I don't want Branch

[That Guy]

the team has actually been pretty quiet on who their favorite is, which is a good thing.

[theJBexperience]

Originally Posted by That Guy

the team has actually been pretty quiet on who their favorite is, which is a good thing.

Yeah, I've kinda noticed that. Hopefully, that will help in getting us a favorable trade.

[EXoffender]

I hope Branch's stocked has dropped so we can draft him after we trade down. Having Branch, Griffin, and Golston will be a great rotation! And if we've re-signed Wade, we can perhaps draft a G like Allan Barbre (Missouri-Southern), DE Tim Crowder (Texas) or if needed, a CB such as Fred Bennet (S. Carolina) in the 3rd/4th barring trade. Just wishful thinking?

[GMScud]

I don't think I'm too high on Branch either. I'd like Carriker from Nebraska or that Tim Crowder kid from Texas. Once we trade down they should both be available. Of course Okoye is intriguing b/c he can play end and tackle and has a phenomenal motor. And the fact that he's only 19 is crazy.

[CancunCantinaBartender]

I have not seen enough of Okoye. What are his true upsides??

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by CancunCantinaBartender

I have not seen enough of Okoye. What are his true upsides??

young, smart, lots of heart, 4 years experience. still could use a little work, a bit small, but no major knocks on him.

[GTripp0012]

Before we crap all over Branch, lets remember that we haven't had any combine numbers or concrete game film tendencies that make us think he won't be a great player. His draft stock is being lowered by the opinion of select individuals--certainly an inherently flawed process.

Branch is suffering in many ways from a stereotype that all obese players are lazy. The film probably caught him taking a few plays off, but this isn't surprising, I think all D lineman are prone to taking a play off every now and then. It's a physicially exausting position, and a game is long. I'm not excusing or advising it, but just saying that everybody does it.

I don't think game film can show how often a guy rests in comparision to another, because some guys are better at making it look normal.

So what we have in Alan Branch is a guy who can, at times, physically dominate a game on the interior. What we have in Okoye is a guy who can physically dominate on the interior. Well, the draft process is inherently risky. There's no way to know until you get both of them out on the practice field at the same time who has the better "motor."

When studying film, it doesn't matter WHY a guy gets beat, because chances are that the guy who gets beat more at the college level will also get beat more at the pro level. Poor scouting tries to justify the result as a lack of effort, or an inconsistency, etc...

The Skins are obligated to pick the guy of the two they feel would be a better pick assuming they both pan out. There's no such thing as a "safe pick" on the defensive line, because all the data you collect is either observational or subjective. You have 4 years of film on Okoye compared to only 3 on Branch. That's the difference. Any observations made on Okoye from film are going to be more concrete than observations made on Branch.

Outside of that, it's simply drafting the guy who we think can best help the team.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Before we crap all over Branch, lets remember that we haven't had any combine numbers or concrete game film tendencies that make us think he won't be a great player. His draft stock is being lowered by the opinion of select individuals--certainly an inherently flawed process.

The NFL website as well as several other sources said that Branch looked out of shape at his pro day workout and during a very intense set of drills got frustrated and looked like he was about to quit. That makes me very skeptical. I really want a self motivated player whoever we get.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

The NFL website as well as several other sources said that Branch looked out of shape at his pro day workout and during a very intense set of drills got frustrated and looked like he was about to quit. That makes me very skeptical. I really want a self motivated player whoever we get.

I don't dispute the validity of the reports, but they also don't tell me very much about Branch as a player. Only game film can do that.

Maybe in his frusterated, tired state, he can still dominate centers and guards a good deal of the time.

This is what we need to find out.

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

The Skins are obligated to pick the guy of the two they feel would be a better pick assuming they both pan out. There's no such thing as a "safe pick" on the defensive line, because all the data you collect is either observational or subjective. You have 4 years of film on Okoye compared to only 3 on Branch. That's the difference. Any observations made on Okoye from film are going to be more concrete than observations made on Branch.

Outside of that, it's simply drafting the guy who we think can best help the team.

I simply want a guy who can play in the middle, hold his ground, and tie up two blockers. We have the LB's, Safeties, and Griff to do the rest. Trust me, a big guy like that will make Griff, Carter, Danials, Fletcher, and Marshall better. It doesn't have to look like he is doing much to improve the defense.

[EXoffender]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

I simply want a guy who can play in the middle, hold his ground, and tie up two blockers. We have the LB's, Safeties, and Griff to do the rest. Trust me, a big guy like that will make Griff, Carter, Danials, Fletcher, and Marshall better. It doesn't have to look like he is doing much to improve the defense.

Ditto. And maybe he'll use this as motivation.

[That Guy]

either one's an upgrade, but with heart and intelligence, i'd take okoye first, since self-motivation is important. I mean, unless he gets beat a lot more than branch, but i really don't think that's the case.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

I simply want a guy who can play in the middle, hold his ground, and tie up two blockers. We have the LB's, Safeties, and Griff to do the rest. Trust me, a big guy like that will make Griff, Carter, Danials, Fletcher, and Marshall better. It doesn't have to look like he is doing much to improve the defense.

I think both guys give you what you are looking for.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by That Guy

either one's an upgrade, but with heart and intelligence, i'd take okoye first, since self-motivation is important. I mean, unless he gets beat a lot more than branch, but i really don't think that's the case.

I think based on what I've seen, I'd want Okoye also.

I just want the Front Office to land the guy that they think can turn the interior of this D Line around and lead it into the future as opposed to getting caught up in the necessity to trade down. Trading down would be nice, but not if it costs us our shot at the highest rated DL on the board.

We really shouldn't have traded those picks in the first place (it's not like we got anything for them), but 2-3 additional wrongs do not make a right.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think based on what I've seen, I'd want Okoye also.

I just want the Front Office to land the guy that they think can turn the interior of this D Line around and lead it into the future as opposed to getting caught up in the necessity to trade down. Trading down would be nice, but not if it costs us our shot at the highest rated DL on the board.

We really shouldn't have traded those picks in the first place (it's not like we got anything for them), but 2-3 additional wrongs do not make a right.

well yeah, but it's hard to undo those trades now. the problem with denver is that the 21st pick lands us about 5 spots after the last 1st tier DL guy is going to go, which totally craps out our draft and trying to drastically improve the d-line. okoye and carriker are going to go between 12-15 as of right now, so it's safe to trade as far as 12 or 13 and still expect to get our guy, but after that, it gets dicey.

at 21, there are plenty of good values, but they're at WR, DB, possibly OG, etc - nothing high priority, unless you think dwayne bowe is going to magically make the pass rush better.