Is DT Alan Branch worth our 1st and 2nd round draft picks?

[SECTION 509]

This kid was impressive at Michigan and has the size to dominate as a DT for us.

Do you think he would be worth trading our first 2 draft picks to the Redskins and move up to grab him?

He could solve the DL issues!

[Clockwork Orange]

It would take more than just that to move up from #21 to #6.

[youcandoit1687]

It'd take more to get to #6 but if all we had to give up to get him was our first 2 picks, I'd be more than okay with it.

[maven]

Section:

You meant to say our 1st, 2nd, and both 3rd round picks to move up to #6 to select Branch.

[Atlas]

If Denver was to move that far up I would rather have Gaines Adams from Clemson.

[maven]

If Denver was to move that far up I would rather have Gaines from Clemson.

Or Jamaal Anderson.

[listopencil]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i132/tekneekofpain/freakslaughingnbmt9-1.gif



That is some really freaky **** right there.

[Vegas_Bronco]

That is some really freaky **** right there.

WHO is THAT???

[BroncoBuff]

I'm against it for this reason:

We could get Cal DT semi-widebody Brandon Mebane in the 2nd round .... and he's gonna be a very good DT in the league for a long time. Maybe not aquite as good as Branch, but we'd have our 1st rounder free for Nebraska DE Adam Carriker or maybe even Ole' Miss MLB/Sam LB Patrick Willis.

[Killericon]

No.

[NFLBRONCO]

I'd do a major trade up IF we land Kerney and take Branch. If we don't land Kerney we should stay put and draft DE DT on day 1.

[No Frills]

I think a guy like Branch on the DL would be worth more to our defense than any CB/LB etc.

A guy that size could make all the difference.

We have never had a D lineman close to his ability!

He looks like he can be real nasty and that is what we need!

[Requiem]

Depends. A lot of people coming out of Indianapolis have lowered his grade (according to Scout.com and several people I've talked to) I think it'll be hard for Miami to pass him up and there may be several other teams interested in his services within the top ten. He's not a top ten talent, he's a first-round talent that sometimes plays like a day two player. No doubt he fits Bates' scheme to a T and would be a great player in this defense, but I'm not sure where he'll end up.

Denver moving up with their first and second doesn't guarantee him, but with the acquisition of Wilkinson, it's evident the Broncos want big men in the middle and he's a big man.

Someone mentioned Mebane, love him but I'm not sure if he's what we're looking for. Think he'd be a good addition to our team, but I don't know if he's the best fit.

Branch, Soliai and Tyler are probably as good as it gets. Some people disagree with me on Tyler, but he has the strength and size (can put on more weight) to anchor up the line.

[youcandoit1687]

I love Branch's size and I saw him making a ton of plays from the tackle position. I haven't looked at his film but just watching him play, he is a playmaker. Okoye dissappeared too, most DTs do it lol, I saw him stumbling towards the QB in the Orange Bowl. I'm far from sold on Okoye and would much rather have Branch. He's big, athletic, strong, and would be a force in the line. He appears to be in better condition that Okoye but that is just by looks.

[doof]

I think Justin Harrell is just the type of player Shanny would reach for in the 2nd round. He's a big body run stuffer and is coming off an injury shortened senior season after rupturing his bicep. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in Denver.

[Mediator12]

Depends. A lot of people coming out of Indianapolis have lowered his grade (according to Scout.com and several people I've talked to) I think it'll be hard for Miami to pass him up and there may be several other teams interested in his services within the top ten. He's not a top ten talent, he's a first-round talent that sometimes plays like a day two player. No doubt he fits Bates' scheme to a T and would be a great player in this defense, but I'm not sure where he'll end up.

Denver moving up with their first and second doesn't guarantee him, but with the acquisition of Wilkinson, it's evident the Broncos want big men in the middle and he's a big man.

Someone mentioned Mebane, love him but I'm not sure if he's what we're looking for. Think he'd be a good addition to our team, but I don't know if he's the best fit.

Branch, Soliai and Tyler are probably as good as it gets. Some people disagree with me on Tyler, but he has the strength and size (can put on more weight) to anchor up the line.


I finally got some tape on this kid, and he is less consistent than Bunkley was last year without the production. What does that tell you?

It means buyer beware, potential First round BUST DT masquerading in a weak ass top DT class. This DE class is top notch, but the DT's are adequate to average with a whole bunch of questionable first day guys with limited skill sets. There is not one complete DT in the whole draft unless Alama-Francis and Ray Mcdonald play DT over DE.

Move up for this kid? No Way!

[BroncoBen]

This is hard for me to say.. since Alan Branch is from my neck of the woods and my son has played against him in High School.

But it would be crazy for the Broncos to trade away the top of their draft to get him, no matter how good Branch could turn out to be.

With the signing they have made at CB and RB, not to mention bringing in more depth at FB and OL. They can pretty much draft now the best available player and not get cornered into drafting for a need.

But getting back to Alan Branch, I have been hearing around here that Branch could add more weight and play DT, or keep his current weight and play DE, some talking heads even think he could lose some weight and play some LB or stand up DE in a 3-4 defense.

The kid has his head on straigt and has all the talent in the world, I just hope he goes to a team that plays to strenghts, Michigan tended to just have him drop back and play run, and not the passer so much.

[bpc]

I like Harrell... Mebane is the guy i'm pulling hard for... hell, if we feel good about it, move back in the 1st or early second and pick up both... or angle for Griffin in a trade down and then focus the rest of our picks on the DL.

I personally am not sold on Alan Branch. He is very much a hit or miss prospect in my opinion who will hang around in the league for awhile because of his size, not because of his statistics.

[Requiem]

I finally got some tape on this kid, and he is less consistent than Bunkley was last year without the production. What does that tell you?

It means buyer beware, potential First round BUST DT masquerading in a weak ass top DT class. This DE class is top notch, but the DT's are adequate to average with a whole bunch of questionable first day guys with limited skill sets. There is not one complete DT in the whole draft unless Alama-Francis and Ray Mcdonald play DT over DE.

Move up for this kid? No Way!

Good points. This is also why I said sometimes he plays like a Day 2 pick. He didn't live up to expectations at all and being a Michigan fan (FSU #1, Michigan #2) I've seen plenty of Branch. I thought he'd put it together this year but didn't. Can be dominant, but can be Gerard Warren #2.

I think you're exactly right.

Buyer Beware on this one.

I'm on the fence, but he fits what we seem to want at tackle.

If it was my preference, this is how my day one would go given FA. (Assuming we get Graham too.)

#21 - Defensive End (Preferably LE, wouldn't mind Jarvis Moss or someone else.)

#56 - Defensive Tackle (Tyler, Soliai, Mebane (Love him, but how does he fit here) and maybe a risk on Marcus Thomas.)

#70 - Offensive Tackle (Should be some good talent here. Ryan Harris, Doug Free, James Marten. . . just tossing some names!)

#86 - Safety (Plethora of guys with similar grades in my opinion, just take your pick.)

How does that sound bud? :D

[-Slap-]

WHO is THAT???

That's a girl from a movie called "Freaks" by Tod Browning. It was released in 1932 and most of the cast were carnival performers. She had a sister who looked just like her and was also in the film. The final reel really freaked out most audiences.

[youcandoit1687]

Well, I really respect your opinions Med and Req but it's hard for me to settle down on the kid. Would you move up to maybe 16 for him?

I do like Harrell or McBean in the second or early third but if Branch isn't there at 21, my choice is Michael Griffin but try to trade down a little and still get him. Reggie Nelson is early mid 2nd IMO. I think DE could be had with the early third, going with a guys like Tim Crowder, Ray McDonald, Dan Bazuin, or Ikaika Alama-Francis who would be every down types. 3B could be used on BPA, likely a WR. Draft for depth on the second day, maybe pick a punter, LB STer, or RB.

[mattob14]

Good points. This is also why I said sometimes he plays like a Day 2 pick. He didn't live up to expectations at all and being a Michigan fan (FSU #1, Michigan #2) I've seen plenty of Branch. I thought he'd put it together this year but didn't. Can be dominant, but can be Gerard Warren #2.

I think you're exactly right.

Buyer Beware on this one.

I'm on the fence, but he fits what we seem to want at tackle.

If it was my preference, this is how my day one would go given FA. (Assuming we get Graham too.)

#21 - Defensive End (Preferably LE, wouldn't mind Jarvis Moss or someone else.)

#56 - Defensive Tackle (Tyler, Soliai, Mebane (Love him, but how does he fit here) and maybe a risk on Marcus Thomas.)

#70 - Offensive Tackle (Should be some good talent here. Ryan Harris, Doug Free, James Marten. . . just tossing some names!)

#86 - Safety (Plethora of guys with similar grades in my opinion, just take your pick.)

How does that sound bud? :D

Almost exactly the way I see it going, but I'd rather have a Safety at #70 (I think guys like Weddle and Wendling will be gone by #86). Man, I wish we could have picked up Kerney. Having him at LDE would have let us add Jarvis Moss at #21 and we would have had a real nice set of DE's.

[mattob14]

I wasn't impressed with Branch when I watched him. Granted, I didn't see much more than the OSU game, but he didn't get much push and seemed to be on the ground A LOT. If he wasn't getting cut by the O-Line, he was losing his balance on a spin move. It's hard to clog the middle when your playing from your knees.

[SureShot]

I would rather move up and get Landry.

[Rohirrim]

WHO is THAT???

That is a clip from a Nazi propaganda film about mental retardation that Goebbels and company used to rationalize the euthanization of the mentally handicapped. The narrator, in German, is saying things like, "Who would want to live like this?"

BTW, I've heard a couple of scouts who have said that Branch is overrated. Mayock called him a "boom or bust" player. I would take Gaines Adams over Branch in a second.

[DrFate]

Those interior linemen get hurt too much to give up the whole draft.

[TheChamp24]

You do not trade an entire draft to trade up and select a DT. Look at the DT "failures" who were drafted high:
2001:
Gerrard Warren, 3rd overall - not worth that high of a pick
Damione Lewis, 12th overall
Ryan Pickett, 29th overall

2002:
Ryan Sims, 6th overall
Wendell Bryant, 12th overall
Albert Haynesworth, 15th overall

2003:
Dewayne Robertson, 4th overall
Johnathan Sullivan, 6th overall
Jimmy Kennedy, 12th overall
William Joseph, 25th overall

2004:
Marcus Tubbs, 23rd overall

I'll stop there. Also, we could be like the Rams and draft 3 DT's in the 1st round in 3 years, Lewis, Pickett, and Kennedy, and look how that turned out for them. Lewis and Pickett aren't with them anymore and Kennedy isn't anything special. Huge risk of a pick it seems, DT.
I think I'd prefer to draft DE than DT, wait for DT in the 2nd round.

[listopencil]

That is a clip from a Nazi propaganda film about mental retardation that Goebbels and company used to rationalize the euthanization of the mentally handicapped. The narrator, in German, is saying things like, "Who would want to live like this?"


She looks like she has some size on her. Can she play DT?

[bloodsunday]

No way! I am a HUGE Michigan fan (painful to admit lately) and I would not give up that much to get Branch. He is not a hard enough worker -- we have enough of them. BUST is the word that comes to mind when I think of him. He has a lot of risk for a guy that will be taken in the top 15 or so picks.

[bendog]

NOT a good idea when we have no two-way DE on the entire squad, except maybe DogFood, and he's a journeyman. I'm thinking we prolly draft someone like Jarvis Moss, put 35 pounds of muscle on him, and then let him walk as a UFA cause shanny thinks DEs are overpaid.

[No Frills]

no Way!

[NYBronc]

That's a girl from a movie called "Freaks" by Tod Browning. It was released in 1932 and most of the cast were carnival performers. She had a sister who looked just like her and was also in the film. The final reel really freaked out most audiences.

There's a guy with just a head and a little stump for a body who rolls a cigarette with only his mouth, lights it, and smokes it in that flick.

[bloodsunday]

I finally got some tape on this kid, and he is less consistent than Bunkley was last year without the production. What does that tell you?

It means buyer beware, potential First round BUST DT masquerading in a weak ass top DT class. This DE class is top notch, but the DT's are adequate to average with a whole bunch of questionable first day guys with limited skill sets. There is not one complete DT in the whole draft unless Alama-Francis and Ray Mcdonald play DT over DE.

Move up for this kid? No Way!

* Disclaimer * I am a Michigan Fan.

AND I STILL SAY NO WAY. I said this on this board last week. If you move up to #6 and pay $50M you need a no doubt about it pick and this guy is not it. You might have to take Adrian Peterson (assuming he slips) or some other position at which we are not desperate. But you just cannot force a "need" pick on a risky player because he is the only one in the draft and you are desperate. We draft above 15 so infrequently that we MUST get a play maker and a cornerstone player if we make a move up.

[BroncoBuff]

That is a clip from a Nazi propaganda film about mental retardation that Goebbels and company used to rationalize the euthanization of the mentally handicapped. The narrator, in German, is saying things like, "Who would want to live like this?"

BTW, I've heard a couple of scouts who have said that Branch is overrated. Mayock called him a "boom or bust" player. I would take Gaines Adams over Branch in a second.

I think nfldraftcountdown.com also calls Alan Branch a boom or bust type.

BTW - Netflix has "Freaks," and it's in my Queue. Now that I know she's a SHE, I'm gonna check the mailbox and break out the vaseline. :yayaya:












(I know, that is unthinkable. ;D)

[NFLBRONCO]

If we trade up it better be for a DE.

[No Frills]

I don't think he is worth the top 10 money!

Just my opinion!

GO BRONCOS!

[No Frills]

There are much better DL in the draft!

[RunSilentRunDeep]

Branch seems to be dropping on a lot of boards. Typical of the follow-the-leader "expert" opinions on the Web. While it would certainly cost more money than a rookie, Denver should consider making a run at Randy Starks. He only has a 3rd-round tender and is 23 years old. The Titans may be too cheap to match a reasonable offer.

Anyone know the story with the Walter Thomas kid?