Quote:Everything I read points to a 2 - 3 year period for DEs not named Clowney or Watt to learn how to play DE in the NFL. I don't think it's a as much a matter of scheming to make Branch successful as it is the LEO position being more suitable for Branch's skill set
This. If left in the pure DE position Branch would be making the FA rounds next year. Just my humble opinion.
Quote:I think this is mostly about Branch and his offseason. Clemons, Branch and Babin were going to have to split LEO snaps 3 ways. For a team in a rebuilding process, there was no need to give snaps to a 34 year old Babin at the expense of a 24 year old Branch.
<a class="" href='https://twitter.com/LRiddickESPN'>
Louis Riddick
@LRiddickESPN </a> <a class="" href='https://twitter.com/LRiddickESPN/status/479605052911263744'>4h</a>
<p class="" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(41,47,51);font-size:14.285714149475098px;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);"><a class="" href='https://twitter.com/ryanohalloran'>@ryanohalloran</a> Although personally not a believer, have been told they expect this to be the year DE Andre Branch takes game to new level.
Quote:He really was a fun guy to watch. Hopefully he takes advantage of this opportunity.
Doesn't it just seem like he takes advantage every time he is on the field? I'd like to see him get done consistent snaps this year.
<a class="" href='https://twitter.com/LRiddickESPN'>
Louis Riddick
@LRiddickESPN </a> <a class="" href='https://twitter.com/LRiddickESPN/status/479688163955200000' title="11:12 AM - 19 Jun 2014">4m</a>
<p class="" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(41,47,51);font-size:14.285714149475098px;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">Mentioned last month <a class="" href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jaguars?src=hash'>#Jaguars</a> rookie 5th rd DE Chris Smith was someone to watch as far as his development pace. So far - so good...
Quote:
<div style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14.285714149475098px;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">Louis Riddick @LRiddickESPN 4h
<p style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(41,47,51);font-size:14.285714149475098px;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">@ryanohalloran Although personally not a believer, have been told they expect this to be the year DE Andre Branch takes game to new level.
</div>
Oh, well if
you're not a believer then....
.gif "Laughing")
Not sure why people wouldn't be a believer in Branch until he gives you a reason not to.
Quote:It's kind of funny watching Alfie do everything he can to avoid admitting that perhaps Branch has shown improvement. Someone said Gus mentioned Branch after almost every practice, and Alfie tried to spin it like he was being asked directly about the guy. Another commenter corrected him by pointing out the question was a generic one about what players stood out during specific practices. Never asked by name. Poor Alfie.
He does the same thing a certain poster on this board does. He digs his heels in so far on a guy to succeed/fail and won't admit he was wrong.
I do get a kick out of his crew parroting everything he says as if it were gospel.
They probably feel that Babin cant give them anything Branch cant. Then we have Clemons and other young bucks... Babin is not needed.
Quote:Oh, well if you're not a believer then....
Not sure why people wouldn't be a believer in Branch until he gives you a reason not to.
Right? How much of the Jaguars OTA's do you think Mr. Riddick has seen this offseason?
Chris Smith made Babin expendable. Not saying Smith is better, just that the team sees development from the young guys and the need to get them on the field. Babin's snaps will go to guys who are in the long term plans.
Quote:Everything I read points to a 2 - 3 year period for DEs not named Clowney or Watt to learn how to play DE in the NFL. I don't think it's a as much a matter of scheming to make Branch successful as it is the LEO position being more suitable for Branch's skill set
Yep. Nothing at all unusual or unexpected about his career arc. He has just as many sacks after 2 years as Greg Hardy had.
Sometimes it just takes a guy 2-3 years to really learn what it means to be a professional football player. It's not even about being a worthless lazy slob or a Blackmon type of problem, but sometimes you really don't know the level of dedication it takes until you've lived it first hand for a few years. It takes awhile to develop good habits. Especially habits away from the practice facility like optimal diet, sleep and how to preserve your body for a an NFL season. You would be surprised how many elite guys coming out of college eat fast food every day and stay up all night playing video games. Many think can get away with it, until they can't. You see a guy on the practice field and he looks lethargic, slow and can't retain his assignments. You think he doesn't love football or doesn't want to practice hard or even he lacks talent, but its really a problem with what he did leading up to putting on the pads.
Quote:Just tweeted out by Brent Martineau.
i actually saw this coming, very unsurprising.
Quote:Yep. Nothing at all unusual or unexpected about his career arc. He has just as many sacks after 2 years as Greg Hardy had.
Sometimes it just takes a guy 2-3 years to really learn what it means to be a professional football player. It's not even about being a worthless lazy slob or a Blackmon type of problem, but sometimes you really don't know the level of dedication it takes until you've lived it first hand for a few years. It takes awhile to develop good habits. Especially habits away from the practice facility like optimal diet, sleep and how to preserve your body for a an NFL season. You would be surprised how many elite guys coming out of college eat fast food every day and stay up all night playing video games. Many think can get away with it, until they can't. You see a guy on the practice field and he looks lethargic, slow and can't retain his assignments. You think he doesn't love football or doesn't want to practice hard or even he lacks talent, but its really a problem with what he did leading up to putting on the pads.
HEY, WHAT, WHOAH...
Leave B14CKMON out of this one... ;-)
NH3...
I was shocked we resigned Babin in the first place. The thought process was most likely cover your tail just in case you did not get a quality player in the draft.
In drafting Smith and seeing what he could do in practice closed the door on Babin.
Rotation now
Clemons-Branch-Smith and Davis
JP and Jeff were talkin about ryan davis quite a bit today... i think babin was just a casualty of a depth and youth at the position... no since in having 5 guys at one position on a 53 man roster.
Quote:I was shocked we resigned Babin in the first place. The thought process was most likely cover your tail just in case you did not get a quality player in the draft.
In drafting Smith and seeing what he could do in practice closed the door on Babin.
Rotation now
Clemons-Branch-Smith and Davis
He wasn't that expensive and he was decent so they absolutely did the right thing by covering their tail like you said.
Quote:People like that tend to "dig in". They cant admit they were ever wrong in the past, so they have to keep justifying whatever position they took.
True. But don't think you're immune. It wasn't long ago you were questioning the "buzz" around the new regime. Good to see you've let that one go.
