(04-24-2023, 09:11 PM)Eric1 Wrote:

(04-24-2023, 08:21 PM)flgatorsandjags Wrote: I want him as our future SS*.  He can play some nickel this year and some at Safety.  He has good speed for a SS, is a great tackler, and is very good around the line of scrimmage.  He's a good Blitzer as well

Exactly, he's much better suited for SS than FS imo. Keeping him closer to the box will lessen the chances that he gets exposed due to claimed lack of long speed. Although I'd like to see what Branch's flying 20 time was compared to the first 20 and full 40. The flying 20 is more important than the full 40 imo.

Classic example is Kyle Hamilton last year. Everybody was turned off because he ran 4.59. Which was the the slowest time of all the Safeties (IIRC), but he had one of the fastest, if not the fastest flying 20 of them all. The closing speed is far more important than the get off for a Safety.

Regardless, great football intelligence and instincts will greatly make up for speed. He has those in bunches. Plus he's physical, so you let him put his hands on people, which will also help negate most speed disadvantages he may face. Even though I don't think it'll be a problem.

Cisco and Branch would make for a perfect pairing.