PAQ77
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Sorry if this is posted somewhere already. I didn't see anything about it.
Nice article and a good story... Hope she's right. I'm rooting for him to make Kiper eat his words.
Cards' Branch out to prove critics wrong
Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic
May. 24, 2007 09:47 PM
In between blocking drills and footwork lessons at Cardinals headquarters, Alan Branch is busy preparing Mel Kiper Jr. a nice plate of bluster flambé.
For all the tediousness that accompanies voluntary workouts, it's hard not to lock in on rookie defensive tackle Branch. Ever since the two engaged in a verbal duel of table tennis - ESPN analyst Kiper questioned Branch's work ethic, and Branch offered, "I'm going to make sure he eats every word he said" - Branch has surfaced as one of the more intriguing stories at practice.
"I laugh about (the criticism) now," Branch said Thursday. "Most of the guys who say stuff like that are just fantasy football fans that have never been on the field; they've never really smelled the grass. Anyone who has seen me knows how hard I work."
The pre-draft skepticism might explain why the 6-foor-5, 334-pound Michigan standout went untouched in the first round. The Cardinals couldn't believe it. They gave up their second- and fourth-round picks to secure the Oakland Raiders' spot at the top of the second round and rejoiced at their good fortune.
If they could trust anyone's input, it would be defensive line coach Ron Aiken. Aiken spent the past eight seasons at Iowa, where he had an up-close look at Big Ten opponent Michigan.
"Most teams in college double-teamed him, and Alan did a great job as far as plugging up the middle," Aiken said. "The key thing is, when you watch him on tape in college, he stayed on the field about 85 percent of the time. There's not a lot of big guys that stay in the ballgame for a large majority of reps.
"That right there generated our interest."
If you won't take Aiken's word for it, then here is Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, better known in the Valley for his stint as an ASU assistant.
"I never agreed with the criticism," English said. "We played a lot of snaps, and we just didn't take him out that much. He could play a lot.
"I never professed to know the NFL, but I don't think you find guys like that very often. They got a real steal."
English said he is surprised he has not heard people talk about Branch's intelligence.
"He played every position on the defensive line for us," he said. "He could get everybody lined up, he could make checks. He's a very smart football player."
Branch, 22, is in a position to make an immediate impact on this team. With the shift to a 3-4 alignment, there is uncertainty on the line, and Branch will contend for time at nose tackle with Kendrick Clancy and Gabe Watson. He also could be used at defensive end.
The hunch here is Branch, with his size and smarts, will be starting in no time.
He feels indebted to the Cardinals.
"They showed me a lot of love by sacrificing what they did," Branch said. "They made a huge trade that they could have got some help in other areas. They showed a lot of confidence in me, and I'm going to try my best not to let them down."
Branch takes gratitude seriously. Just ask his father, David.
On draft day, moments after the Cardinals' selection of Branch was announced, Alan called his father outside. Parked in front of the house was a new Lincoln Navigator. His son handed him the keys.
"What is this for?" he asked.
"For you," Branch said.
Alan, his older brother and three nephews who used to live with the Branch family, joined together and purchased the car for David. It was a thank you for the years he worked three jobs to support the family and for the years when he helped coach them in football.
Seven years earlier, David had taken his family to a car show and was awed by the luxury of a Lincoln car.
Alan remembered.
Fortunately for the Cardinals, he remembers plenty.
Nice article and a good story... Hope she's right. I'm rooting for him to make Kiper eat his words.
Cards' Branch out to prove critics wrong
Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic
May. 24, 2007 09:47 PM
In between blocking drills and footwork lessons at Cardinals headquarters, Alan Branch is busy preparing Mel Kiper Jr. a nice plate of bluster flambé.
For all the tediousness that accompanies voluntary workouts, it's hard not to lock in on rookie defensive tackle Branch. Ever since the two engaged in a verbal duel of table tennis - ESPN analyst Kiper questioned Branch's work ethic, and Branch offered, "I'm going to make sure he eats every word he said" - Branch has surfaced as one of the more intriguing stories at practice.
"I laugh about (the criticism) now," Branch said Thursday. "Most of the guys who say stuff like that are just fantasy football fans that have never been on the field; they've never really smelled the grass. Anyone who has seen me knows how hard I work."
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The pre-draft skepticism might explain why the 6-foor-5, 334-pound Michigan standout went untouched in the first round. The Cardinals couldn't believe it. They gave up their second- and fourth-round picks to secure the Oakland Raiders' spot at the top of the second round and rejoiced at their good fortune.
If they could trust anyone's input, it would be defensive line coach Ron Aiken. Aiken spent the past eight seasons at Iowa, where he had an up-close look at Big Ten opponent Michigan.
"Most teams in college double-teamed him, and Alan did a great job as far as plugging up the middle," Aiken said. "The key thing is, when you watch him on tape in college, he stayed on the field about 85 percent of the time. There's not a lot of big guys that stay in the ballgame for a large majority of reps.
"That right there generated our interest."
If you won't take Aiken's word for it, then here is Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, better known in the Valley for his stint as an ASU assistant.
"I never agreed with the criticism," English said. "We played a lot of snaps, and we just didn't take him out that much. He could play a lot.
"I never professed to know the NFL, but I don't think you find guys like that very often. They got a real steal."
English said he is surprised he has not heard people talk about Branch's intelligence.
"He played every position on the defensive line for us," he said. "He could get everybody lined up, he could make checks. He's a very smart football player."
Branch, 22, is in a position to make an immediate impact on this team. With the shift to a 3-4 alignment, there is uncertainty on the line, and Branch will contend for time at nose tackle with Kendrick Clancy and Gabe Watson. He also could be used at defensive end.
The hunch here is Branch, with his size and smarts, will be starting in no time.
He feels indebted to the Cardinals.
"They showed me a lot of love by sacrificing what they did," Branch said. "They made a huge trade that they could have got some help in other areas. They showed a lot of confidence in me, and I'm going to try my best not to let them down."
Branch takes gratitude seriously. Just ask his father, David.
On draft day, moments after the Cardinals' selection of Branch was announced, Alan called his father outside. Parked in front of the house was a new Lincoln Navigator. His son handed him the keys.
"What is this for?" he asked.
"For you," Branch said.
Alan, his older brother and three nephews who used to live with the Branch family, joined together and purchased the car for David. It was a thank you for the years he worked three jobs to support the family and for the years when he helped coach them in football.
Seven years earlier, David had taken his family to a car show and was awed by the luxury of a Lincoln car.
Alan remembered.
Fortunately for the Cardinals, he remembers plenty.
