Alan Branch ready to go? Slimmed down!

[Crazy Canuck]

Well, yes and no.

Branch could make me eat my words ala Adrian Wilson, who took a little longer than your average player to "get it" in the NFL. But once he did.....well we all know the rest of the story.

I remember writing up a good rant about how Adrian Wilson will never amount to anything........good thing I was very wrong.

Not, I suggest, longer than average for players who come out after their junior years.

 

[PDXChris]

To me it the first step of many more for him to succeed. Lets get the pads on and see if he is ready to play.

 

[The Commish]

My prediction: Branch will work hard, and have a quiet but solid year. He'll get a ridiculous contract from someone else (ie Calvin Pace) and will go back to eating his way out of NFL existence.

 

[earthsci]

If Branch steps up we could go into the season stronger or equal to last year in every facet of the game, and one place that we could use stronger is DL. Losing Antonio Smith was, well, a loss, but if Calais Campbell steps up and Branch steps up IMO we are stronger. Lotta ifs, but that's what we have.

 

[82CardsGrad]

If Branch steps up we could go into the season stronger or equal to last year in every facet of the game, and one place that we could use stronger is DL. Losing Antonio Smith was, well, a loss, but if Calais Campbell steps up and Branch steps up IMO we are stronger. Lotta ifs, but that's what we have.

Our secondary worries me... not enough depth. If our starters stay healthy (which they won't), we could be fine - though I am so not sold on Rolle...
But if we get hit with any type of injury bug, we're in trouble...

 

[lauraw]

Come on Branch!!! Wake up this year and start earning all that money you got off the Cardinals!!

 

[ajcardfan]

Well, yes and no.

Branch could make me eat my words ala Adrian Wilson, who took a little longer than your average player to "get it" in the NFL. But once he did.....well we all know the rest of the story.

I remember writing up a good rant about how Adrian Wilson will never amount to anything........good thing I was very wrong.

Wilson was on the field and played constantly from day 1, so i don't think the analogy is that great. Maybe Antonio Smith would be a better one? He was cut his first season and no one thought much of him after year two either. Admittedly, the expectations were much lower with him.

 

[SuperSpck]

Wilson was on the field and played constantly from day 1, so i don't think the analogy is that great. Maybe Antonio Smith would be a better one? He was cut his first season and no one thought much of him after year two either. Admittedly, the expectations were much lower with him.

Smith was a guy who was a 'potential' pick who we knew would take a lot of work. Denny Green admitted as much when he drafted him.
In this case Branch was expected to contribute much more before this point, whereas Smith would be a pleasant surprise if he panned out.
I'm not sure which player his career parallels at this point.

"Slim" has a lot to prove.
He's gonna have to get a crap job like the rest of us if he doesn't get it together fast.
And those don't pay as well.

 

[lobo]

To those saying that there is NO chance Branch will succeed, you do have history on your side. However, I believe he has the physical attributes to do the job. If I am correct, then anything is possible. I am not saying I believe he will be what we hoped for 3 years ago, but I can't say it is not possible. (and please don't lump any of us here with the "experts" on ESPN, that's a low blow)
Branch must realize this is the last year on his rookie contract. He has to have noticed the big paydays other lineman have received. If there were ever a time for him to get it in gear, this is it. Will that make a difference? I don't know. I do know that right now he is on the Cardinals' roster. If he contributes to the success of the team I will be very happy. I'm rooting for him as I do all of our players.

Very well said. My contention is if Branch can play up to the level he is capable of, the teams ability to REALLY run a 3/4 becomes a reality. As much as Watson has come along so well...when healthy, Branch has more in the tank to be even better IF THE SWITCH IS ON (i got tired of the light bulb deal even if i used it 100 times)

 

[PDXChris]

Our secondary worries me... not enough depth. If our starters stay healthy (which they won't), we could be fine - though I am so not sold on Rolle...
But if we get hit with any type of injury bug, we're in trouble...

I agree and that why I wish Hood could have been kept somehow.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Better then him being overweight, no?

Good first step. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[Duckjake]

I'll be happy if Branch turns out to be like Russell Davis. Also a 2nd round selection (Bears) who didn't do a lot his first two seasons but became a decent lunchpail DT for us. Branch has an advantage over Davis though because Branch won't have to play that goofy under Tackle that Green put in the defense.

 

[JeffGollin]

In this case Branch was expected to contribute much more (than Antonio Smith) before this point, whereas Smith would be a pleasant surprise if he panned out.

Mmmm... sort of but not exactly.

Branch came here with (a) a high upside (which is why we traded up to get him) but also (b) concern that he had a "less-than-non-stop" motor.

Which has meant that, when he hasn't played up to standard, the fans have (fairly or unfairly) gotten on his back for dogging it.

Here's my slightly altered take - There's a right way and a wrong way to play NT. The wrong way is to stand up too early, charge high and allow yourself to be tied up by blockers and manouvered out of your assigned gap. The right way is to charge low and blow up plays at the LOS.

Branch is capable of "playing low" and, when he does, he's made a few plays. But more often, he'll fall back on old habits and get stood up and pushed around.

I guess you could make the case that allowing himself to regress that way reflects a lack of motivation to get better, but I'd rather give Alan the benefiit of the doubt and simply chalk up his lack of progress to "faulty technique."

Which means reaching proper playing weight is a good first step. But now what I want to see is a guy who (a) consistently charges low, (b) remains an immovable "rock" inside and (c) enjoys being a beast in there wreaking havoc on every down.

An offensive team that finds itself unable to control the LOS (in part because Watson and Branch are immovable) and then has to face guys like DRC, McFadden, A-Dub & Dansby is going to find itself in the middle of a nightmare.

That's what has me alternately drooling and shaking my head.

 

[Duckjake]

Our secondary worries me... not enough depth. If our starters stay healthy (which they won't), we could be fine - though I am so not sold on Rolle...
But if we get hit with any type of injury bug, we're in trouble...

We were really fortunate last year with our secondary.

Wilson and Hood missed one game last year, Brown, DRC, and Rolle played in all of them.

Even Eric Green being unable to stay healthy worked out for us because it gave DRC more playing time.

 

[TJ]

Better then him being overweight, no?

Good first step. Nothing more nothing less.

Yep. I was not anticipating much if anything from Branch this season. It would be an added bonus to this team if he plays to his potential. Gives Watson and Robinson something to work for and puts Dykes on the chopping block.

 

[legend]

I'm buying his jersey!

 

[82CardsGrad]

He's leading the pack in sprints! Huh??

You must be registered for see images

 

[football karma]

who knows what happens with Alan -- but

sometimes big guys take a while to get it in the nfl. They can dominate in college purely on physical gifts. In the NFL, technique and study matter.

We will see.

 

[PoolBoy]

He's leading the pack in sprints! Huh??

You must be registered for see images

i thought he was a fat lazy loser leading up until about today too and pretty much thought it was a foregone conclusion that he was going to be cut before the season started. NOW i am thinking that during this training camp and preseason games there are going to be many on this site who fall in love with him. theres my prediction.

edit: what are the odds he is getting lapped there?

 

[conraddobler]

You can't make a lion out of a lamb.

It's contract time that is all, if it motivates him to contribute we should squeeze every ounce out of that and then let him go.

Want to and motivation are things players have or they do not have you can't give it to them.

 

[bg7brd]

You can't make a lion out of a lamb.

It's contract time that is all, if it motivates him to contribute we should squeeze every ounce out of that and then let him go.

Want to and motivation are things players have or they do not have you can't give it to them.

He has another year on his contract.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Yep. I was not anticipating much if anything from Branch this season. It would be an added bonus to this team if he plays to his potential. Gives Watson and Robinson something to work for and puts Dykes on the chopping block.

I disagree. Dykes is a DE first, and second we will carry 7 D-lineman anyhow.

Dockett
Campbell
Watson
Iwebema
Robinson
Dykes
Branch

 

[Brighteyes]

According to Urban's blog, Branch is doing more than just maintaining the correct weight.


"One intriguing runner was nose tackle Alan Branch, who, in the second set of six 50-yard dashes, easily set the pace for the linemen and big boys. Branch, who came it around 332 pounds, a few pounds better than the team asked, has a lot to prove on the field, but making sure he kicked tail in the run test was a good start."

 

[cardsfanmd]

According to Urban's blog, Branch is doing more than just maintaining the correct weight.


"One intriguing runner was nose tackle Alan Branch, who, in the second set of six 50-yard dashes, easily set the pace for the linemen and big boys. Branch, who came it around 332 pounds, a few pounds better than the team asked, has a lot to prove on the field, but making sure he kicked tail in the run test was a good start."

AWESOME

 

[ajcardfan]

Whatever was going on with the guy last year, we really don't know what his level of play would've been because he really had no opportunity to show it during the regular season. I'm not saying the coaches got it wrong, just that we really can't say how he would've matched up over the course of a season.