Scouting Notes
- Closes distance very well.
- The best tackler in this draft by a mile.
- Played all over the defensive backfield, can be a true hybrid DB.
- Good wiggle to get past blockers in space.
- Not very fast but fast enough.
- Gives up separation in man coverage, not very sticky.
- Motor doesn’t always run so hot.
- No pass rush moves as a blitzer, has no production when picked up.
- Played mostly slot, and wasn’t a great Corner.
Short Summary
Brian Branch has one truly elite quality – he is a phenomenal tackler. If you need to hang your hat on anything, there is that. It’s hard to completely bust in the NFL with a trait as elite as Branch’s tackling.
At the same time, he is a flawed and unimpressive prospect. Naturally, as an Alabama alum, he has a great feel for the game, plays with great anticipation, and is extremely disciplined. Aside from that, he is unimpressive in coverage, has average size, underwhelming athleticism, and is average at everything else.
Admittedly, it’s hard to see Brian Branch having a bad career. He is a relatively safe prospect, but his ceiling is severely limited, and his floor is not at all guaranteed.
Scouting Card Key
- Age refers to the age of the player come draft night, rounded to the nearest half-age.
- Percentage numbers in the Player Info and Combine Stats sections – This refers to the percentile that number belongs to among all players at his position, going back nearly a decade.
- CVRGrade – PFF Coverage Grade.
- Tgt/Snap – The percentage of a players snaps in which he was targeted.
- QBRA – QB Rating Against.
- Snaps/PEN – Snaps per Penalty. In other words, how many snaps does he play before getting his next penalty. The higher the number, the better.
- TDA – Touchdowns Allowed.
- RecYdsA/Tgt – Receiving Yards Allowed per Target.
Credit
Advanced stats – pff.com
Scouting card template / idea – Jordan Pun @Texans_Thoughts
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