year, what the team is expecting is high.

"If he can put it all together and not panic, he'll be OK."

Slay was considered a starter coming out of training camp last year as well, but proved to be unready and was yanked in Week 3. He played only sporadically the rest of the way, though did exhibit improvement in a couple spot starts late in the season.

He's spent this offseason refining his game with Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, plus now plays in a press-man scheme that seems to better suit his skill-set.

Slay maintains the swagger of a No. 1 cornerback, despite his trials, and didn't shy from the notion he expects to make a Pro Bowl one day.

"I'm just going to put it on film and tape and show everybody," he said.

Bly was one of several former Lions who dropped in on practice Monday, and were scheduled to address the rookies later in the day. It's all part of the Lions' efforts to connect with their past, plus keep their young guys out of trouble.

"I think it is so important for those guys to come around and to be welcome -- to give them an opportunity to talk to our guys,'' Caldwell said. "They have some valuable experiences. There are a lot of champions in that group who have done tremendous things.''

Caldwell is particularly close to Bly, who starred at North Carolina while he was coaching at Wake Forest.

"I saw him once a year," Caldwell said, "and he used to give me a few problems during that time."