With Brian Branch’s 21-day evaluation clock officially started on Wednesday, it’s only a matter of time before the Detroit Lions’ Pro Bowl safety is back in the lineup. That’s obviously not likely to happen this week against the Arizona Cardinals, but it seems almost certain that Branch will return for Detroit’s first game out of the bye week: Week 7’s home game against the Green Bay Packers.
On Wednesday, coach Dan Campbell talked about the kind of impact that Branch could have on the team.
“He’s
an instinctive, aware player and he’s a violent player,” Campbell said. “And so, he’s got a knack for the football and his production, even if it’s not what it was in the immediate as he grows back to that, will have an impact, I believe. And then with that, then it helps the guys around him. It makes the guys next to him better because this guy will be where he’s supposed to be. He’ll be able to make some plays and alleviate a little stress and whether it’s the other safety, the corner, Jack (Campbell), some of those things.”
The Lions defense is in a pretty big hole, though. How much difference can one guy make? Today’s Question of the Day is:
How much will the Lions defense improve with Branch’s return?
My answer: Obviously, that’s a hard thing to quantify. Could they go from the 32nd ranked defense to the 20s? That seems a bit optimistic. Could they turn down the points per game allowed from nearly 32 to maybe the mid-to-high 20s? That seems a little more doable.
As Campbell pointed out, Branch’s return is not just about upgrading the safety position, it’s about making everyone around him better. As the Lions coach continually points out, players are currently in the wrong place at the wrong time too often. That has led to one of the biggest problems a cohesive defense runs into: a lack of trust. Players are covering for one another, and that only leads more people out of position.
As Anthony Balaj pointed out inhis Lions defense film study vs. the Panthers, Detroit’s zone lapses were often the result of slow or undisciplined play from the safety group. Branch’s ridiculous instincts and knowledge of the scheme should be a very direct solution to those problems. And if he’s playing better assignment-sound football, the linebacking crew will look better, the cornerbacks will have an extra weapon at their disposal, and it could free up the other safety position to have a cleaner fit with personnel—whether that means more Christian Izien in the slot or Chuck Clark in a look less vulnerable that single-high.
However, we can’t ignore that expectations for Branch should be lowered for at least the first month that he’s back. He’s coming off a major injury, hasn’t had any live reps in 10 months, and will need time to kick off some rust. And like we saw with Alim McNeill, there’s certainly a chance we don’t see the Branch we’re accustomed to seeing until 2027.
But even Branch at 70-80% of what we’ve seen him at is likely an upgrade over what Detroit currently has at the safety position, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a noticeable difference the minute he takes the field.
Do you think Branch will make a noticeable difference or is the defense beyond saving at this point? Share your answers in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
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