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.  

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