Andre Branch OLB Clemson

[HPF Bob]

If the Texans are going OLB in the first round, Nick Perry of USC seems to be the consensus choice but I can see Wade Phillips looking at Clemson DE Andre Branch as a possible replacement for Mario Williams if Perry is gone.

Perry (6-3, 271, 4.64 40) has added 10 pounds and says he wants to be a DE. He has more polished pass rush skills than Branch but has very little experience as a stand-up defender (didn't bother Barwin any to become an OLB).

Branch (6-4, 256, 4.70 40) is a straight edge-rusher who was an MLB in high school before he outgrew the position. He has a big wingspan to swat down passes. Although he had 11 sacks and 17 TFLs last year, he has more raw skill now than actual pass-rushing savvy. I presume the Texans could teach him a lot more and, with Barwin and Reed already there at OLB, Branch doesn't need to have an immediate impact. He can rotate in and out of the lineup as he learns the position.

Knowing Smith often is quiet about who the Texans truly want to draft, don't be surprised if the noise is about Perry but that Branch could be their actual target. He could be star material in 2-3 years just as the Texans are deciding how much to pay Barwin and Reed. Unlike some of the other candidates, Branch also has the frame to convert into a DE as he ages.

I would not be shocked at all if the Texans think they can still find a quality #2 receiver in the second round and use their first for a position with fewer suitable options on the board.

[Nconroe]

Just looking at LB and DE, quite a few choices in top few rounds.

according to CBS sports rankings http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/p...nkings/2012/DE

top DE's include those two guys:
Rank Player Pos. Pos. Rank School Class Ht. Wt. Proj. Round
11 Quinton Coples DE 1 North Carolina Sr 6-6 284 1
21 Courtney Upshaw DE 2 Alabama Sr 6-2 272 1
22 *Nick Perry DE 3 Southern California rJr 6-3 271 1
30 Andre Branch DE 4 Clemson rSr 6-4 259 1-2
35 *Chandler Jones DE 5 Syracuse rJr 6-5 266 1-2
50 Vinny Curry DE 6 Marshall rSr 6-3 266 2
58 Jared Crick DE 7 Nebraska rSr 6-4 279 2
67 Billy Winn DE 8 Boise State rSr 6-4 294 2-3
75 Tyrone Crawford DE 9 Boise State Sr 6-4 275 2-3
106 Cam Johnson DE 10 Virginia Sr 6-4 268 3-4


top OLB are:
Rank Player Pos. Pos. Rank School Class Ht. Wt. Proj. Round
9 Melvin Ingram OLB 1 South Carolina rSr 6-2 264 1
24 *Whitney Mercilus OLB 2 Illinois rJr 6-4 261 1
39 Zach Brown OLB 3 North Carolina Sr 6-1 244 2
42 Lavonte David OLB 4 Nebraska Sr 6-1 233 2
46 Bobby Wagner OLB 5 Utah State Sr 6-0 241 2
57 Shea McClellin OLB 6 Boise State rSr 6-3 260 2

top ILB are:
Rank Player Pos. Pos. Rank School Class Ht. Wt. Proj. Round
12 *Luke Kuechly ILB 1 Boston College Jr 6-3 242 1
41 *Dont'a Hightower ILB 2 Alabama rJr 6-2 265 2
76 Mychal Kendricks ILB 3 California Sr 5-11 240 2-3
121 James-Michael Johnson ILB 4 Nevada rSr 6-1 241 3-4
152 Tank Carder ILB 5 TCU rSr 6-2 236 4-5
165 Audie Cole ILB 6 North Carolina State rSr 6-4 246 5

[HPF Bob]

But how many of those would fit a Phillips 3-4 defense for OLB?

22 *Nick Perry DE 3 Southern California rJr 6-3 271 1
30 Andre Branch DE 4 Clemson rSr 6-4 259 1-2
50 Vinny Curry DE 6 Marshall rSr 6-3 266 2
24 *Whitney Mercilus OLB 2 Illinois rJr 6-4 261 1
57 Shea McClellin OLB 6 Boise State rSr 6-3 260 2

And how many teams run a 3-4 defense now? A bunch.

[barrett]

I am torn about going OLB in the first. I think we definitely have some need after Mario left, but I am also very positive about Braman (and even Nading). If we take an OLB in the 1st then draft position will dictate that he is at least one of our 3 rotation guys for OLB/3rd down DE. I would almost rather a mid round pick or two so that it comes down to the actual best player and Braman has a real chance to win snaps if he deserves them.

[NBT]

I am not torn at all about going for LB in the first. I think we have sufficient depth at LB to prosper at the position. I would like the first round of the Draft to play out like this:

1. WR Stephon Hill, or TE Coby Fleener if Hill is gone.