Why is Alan Branch dropping on draft boards?

by David Fucillo on Mar 25, 2007 8:56 PM PDT in NFL Draft

Well, UNLV's season is over and I can finally get back to concentrating on what's important: 49ers FOOTBALL! It's been relatively quiet (minus Anthony Adams haulin ass out of town, so really the draft is all there is to look at, NFL-wise.

Over at the World Wide Leader, Graham Bensinger posted an interview last week that he conducted with Alan Branch. I mention this because as of late, Mel Kiper, Jr. has had Branch's draft stock dropping into the mid-teens and dropped him completely off his big board of prospects. It's made me wonder why. Maize N Brew is putting together a scouting report on Branch, but in the meantime, I'm curious what everyone here thinks about Branch, both positively and negatively and why you think Kiper would be dropping him. Is it because of team needs? Heck, he still has us taking Dwayne Jarrett, although the mock is 2 weeks old.

ESPN Insider has scouting reports on all draft prospects and had this to say about Branch's weaknesses:

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal explosiveness. He's quick for his size but lacks the speed and closing burst to consistently make an impact as a pass rusher in the NFL. He's mostly a one-dimensional bull rusher type. He needs to improve his arsenal of pass-rush moves. He has room to improve in terms of using his hands to play off of blocks. Durability is only a minor concern after missing two games due to a knee injury in 2005.

Mel Kiper is supposed to be the expert and yet he is going against what most everyone else is saying. If it was a few late round spots that'd be one thing. However, this is a high end option that I personally would LOVE to see the 49ers take.

So what does everyone else think?

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Comments

Keep talking down Branch, please

if he's there at 11, there will be a party at 49er HQ in Santa Clara.

this seems like a case of overanalyzing every player on the board. Does Kuiper know something about this guy that he didn't know 2 months ago? No.

Bring back Eddie D.

by nostocksjustbonds on Mar 26, 2007 8:22 AM PDT reply actions

Basically

He's been embarrassed at several post season camps. He showed up out of shape and more or less got worked over by coaches.

by JasonB on Mar 26, 2007 8:28 AM PDT reply actions

So it comes down to

What do you value more? What you saw on the field or what these post draft camps reveal about his character or work ethic?

by JasonB on Mar 26, 2007 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Tough call

I don't have the slighest idea how you value, quantify or compare the two. Branch will get a sizeable contract basically no matter what he did from him last college game to the draft.

If he slacked off right out of college that's one thing. How many people go straight from college to work? I know a bunch of people that went to Europe or moved back home with their parents for a couple of months. But if Branch is going to be satisfied with cashing in on his first contract and continue to slack off well that's going to be a problem.

The guy is flat out a monster and should be a high impact player in the NFL, but I guess his desire to be one is a little questionable.

by methodrampage on Mar 26, 2007 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

work ethic

It's certainly something to worry about. Will he have the drive at the next level to be great. Or will land him and he turns into another Kwame Harris?

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by David Fucillo on Mar 26, 2007 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Personally

I think you'd be crazy to pass up Patrick Willis if he's there...

by JasonB on Mar 26, 2007 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Willis

If Branch falls to us at 11, then Willis is a likely candidate to jump into the top 10 and thus not be there when we pick.

Bring back Eddie D.

by nostocksjustbonds on Mar 26, 2007 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Draft Tek

Why do these wieners still have us taking Bowe at 11? Apparently we pass on Okoye, Branch and Willis.

by methodrampage on Mar 26, 2007 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

According to those ESPN

... "On The Clock" segments, Kiper feels that a lot of teams may pass on Willis. He actually thought Willis may be available when the Patriots pick (I think it was).

Okoye and Willis should definately be ranked higher on the boards than Bowe. On ANYONE's board.

by sfgfan on Mar 26, 2007 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions