Recovery from offseason ankle surgery delayed Brian Branch taking the training camp practice field in full capacity for a bit. So there hasn't been a lot of chance to see how he'll perform in his move to safety, but chronicles from on the ground at Allen Park had reflected a ballhawk along the lines of what he was last season (three interceptions, 13 pass breakups, seven tackles for loss).
During Wednesday's practice, via Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News, Branch put his tools on display, stopping David Montgomery in his tracks on a goal line play and also being a menace to quarterback Jared Goff during the session. Goff attempted to fit a tight throw in to tight end Brock Wright, leading Branch to lightly hit Wright in the chest went the pass went incomplete.
"(Goff) shouldn’t make that throw,” Branch joked. “That was a bad read.”
With a notably strengthened cornerback depth chart, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn can get more creative with how he deploys Branch as a safety.
Brian Branch looking most forward to a specific part of new role
Last week after a practice, Branch told John Maakaron of SI.com how he can be freed up to do more in his move to safety.
"I can play more freely in a way,” Branch said. “(Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) can keep sending me on blitzes because we have the guys to lock down the receivers behind me. That’s a win-win right there.”
On Wednesday, Branch said he's been studying film, particularly of Atlanta Falcons' safety Jessie Bates, as he develops into a full-time safety. He broadly wants to be able to play fast, particularly when sent on a blitz.
"I feel sometimes I find myself slowing down, trying to work a move on a running back (when I'm blitzing)," Branch said. "This year, I just gotta — shoot, can't take the foot off the gas pedal, just keep on going and run through 'em."
When asked more narrowly about being sent on a blitz (h/t to 97.1 The Ticket), Branch couldn't hide his excitement.
"Music to my ears. Go get the quarterback or running back, that’s my favorite thing to do."
Branch was instantly one of the best players on the Lions' defense as a rookie last year, primarily playing nickel corner. This year, in a different role, he could be even more impactful.