More on Branch
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 9:01 am in Oakland Raiders.
From Mel Kiper Jr.’s draft guide on Tyvon Branch:
“He won the National Indoor Track Championship in the 60 meters as a (high school) senior; he won the state title in the 100 and 200 meters; and was the state track athlete of the year in 2004.”
Kiper’s guide says Branch could be shifted to safety at the pro level.
The Raiders gave up one of their two seventh-round picks _ No. 213 _ to move up from No. 104 to No. 100 and select Branch.
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April 27th, 2008 at 9:02 am
No justification for this BS.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:02 am
wow…al’s hands all over this
April 27th, 2008 at 9:03 am
sounds like AL
April 27th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Horrible, just plain horrible Al.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:04 am
WTF
April 27th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Infuriating……..completely infuriating.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Al Davis needs to buy a professional track team, and sell the Raiders, he doesn’t seem to understand that there are other players on the field other than CB’s
April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Tyvon Branch
2008 NFL Draft Prospect - Scouting Report
Branch is a prospect that has shot onto the radar recently thanks to the combine, where he posted one of the fastest times of any of the participants, clocking in at a blistering 4.31 seconds.
While he’ll no doubt catch some eyes because of his speed, strength (19 bench press reps at the combine, one of the top totals among corners) and versatility in the secondary (he played both safety and corner in college), Branch’s abilities as a return man might get him the most time on the field early on.
As a senior, Branch returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 28.9 yards per return on 27 returns.
Branch was a national champion sprinter in high school, so he’s certainly put his speed to good use and will continue to do so on the next level. There’s a good chance that he could be moved to safety in the NFL, but wherever he plays, he should be a solid contributor (may it be primarily in defense or on special teams).
Branch could be drafted as high as the third round and will likely be off the board no later than the fourth.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
peeeeeeuuw..
a 7th, thats okay. I can live with that, especially if has the right stuff (to return balls)
April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Someone said we traded next years SECOND to move up!?!?!?!?!? Is this true !?!?!?!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
what a track star, no way
April 27th, 2008 at 9:06 am
he wasn’t drafted to be a CB, or a S, he was drafted to be a KR/PR/Gunner
April 27th, 2008 at 9:06 am
someone needs to put the c-pipe down
April 27th, 2008 at 9:06 am
it’s not what we gave up………..it’s what we passed up
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
This pick better translate into a Jordan/Stu/Washington trade to Cincy for CJ, lol.
Or, he better make every damn tackle on STs….jeeeez, I am in shock.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Big Al drafting for speed. Who knew?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
The Raiders gave up one of their two seventh-round picks No. 213 to move up from No. 104 to No. 100 and select Branch.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Lavell Hawkins
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
You scallywags naysaying Al are not real pirates. You are all land locked pigs feeding at the trough with nothing good to say about the captain. ARGHHHHHHH
In Al we trust
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
the #41 overall player on my board is STILL available…………..
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Can wait to see what Kiffin has to say!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Frozen, I said that….I was kidding.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
TT…
and probable safety backup, so stu will be let go
April 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
‘# Tommy Trojan Says:
April 27th, 2008 at 9:06 am
it’s not what we gave up………..it’s what we passed up”
EXACTLY!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
he’ll say we drastically improved our STs…………
April 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
That pick brought our draft down from an A+ to a b-
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
In Al we bust…..
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
hell ain’t that why #50 takes a roster spot solely for special teams???
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Bastard.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Bastard.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
It appears out team is “set” we will due some manuv’s in the second FA/Cut market.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
By all accounts the kid is a good pick as an ST demon/versatile DB….but like Tommy said, it´s who we passed on.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I bet this guy does not even make the team.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Dakota…
irony on text isn’t always easy to decode, next time please write (joke) or something, because i did not find it funny
April 27th, 2008 at 9:10 am
sorry dude
April 27th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Just thinking about our second and third round picks we gave up for Hall and Henderson in this year’s draft. Sigh……
April 27th, 2008 at 9:10 am
bigger tougher chris carr replacement - sounds tough - always good to get help on special teams - also backup safety- its what kiffen said last year- he likes guys who can do multiple things -
April 27th, 2008 at 9:11 am
This is first. I never, ever heard all analysts, both maylock and Kiper, absolutely loving this pick.
One of the best kick returners (something we don’t need), probably the best gunner in the draft (something we need, look at all those returns for TDs against us last year), and speed and size, more suited for safety according to Kiper (another something we needed). He’ll end up being Huff’s backup.
So I’ll call this a brilliant pick.
But going back to what is a first. All the analysts rave that it’s a brilliant pick and 90% of the fans hate it.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Surprised that John David Booty is still available.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:11 am
what bout chris Johnson #37 they should have played him more on that Bears game what were they thinking having carr cover Berrian.. Johnson had broken up the same play twice in the first half what a shame .. like in the Gruden era Kiffin still has tooo many 1-D (special team) guys!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:11 am
going up from 4.5 to 4.1 is about 4 points, which means a late 7th round pick.
So I’m guessing we gave up our 7th this or next year.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:12 am
hey guys we need all the help on Special team, look at what KC, Denver and SD has in return guys, we need fast and hardhitting people on ST especially after the others have upgraded their ST’s
April 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Pirate…
in stead of guessing you could read what Jerry Mac has written
April 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
dakota, he’ll make the team, he’ll be our starting KR/PR/and primary gunner, he alows us to dump alot of dead weight, but we could have added a starting DE or competition at LT or DT, it’s justifiable based on who we got, he’s a 2nd or 3rd round prospect because of his return abilities, but we could have done so much better
April 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Great PICK…
April 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Booty = avg guy. Cost us a notional title this year
April 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
But do we need more help on ST, or with the D-line stopping the run? No way to spin it. Just a bad pick, period
April 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Jerry Mac:
“The Raiders gave up one of their two seventh-round picks _ No. 213 _ to move up from No. 104 to No. 100 and select Branch.”
April 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Pirate Arrrgghhhhhhh, we fans could be wrong but dammit haven’t we watched enuf of the Raidahs to see other much more glaring needs that could have been addressed? We better stop the run and protect the “franchise QB” or Big Al will be blaming everybody BUT himself. Damn…..
April 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Probably could have gotten this guy as an undrafted free agent, lol.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
TT…
yeah i’m sure he will make the team, aswell
April 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
QB Woodson from kentucky still on the board.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
EVERYONE……………don’t think of him as a CB, think of him as an explosive KR/PR and instantly our best ST player…………..think of him in that context and you’ll be far less annoyed
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Sorry, Im still annoyed.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
It’s not so much that Branch won’t be a good asset to the Raiders. It’s that we now only get four picks in this draft. That’s a very small pool of young talent for the Raiders to draw from. I think this was a horrible move. Branch may have still been available at #104, and we get one less pick out of the draft now.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Al has an infatuation with guys named Branch. Lets bring Cliff and Calvin in for workout eh AL
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Dakota…
come on, man, dont pout! you got your McFadden, so cut it out =)
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Lets see history would tell us that the current starters Kelly/Sands undrafted Darrel Russel/Mcgloton drafted never really lived up to the hype!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
hmmmmm, nope tt, STILL PISSED.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
FABIAN GONE
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
this guy was considered a mid 2nd rounder or early 3rd rounder BECAUSE OF HIS RETURN ABILITIES AND 4.31 SPEED, he actually ran in the 4.2s in college as well, technically he’s a steal, but his primary position is not one of need
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
fabion was just traded
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
we are back in it…..trade fabian…bhp is pissed right now! We will select a….kicker!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
we´re back on the clock
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
cooper and branch not so bad on st
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
So that leaves us with 1 pick. So we are set until FA/cut time. Nice
UDFA pickup lavelle hawkins, and justin forsett.
Hell justin forsett could run back kicks.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Ok, we just traded Fabe for a 4th rounder. I guess he is an upgrade over Fabe, but we better make this damn pick count.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
4th round pick for Fabian…now Branch dont look so bad we NEED a KR/Saftey
April 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
for pick 125 4th rd
April 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
nice we got another 4th for Fabes
April 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
i like guys who are quoted to be : “most vicious hitter” and “the best size speed strength combinations” in the draft—
April 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Come on, with Branch, we have shortened our field considerably.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
# Tommy Trojan Says:
April 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
EVERYONE……………don’t think of him as a CB, think of him as an explosive KR/PR and instantly our best ST player…………..think of him in that context and you’ll be far less annoyed
______________
hear hear! for a 7th and a 4th if this is our new return man, then im on. Come on guys this is a major upgrade from Chris Carr
April 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Fabian for a late 4th…lol. Ouch. Wow, we get screwed in trades.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Well Nation this could be a blessing in disguised all the Chuky picks that were seen as GREAT ?EXCELLENT bla bla uh how many of those are still on the Roster??
Maybe less is more!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Fabe for a 4th rounder the great giveaway!!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
But still, we have technically spent a 2nd and a 4th on CBs this year.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
“Native Says:
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Lets see history would tell us that the current starters Kelly/Sands undrafted Darrel Russel/Mcgloton drafted never really lived up to the hype!”
Native, that’s a bad comparison and irrelevant. What matters is what happens on the field and we were no better stopping the run with Kelly/Sands ON THE FIELD together.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
all we got was #125
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Kris Jenkins, one of the best DT´s around and a Pro Bowl player was traded for a 3rd and a 5th….Fabian for a 4th, no matter what we think his value was, it´s what the other teams are willing to give up.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
washington for pick 125
April 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Fab to the Ravens for a 4th round 125th pick overall
April 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am
is it #12 now? 111 overall?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Oliver its VERY possible Branch will never play CB so call him a SS/KR and take an aspirin.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am
you guys are great you were just crying over all that was bypassed to get branch and now you cry that you got a 4th for a backup corner!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
did we pick beau bell?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Norvell chillin in the weight room what a dork.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
we better get thompson, robertson, hills, bryant, moore, or okam with #125
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Fabs for a fourth???? I bet we take a running back. GAWD, why am I not surprised?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
EXACTLY TT Good point
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
WE GOT A 2ND ROUND RETURN MAN IN THE 4TH ROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:21 am
JORDAN find yourself a new home!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:21 am
this 4th round is totally screwed up. Man why is it NFL makes the worst sites ever? is their server 486 from the 90’s? or what
April 27th, 2008 at 9:21 am
haha get ready for Chauncey Washington RB USC…or Orlando Scandrick CB Boise State
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I predict Al will select a long-snapper at # 125! Or maybe a guy to hold the ball on kickoffs on windy days???
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Man, wish we could have gotten a 3rd for Fabian. Good luck and thanks for the time here, Fabian.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Dont worry guys we just got our kick returner
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
hawkins………….
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Fabian a raven, were back in the 4th
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
REMEMBER TT WORKS FOR THE MARKETING DEPARMENT…HE IS IN SPIN MODE! lol.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Okam from Pitt is still available?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Red Bryant is still there right?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Ill calm down as soon as we get d-line help at 125
April 27th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Who did we trade to?????
April 27th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Why did CLE take Rucker?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Yes and yes to 101 and 102…but Al will pass on them for…Mike Hart, RB, Mich, lol.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:25 am
new post
April 27th, 2008 at 9:25 am
The approach to the draft this year suggests that Kiffin is making an imprint. Recall that last year, one of the first pre-season indications of changes under Kiffin was the prompt release of players that did not fit in the team’s plan. This targeted approach to the draft is similar. Kiffin commented the other day that we would only move up to pick identified players, not just to stockpile picks. There may be a determination that that this draft is not that strong overall, and there is no interest in dumping capable veterans just to sweep in draftees who are not expected to make the team.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Or Booty
April 27th, 2008 at 9:29 am
John Goff
April 27th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Raiders need to select John Goff…….he is a sure tackler at LB and could be the MLB making kirk go outside where he belongs
April 27th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Raiders must feel he’s an immediate dime back and special teamer and have something lined up w/washington and routt or am i just reaching really, really far out there?
CT RAIDER
April 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Brien: i’ve been saying for 2 years morrisson should be on the outside! unless we ever converted to 3-4 then he can be an ilb.
CT RAIDER
April 27th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Anyone notice Branch was from the Syracuse NY area? Man, Al, Al, Al all over it