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Players like Alan Branch do not come around very often. A defensive
tackle prospect with the combination of size, strength, and agility
to wreck havoc on opposing offenses is a very valuable commodity in
the NFL. Alan Branch has the additional value in that he is the
rarest of breeds - a potential 3-4 nose tackle. The difficulty that
NFL teams have in filling that position can be observed by the
continued careers of veterans Ted Washington and Keith Traylor.
Alan Branch's impact on the game is difficult to measure. A player
of his bulk occupies two blockers and frees up the other linemen to
make plays. In rushing defense, he prevents blockers from reaching
the second level allowing the linebackers to make plays. The
Michigan defense was among the best in the country, due in large
part, to the impact of Alan Branch. Teams were unable to run against
the University of Michigan with Branch clogging up the middle, as
the Wolverines ranked first in the country in rushing defense. He
will immediately make an impact in the rushing defense of whatever
team drafts him.
Branch is a better athlete than some give him credit for. He has the
ability to deflect passes and even had an interception at Michigan.
Branch showed his strength with 33 reps at the combine. For all of
the raving about Amobi Okoye, Branch's agility numbers were very
similar to the lighter player.
Much has been made of the 19 year old Amobi Okoye, but at this point
a number of his faults are being overlooked. He was inconsistent at
times at Louisville and despite playing against a much lower level
of competition than Alan Branch, he did not have outstanding
statistics.
Okoye also is shorter than ideal and his weight at the Senior Bowl
raised some questions about his ability to play defensive tackle
full time at the NFL level. He was able to put more weight on in the
off-season, but it remains to be seen if he can maintain that weight
while playing in the NFL.
It seems that many NFL Draft "experts" are so enamored with the
Okoye's age that they neglect to consider the negative aspects of
it. Okoye will enter the NFL at age 20 and immediately be expected,
as a top 10-15 draft pick, to provide an impact while playing one of
the most physical positions in all of football. He will be taking on
powerful guards and centers who will certainly be targeting
the youngster. Will Okoye's body be able to handle the pounding?
Players with greater maturity often find the physical aspect of the
NFL intimidating, raising concerns about Okoye's rookie season. He
may be pounded so hard that it affects his future development.
Amobi Okoye is a fine prospect, but Alan Branch has several
advantages. He is more ready for the NFL, due to his strength, size,
and physical nature. Branch can fit in any scheme, a benefit over
Okoye. He will be a starter from Day One and instantly upgrade the
defense he plays on. |
Before I dive head first into this article, using all forms of
hyperbole to detail why Amobi Okoye is such an excellent prospect
and the best defensive tackle in the 2007 NFL Draft Class, I would
first like to preface this article with a disclaimer in order to
strengthen the case for Okoye. As a scout, I prefer defensive
tackles that I would describe as “monstrous” or a defensive tackle
that I would use the terms “power” and “bulk” in order to emphasize
their talents, none of which I will use to make the case for Okoye.
That being said, why do I feel Amobi Okoye is a better prospect than
Alan Branch…prepare yourself for the hyperbole…
It is very possible that we have NEVER seen a prospect quite like
Amobi Okoye. At only NINETEEN years old, Amobi Okoye is just
beginning to scratch the surface on what could be an amazingly
productive career. The fact that Okoye tested into the 9th
grade as a 12-year old has been chronicled by everyone, the only
reason that I bring that fact up is that from an intelligence
standpoint, there are ZERO concerns with Amobi Okoye, he is sure to
pick up the defensive scheme immediately. Normally there would be
some major concerns with a nineteen year old entering the world of
the National Football League, however, Amobi Okoye I believe will be
the exception to the rule due to the fact that he is so mentally
strong.
From a physical prowess standpoint, defensive tackle prospects do
not get much better than this guy as well…and he might be STILL
growing. At 6’2, 310 pounds and running the 40 yard dash in a 5.0
flat, Amobi Okoye is the perfect blend of size, speed, and potential
that NFL scouts are salivating over.
The concerns surrounding Amobi Okoye are unraveling as we approach
the 2007 NFL Draft. First, some scouts are concerned that his age is
a negative aspect due to the strain that the NFL places on the
players in the league mentally, but that seems to be a silly notion
at this point all things considered. Second, some scouts feel that
Okoye may not have the essential initial burst that is needed for a
defensive tackle to succeed at the next level, but Amobi Okoye
seemed to answer the doubters when he ran an excellent 40 yard dash.
The concerns surrounding the other top DT prospect in the 2007 NFL
Draft, Alan Branch, seem to be a bit more noteworthy at this point
in the process. Some scouts feel that Alan Branch does not play hard
on every down, can be a bit sluggish, and due to the fact that he
never really dominated during his final season at the collegiate
level, may have been overrated as a prospect early in the scouting
process.
Amobi Okoye along with Alan Branch are two of the better prospects
entering the 2007 NFL Draft, however, considering all that can be
considered, Amobi Okoye should be ranked higher, as the better
prospect, due to the fact that his “ceiling” is higher and he offers
more potential for greatness than does Branch. |
