Rat":2atimb91 said:I could see that if it wasn't Buffalo. Nobody goes to Buffalo if there's an option to not go to Buffalo.mikeak":2atimb91 said:Yes and not to the above. Sometimes players makes it personal. If they were offered $3million here and $3million with the Bills they may hold a grudge against an organization they played in for not valuing them higher etc.
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DavidSeven":1qdfbug4 said:I guess I'm still not seeing a great argument from anyone on what Branch brought to the table last year. Our run defense sucked in the 2nd half of the year, an he was a non-entity in the pass rush. $3 million is a lot to pay for "just a guy."
While I agree that someone like Branch is probably replaceable through the draft, I wouldn't sell short the need for an above-average run defense. A good test case is Green Bay, whose defense is in many ways built like Seattle's. Capers' base defense is basically nickel, which improves the pass defense while sacrificing the run. This worked well in 2010, because most of their playoff opponents were not good at running (the exception was Philadelphia, but they jumped out to an early lead and didn't get run on much). It didn't work as well this year (I'm skipping 2011 because even the pass defense was awful that year). First Peterson destroyed them in the last regular season game, costing them a 2-seed. Then Gore and especially Kaepernick obliterated them in the run game at SF.jlwaters1":1n3ixhjv said:I don't agree. you can find run stuffers in this year's draft. It's not exactly a rare skillset to find. I don't think his value to this team was equivalent to 3million + . Furthermore, looking ahead to this coming year, pass rushing will be more important than run stuffing, IMO . The reason I say this is, let's suppose that RW and the offense take a step forward from where it left off last year and hits the ground running to start the season.
Than there's a very good chance this defense will be playing with a lead in the majority of the games (as opposed to last year were most of the first 8 games where tight affairs.). Which in turn will force opponents to abandon (or severly limit) their running game to keep up. Therefore, we'll have more teams passing on us than ever before. So it behooves us to tool up for a robust pass rush, even if that means sacrificing a little against the run.
The Yugoslavian":3puk2m8z said:Branch was a middle of the pack run stuffing DT last year, but the year prior he was in the top quarter. With Red being reduced to a shell of himself last year thanks to the linsfranc fracture, opposing offensive linemen could devote considerably more attention with double teams etc. Branch's way. I think he is under valued by our community a little bit.
Is his loss going to mean our defense won't stop anyone next year? No, but his retention would have meant we stop more people, more often. One year 3 mil isn't too much for us to afford especially since the trade of Flynn. The only thing I can see as a financial hurdle is the suspected imminent signing of Kam to that long term deal. I don't know for sure, but I do know I would of love to have seen Branch hang around for another couple years
Rat":1e0bgt9p said:Not sure how this thread isn't Seahawks related, but that's how it goes I guess.
OrFan":2xaxabnv said:Well I guess he will just have to miss the party at the end of this season. I'm sure the Bills will have one too :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
The Yugoslavian":3m3flvwu said:Branch was a middle of the pack run stuffing DT last year, but the year prior he was in the top quarter. With Red being reduced to a shell of himself last year thanks to the linsfranc fracture, opposing offensive linemen could devote considerably more attention with double teams etc. Branch's way. I think he is under valued by our community a little bit.
Is his loss going to mean our defense won't stop anyone next year? No, but his retention would have meant we stop more people, more often. One year 3 mil isn't too much for us to afford especially since the trade of Flynn. The only thing I can see as a financial hurdle is the suspected imminent signing of Kam to that long term deal. I don't know for sure, but I do know I would of love to have seen Branch hang around for another couple years
themunn":dgz7rt92 said:I'm telling ya all signs point to Bryant moving to DT
Although has anybody considered we may be considering a 3-4 Defense next year?
I haven't seen it explicitly ruled out, but Bryant and Bennett are ideally built as 3-4 DEs, Mebane as the NT, Avril and Clemons and Irvin as 3-4 LBs and KJ and Wagner as our MLBs.
No?