Deion Branch

[DocHoliday]

While not at all the reason we lost, I thought it was worth pointing out his play.

Is it becoming apparent now why the Patriots didn't want him anymore?

He still has the mind-meld with Brady, but he can't run, can't separate, and has minimal big play ability.

Defenders will point to the vital 3rd down conversion he provided last week, but honestly you'd much rather a guy that doesn't disappear for series at a time.

Edelman is a clear upgrade, and as we saw against the Ravens, can play a little on the outside and make some nice catches even when he's being abused by the corners. He even has fight in him that has seemed to elude the uber-calm Branch.

I love the guy, but between him and the younger, faster, fresher Edelman, it's obvious why he was sitting at home come September.

Can't wait for JE to come back.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Not sure what value he brings these days besides Brady comfort.

Frankly, I'd rather they try Salas out and see what he can bring to the table. At least until JE comes back.

 

[blackglass3]

After seeing him get shoved around by the Seahawks post play a few times and do nothing about it, I was wishing he wasn't out there. No fire, no heart, none of that "Don't F with us" attitude we are sorely lacking.

However, if Edelman coming back means we yank Welker off the field again then I guess I'd rather have Branch out there.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

he looked like a pats cb on bradys 1st int.

 

[Mack Herron]

BB's attempts to find WRs as futile as his attempts to find DBs.

 

[Nehalem]

BB's attempts to find WRs as futile as his attempts to find DBs.

Well to be fair. Any of WRs he has drafted would probably look great against the Pats DBs

 

[Nunchucks]

Branch cannot get open in man to man coverage, simple as that. He isn't that old, but for some reason he has lost his shake and bake (something that we should fear will happen to Welker fairly soon).

As for the throw that was picked, it should never have left Brady's hand. WTF was Brady thinking, throwing a deep sideline route to Branch with a 6'3 CB in coverage? That was pure stupidity.

 

[The_Riddler]

Another upgrade is definately needed opposite Lloyd. Something we'll have to address in the draft at this point.

 

[blackglass3]

BB's attempts to find WRs as futile as his attempts to find DBs.

Um, no. BB found Deion Branch and David Givens, saw the potential in Welker that no one else saw, and got a record breaking season out of a "washed up" WR. Sure, most of the late pick WR's haven't worked out but the hit/miss ratio on that stinks anyway. Oh, and Edleman looks like he can be a competent WR if he can knock off the injuries. I realize some of the picks haven't worked, but Chad Jackson is the only WR pick that actually left us in a lurch in 2006. Sure it would have been nice of Bethel Johnson, PK Sam, or Taylor Price to work out.

On the DB side, Asante was a great find. Besides him the only one I can think of that has been good has been Eugene Wilson.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

That was a rare bad throw and decision by Brady. Thing is no one not named Welker was getting open. Or when they clearly were they were dropping them.

 

[blackglass3]

Another upgrade is definately needed opposite Lloyd. Something we'll have to address in the draft at this point.

I don't know. I think an Edelman/Lloyd on combo on the outside with Welker in the slot and the TE's on the field will be much better.

 

[PatsSweFan]

Can't believe he was the first read on so many passes and Brady tried to fit it in to him.
We need Gronk and AH healthy and make more plays for us, especially on 3rd down it's welker or nothing (few times Woodhead has made some great plays)

 

[PatsFan2]

Our ineptitude at Drafting WR's have come back to bite us in the @ss! Maybe ten years from now if we are alive they'll get it right. Seriously i never had Deion Branch making he final roster.

 

[condon84]

Can't fault Branch for that INT. Brady had no business throwing that ball to him. That being said, Branch does have very limited skills he brings to the table. He's not fast. He's not tall. And he isn't as quick as he used to be. He brings a level of comfort to Brady though.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

At this point, Tiquan Underwood might be a better fit than him.

4 catches for 44 yards.

Seriously.

 

[dannydyn]

Branch is a hit or miss type of a thing. Sometimes he makes awesome catches, sometimes he’s just overrun by his coverage.

As much as I dislike that primadonna, I wish they brought in Plaxico Burress. He has the height (like Moss had) to go deep and grab the ball out of the sky.

 

[PatsSweFan]

Agree on Burress. Now Hernandez was used on a fade route but Burress is awesome on that and it really open up the play call to have that kind of a guy in RZ

 

[mgteich]

We ran the 3 WR set 69% of the time.
Branch was in on 72% of the reps.
I would have rather seen much more 2 TE set, even with Fells out there.

 

[BadMoFo]

So now we are just looking for anyone to criticize. It doesn't matter who the third receiver is, Brady is mostly going to throw it to Welker, Lloyd and the tight ends, regardless. I'd rather have Branch there than someone who doesn't know what he's doing.

People need to quit *****ing. That INT is on Brady and only Brady. That was gonna be an interception no matter how fast the receiver. It's not the first time Brady has thrown a horrible deep pass in his career, and I'm sure it's not going to be his last.

 

[mgteich]

I would rather run the 3 WR much less often. Is it really great to be playing a receiver than cannot get open? Perhaps we should be playing on of the coaches; they know the system. Branch adds almost nothing to the receiving game. As was said, we'd probably be better off if we had kept Underwood on the squad.

So now we are just looking for anyone to criticize. It doesn't matter who the third receiver is, Brady is mostly going to throw it to Welker, Lloyd and the tight ends, regardless. I'd rather have Branch there than someone who doesn't know what he's doing.



People need to quit *****ing. That INT is on Brady and only Brady. That was gonna be an interception no matter how fast the receiver. It's not the first time Brady has thrown a horrible deep pass in his career, and I'm sure it's not going to be his last.