NFL Draft Preview: Alan Branch

I'm really going to try not to be biased here.....

As we return to some NFL Draft previews, I've decided it's high time we moved to the defensive side of the ball. First let's take a look at a player who could be the top interior lineman in the draft. He went to Michigan, but I'll do my best to be objective....

Name: Alan Branch

Position: Defensive Tackle

School: Michigan (!)

Pros: Derives great joy from destroying Quarterbacks (as shown above). Good upper body strength. Always looking to cause turnovers (forced a lot of fumbles last year). Went to Michigan.

Cons: Has trouble fighting through double teams. Sometimes disappears for stretches. Not really that fast. Could be overweight.

Completely Unbiased Synopsis: Okay so Alan went to Michigan which means he'll always have a special place in my heart. He also was the only Michigan defender who decided to play in the Rose Bowl (forcing a fumble on a sack) so he gets extra points from me. That being said I'm interested to see how he adjusts to the NFL. He didn't face a lot of double teams at Michigan as offensive lines also had to focus on stopping LaMarr Woodley as well. He has a lot of strength, but he's not exceptionally fast. What I will say is that he's a guy who always seems to get to the Quarterback and that's something NFL teams LOVE when it comes to defensive lineman, especially defensive tackles who really aren't known for rushing the passer. I don't know if he's worth a top ten pick (as some experts have him projected) but I think he'll be a good NFL player, maybe even great.

Where He's Headed: Things are a little bit murky when it comes to where Branch is headed. I think he could go as high as six to the Redskins, or he could fall to Dolphins at nine or as far as the Rams at 13. It's all going to depend on what teams prioritize in the draft. The Redskins are probably going to draft someone on the defensive line but if Gaines Adams is still around I'm sure they'd take him over Branch. The Dolphins could use help on the inside, but they could also use offensive line help as well. If Branch is on the board for the Rams I really don't see them passing him up. Could be a great value at that pick.

BOLD PREDICTION: I think Branch ends up on the Dolphins, which would be a perfect situation for him. He turns out to be a very good defensive tackle, with maybe a few Pro Bowls sprinkled in for good measure.

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NFL Draft Preview: Alan Branch

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