Lions defensive assistant Jim O’Neil believes that Lions cornerback Brian Branch has the potential to play almost 100 percent of the snaps if he stays healthy. However, in his rookie season, Branch was only able to start nine out of 15 games and played in most of the team’s defensive snaps.
Despite his success as a rookie, the Lions are looking for more from Branch in his second year. They plan to be more aggressive with him and push him to reach the level of being on the field for all three downs. The team is cautious about easing him into one position, but now they want to see what he can do when he is on the field for every defensive snap.
Training camp will be crucial in determining Branch’s role for the upcoming season. The Lions may consider him as a safety or a nickel cornerback, and they will need him to prove himself during training camp to secure a spot among the 11 players who are on the field for every defensive snap. With a strong young nucleus of players, the Lions believe that Branch can be a key player in maintaining their recent success and contributing to their future achievements.
