Belichick: Guys Like Alan Branch, "They're Hard to Find"

Belichick: Guys Like Alan Branch, "They're Hard to Find"

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When it comes to New England's defense, Alan Branch has certainly been one of the most important pieces of the Patriots puzzle on the defensive line this season.

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"How unique is it? I mean, yeah, guys that weigh 350 pounds and are athletic and long like he is; I mean they don’t grow on trees. They’re hard to find.”

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Someone needs to tell BB that Branch(es) do grow on trees .

Branch is a guy who would leave the reservation before he came here.....now it appears that he loves football again

Branch is gold : and I am so glad he is available for the big game.

IllegalContact said:

Branch is a guy who would leave the reservation before he came here.....now it appears that he loves football again

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He seems to be the defensive version of LG. Underachievers elsewhere but they just seem to get it here.

Hopefully he can stay in the off-season.

Hes had a great year.

Wasn't there a rumor that the reason he was "suspended" by the team in August was for cutting an atomic fart in a team meeting?

I so want that to be true.

So funny.....

IllegalContact said:

Branch is a guy who would leave the reservation before he came here.....now it appears that he loves football again

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Hmm ... the team DID suspend him in August.

Patriots DT Branch suspended

You can tell from the locker room vids and the few interviews he has done that he is a bit "different".

So was Ted Washington. There are some James Harrison types out there that are great athletes but ones that need to be handled and viewed personality-wise a bit differently than your Matthew Slaters.

On the other side of the Branch/Washington/James Harrison spectrum is the Marty Bennett/Randy Moss spectrum. Right in the middle is the Slater/Brady/Mayo/Bruschi category.

Somehow, someway "socially challenged" Bill Belichick is the only HC I've ever seen make handling all 3 types look so easy. Maybe the media has its collective head up its ax.

This quote would have prevented a lot of freaking out here last spring when Belichick passed on higher rated 6'1", 310 pound guys to "reach" for the unknown 6'4", 330 pound guy he picked. Many thought that the switch to the 4-3 would help Belichick get away from his crazy 3-4 DE prototype, when really it seems that he wants just as much height/length as before but now 30 pounds heavier.

So are these dance moves...

IllegalContact said:

Branch is a guy who would leave the reservation before he came here.....now it appears that he loves football again

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I think it's a combination of the fact that nobody comes here who is bigger than the program. Suh goes to Miami and doesn't give a **** about existing leadership there because he can do the math - he's too expensive and high-visibility for a flailing program like they have in Miami. He's just one example.

That plus players come here, get looked in the eye and told they're grown men, they'll be treated like one and they'll be held accountable like one. I think some players respond really, really well. Players who have struggled without structure or players who were expected to be leaders who now don't have to be.

It's really fun as a fan to watch other teams' problem children come here and fall in line.

Sciz said:

This quote would have prevented a lot of freaking out here last spring when Belichick passed on higher rated 6'1", 310 pound guys to "reach" for the unknown 6'4", 330 pound guy he picked. Many thought that the switch to the 4-3 would help Belichick get away from his crazy 3-4 DE prototype, when really it seems that he wants just as much height/length as before but now 30 pounds heavier.

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are you mixing up Malcolm Brown and Alan Branch?

Goodell is harder to find than Branch, Bill!

@Ian, I think you should point out that the suspension was rescinded because the NYJFL* jumped the gun. I can't remember the details, but they used an old sample or something. He did not win an appeal.

I'm going to assume they NYJFL* got excited thinking "we got them again!".

Here's hoping Michael Floyd decides to use Alan Branch as a model.

Was very disappointed that he didn't dress last week. Right now, in the playoffs, I think he could add something with his aggressive play.

Branch has had a Great Season. Thank You Alan Branch, you've been a Stud on the interior of our DLine. That Ring is close Alan, give us all U got on the 5th and you're a Champion with a Ring and Hardware and what should be a New Deal...

Its pretty obvious that Belichick loves Branch.

atta boy. that's my boy from michigan. woodley-branch-david harris-leon hall - we really had a special D. but yeah lloyd carr is no BB.

oh wait add shawn crable too. lol

honestly i think branch might be the single most important piece to our puzzle. our great D starts with being able to stop the run.

The best stat I saw about Branch was the fact that in the 19 snap that Steelers ran the ball when Alan was in there they averaged just 1.9ypc. THAT, my friends, is an impressive stat.