Since Branch is technically no longer in NCAA football, I'll put this here....

This is the chat transcript from Branch at the Senior Bowl practices:



http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buzzmaster: (2:49 PM ET ) Alan Branch is here!

RM 15 (Ann Arbor): So Alan, what qb knockout this year was the most satisfying? morelli or quinn?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:50 PM ET ) I didn't really knock Quinn out! I barely got a hit on him. I don't try to hurt QBs. The best hit was the Morelli one but I felt bad that he got hurt after.

Trey (Athens, OH): Alan. What was the final straw in making your decision to forgo your senior year with the Maize and Blue?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:51 PM ET ) I just felt I was ready. It was my time and I wanted to take advantage of the situation.

Austin: Diego: AB, how's the training in AZ going? How does a guy from New Mexico end up in Ann Arbor?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:52 PM ET ) It's going good. This is a great place to be. There are lots of guys I know here. Brady Quinn is here. We're having a good time working out. To tell you the truth, you would have to ask the coaches how I ended up here. But I was a Michigan fan growing up. My parents are from Detroit.

Tom (Ann Arbor): Buzz, I'm going to try and stop myself from crying when Alan Branch comes on.

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buzzmaster: (2:52 PM ET ) Are you crying Tom?

Jim Tampa: Alan, hope you come to Buffalo to shore up our line! Do you have any preference on playing in warm/cold climate?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:53 PM ET ) Honestly I'm just excited to play anywhere. But I would enjoy playing in the cold. I left New Mexico becaues all the best guys I saw were in cold conditions. Football is football to me though. I don't care cold or hot.

Tom (Ann Arbor): Alan, sorry to see you go after three years, but understand the decision. What was your favorite moment of the year? Was it going into ND and beating them by 26?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:54 PM ET ) I'm not sure what my favorite moment was. The whole beginning of the year was great. Our defense was really clicking and it made me excited to go to practice. It was very satisfying.

Eddie (Zanesville, Oh): Alan, what weakness do you think you will have to work on the most to succeed in the NFL?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:54 PM ET ) I'm not sure. When I get tired I play high. I need to work on my leverage and staying low.

Mike (Waynesville): Any teams looking at you to play any Defensive End?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:55 PM ET ) Maybe a 3-4 team but I'm pretty sure the 4-3 teams or baseline defenses are looking at me as a tackle.

jim (Santa Cruz): you've played against both... better qb, quinn or smith?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:56 PM ET ) I think they both have good attributes. Smith has better agility and can get out of a lot of situations, but if the QB has time to make plays, Quinn can really read a defense and make plays.

Brian (philly, PA): Alan... who you got in the bowl?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:57 PM ET ) Indy. My favorite team is the Lions but being a Lions fan you always have to have a secondary team. My secondary team is the Colts. I'm a big Freeney fan.

Alex: MO: I was at the Michigan-ND game. Your huge BRO; what's a typical dinner for A. Branch?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:58 PM ET ) Is that the old Alan Branch dinner or the new one? Right now it's just some baked chicken and vegetables. Back then I ate maybe one meal and a snack the whole day. My dinner would usually be my first meal and I would eat fried chicken, burgers, fries, macaroni and cheese, all the bad stuff basically.

Matt (A Squared): Alan.. what brought you to Michigan? It was the helmets, wasn't it

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (2:59 PM ET ) The helmet is the tradition and the tradition is what brought me so I guess you are right. It is the best looking helmet in all of sports.

Mario (Detroit): So you like Indy eh. Still chat with Marlin Jackson?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:00 PM ET ) I haven't talked to him for awhile. Everytime we get the chance he wil say hi. He's a great guy. We aren't in contact much but when we do see each other we talk quite a bit.

Mike (Waynesville): Do you think you can play in the NBA?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:01 PM ET ) No way! If you had asked me before I got to my senior year in high school before my size increased it might have been a question. But basketball is too much running. I like football because I get a break every 15 seconds.

Josh (North Carolina): Alan, which QB in the NFL are you looking forward to sacking?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:01 PM ET ) Really I just want to get a sack! It doesn't matter which QB!

Mario (Detroit): I heard you returned punts in High School, is that true?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:02 PM ET ) Yes sir. I used to play receiver, TE, RB, return punts. I did it all.

Frank (Detroit): What you gonna buy with your first paycheck from the League?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:03 PM ET ) I'm just going to make sure my parents and my brothers are all situated and comfortable. There are college loans to be paid off and other things. I want my family to be set because they have done so much for me.

Gilbert Arenas (D.C.): I say Hibachi when I drain a three pointer do you have something you yell when you sack a quarterback or make a big tackle?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:04 PM ET ) I've never said anything before. Wait .. sometimes I do say a few words to the QB but I don't think I can say those things on ESPN.com.

mike ann arbor: did you ever try to get coach carr to let you return a punt at mi?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:05 PM ET ) Coach DeBoard was in charge of that and I was in his ear the whole time telling him to look at my game film. Sometimes when the punters were warming up I would catch a ball and point at him to use his secret weapon.

Doctor Faustas: What happened against against USC in your bowl game? Did you anticipate getting beat like you did that game?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:05 PM ET ) I don't know what happened. They performed and we didn't. That's all there is to it. We didn't stop them from scoring.

B-Mo: AZ: Who and where will you be watching the draft with/at? I'm sure your parents would be happy if you went to the Lions.

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:06 PM ET ) I'm not sure where I will be. I haven't got word yet on whether I have been invited to NY. I'm not sure I would go anyway.

MJ (Ohio): Alan, what do you make of the excessive celebrations by players who make a play in the NFL?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:07 PM ET ) It doesn't bug me as much as it bugs other people. I don't do excessive celebrations myself. It doesn't bother me because it brings attention and I guess that is what the player want. I'm neutral.

Frank (Detroit): What was the best part of living in A2?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:08 PM ET ) Right now it is cold! It's not cold compared to Michigan or the Midwest but for Arizona it is cold. When you don't see clouds in Arizona that means it is cold. I'm sure it will warm up soon enough.

Maurice (Kansas City): Bill Parcells is retired, your comments about that Alan!!!

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:09 PM ET ) He's a great coach. He will obviously go to the Hall of Fame. The NFL will miss him but I really didn't follow his teams too much. I never really liked the Cowboys.

Josh (Myrtle Beach): Along the lines of excessive celebration, please promise me you will never attempt a jump shot after a sack...

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:09 PM ET ) Yeah, I guarantee I won't do that.

Jon mesa, az: Did you ever go to a michigan hockey game? Do you think youd be able to be a star in hockey?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:10 PM ET ) I only went to one nad it was the craziest experience I had at Michigan. I didn't realize how rowdy the crowd got at those games.

Howey (Michigan): Any nicknames on the field?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:11 PM ET ) All through high school it was Skree. I used to be called tree because I was too small to just be a branch. But it somehow transformed into Skree. Nobody called me by my name until I got to Michigan.

Travis (Texas): Who is the best Wolverine in the NFl right now?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:12 PM ET ) Tom Brady. No question.

Andrew (Michigan): Alan, Lee Corso was always pretty high on you for College Game Day. How do you like him?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:12 PM ET ) I don't watch TV much so I never heard him.

Brandon: (Fort Bragg, NC): As a Michigan alumni, what team did you hate the most out of the Big Ten?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:14 PM ET ) Ohio State. But it's a tough question. I always disliked ND even as a little kid. After we beat them, Ohio State became my rival. It's tough because the NFL teams always ask you how many times you beat a certain team depending on who you play for and I'll have to say I didn't beat OSU.

Zach FL: What do you think of Terrell Owens?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:15 PM ET ) Terrell is a good player. All the off-field issues I don't know much about. I don't like getting in other people's business. But he is a great player. You can't question that.

Frank (Detroit): What team you play with on Madden or NCAA?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:16 PM ET ) I always play with the Wolverines. How could I play with anyone else?!

Rob: (Canada): If a tree falls in the forest, did You tackle it?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:16 PM ET ) I was so fast nobody saw me tackle it.

Nick (York,PA): Who goes first, you or Leon? Do you guys ever place any friendly bets on who goes first?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:16 PM ET ) I have no clue. Either way, I'd be happy for him.

Matt (Indy): Alan, is it too late to go back to Michigan so you can beat OSU? C'mon, the NFL will still be around next year.

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:17 PM ET ) Well, yes, it is too late. The 18th was the last day I could change my mind.

Danny (San Francisco, CA): Allan, do you think you can make a key contribution as a rookie in the NFL?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:18 PM ET ) I think I could. I don't know too many guys who would say they couldn't if they are true competitors. That is my plan. Hopefully I can go in and show them what I've got.

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Alan Branch: (3:18 PM ET ) Thanks for the questions everyone.

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buzzmaster: (3:19 PM ET ) Big thanks to Alan! Great guy!

Here is the full transcript of all the players, but I will post stuff that is Michigan/Lions related too:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=14356

JKlipp (Milwaukee, WI): Who is the biggest, most physically impressive guy you've seen?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Todd McShay: (2:04 PM ET ) Prescott Burgess, the LB from Michigan. He looks every bit the part at 6'3, 246 lbs. The other guy who ironically is impressive is Daniel Sepulveda, the kicker from Baylor. The team that drafts him in the second day is going to get a good athlete along with a punter.


Todd (Detroit): Who has the potential to improve their stock the most with a good showing?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Todd McShay: (2:07 PM ET ) Two QBs have really jumped out so far .. Drew Stanton and Troy Smith of Ohio State. Both players were in danger of slipping prior to the Senior Bowl but Stanton has bounced back with two very good practices and Smith has helped erase the bad memories of his national championship showing by measuring in at 6 ft. even and showing very good accuracy and arm strength during passing drills through practice.


Todd (Detroit): Do the personality of any of the players really stand out yet in a positive or negative way?

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Todd McShay: (2:14 PM ET ) To be honest, it is tough for me to tell at this point. I'm not able to sit down and interview the players like the teams are doing. But I've been impressed with the leadership that I have seen so far from Troy Smith. On the defensive side, I'd mention LaMarr Woodley.

Thanks for the post. Wish he would have stayed but understand too.

Love what he said bout our helmet.

I read some other notes and they said Leak did not look good at all, probably won't be a first day selection. Joe Staley from CMU is drawing some attention. he held his own with all of the south's DE, while Blalock got abused. They say he was better at OG. Staley would love to play for the Lions, but I'm not sure he'd even be there in the 2nd round.

I read some other notes and they said Leak did not look good at all, probably won't be a first day selection. Joe Staley from CMU is drawing some attention. he held his own with all of the south's DE, while Blalock got abused. They say he was better at OG. Staley would love to play for the Lions, but I'm not sure he'd even be there in the 2nd round.
We can only hope. It wouldn't look the best from a casual fan's point of view, but i'd be elated if we got an OT in the first ound and an OG in the second.

That report on Leak has me thinking ONE thing:
Matt Millen and Leak shaking hands right after the Oakland Raiders draft Chad Johnson of Georgia Tech!!
Cut. Print. Signed.

I'd love to get Russel and Staley in the first two rounds, but I'd also love to get a good DE, CB, MLB, OG too. Man we have a lot of holes still.

Well I'd love to get Russell in the first round more that Thomas, then let him sit for at least a year before we throw him in there, but I'm thinking the Raiders are going to be smarter in the draft than we usually are and they'll grab him. Then, of course, we'll try to trade down and still get Thomas, but we'll trade down 1-2 spots too far and someone else will nab him, and then.......................

typical lions fan, i'm sorry, i can't control the negativity :'(

That's why I hope they trade for Vick. Then they'll use their pick on Peterson or Calvin Johnson (should the vick deal include Moss).

I REALLY hope Davis gives draft control to the new coach and he likes Walter or wants a polished pocket passer like Quinn. If I had been drafting in Millen's spot, I think we'd have a better team, which is sad because I'm just a fan that reads internet reports on players and watches little 15-20 second clips on their play. Not amazingly better, but a bit better. Most of the improvement would come from the Harrington year.

2001 - I wanted McAllister or Backus, mostly because Backus was a hometime guy, Millen did good with Backus in the first then Raiola and Rogers in the second. Raiola's not the best, but he is servicable.

2002 - I was drooling over the ideas of Jammer or safety Roy Williams. We took Harrington. Enough said. Second round, Millen took Kalimba, and we all remember Portis sitting there on the board. Actually, the two guys I REALLY wanted in the first and second round were both grabbed by the Panthers right before us, but shit happens. I loved Chester Taylor in the 6th round, but it was probably more because I'd seen him so much than because I actually knew his skills. He didn't go until the end of the round anyway, so it was probably the right call by the Lions based on what everyone had seen. I liked the Luke Staley pick in the 7th. Guy had 2nd round talent before the injury, it was worth a shot with a 7th round pick.

2003 - I loved the Charles Rogers pick, and it looked great until he had a freak injury two years in a row. I was willing to trade down and take a flier on McGahee and his injury, but most people would find that stupid and Millen would have been ripped to pieces if he'd done that. Loved the Boss Bailey pick as well, and if he can ever get injury free he could still turn into a good playmaker for us, but I was split between him and Stinchcomb. McDougal was shitty and we needed an upgrade. Sadly, I would have been happy seeing them take Bennie Joppru too. Probably more of a local love thing though, like with Chester Taylor. I didn't like the Redding pick because I'm not a fan of tweeners, I wanted Witten. Liked Pinner in the 4th and Holt in the 5th.

2004 - Loved Roy Williams, had a thing for Jonathon Vilma if they'd traded down further. Did NOT want Kellen Winslow Jr. He was a headcase. Good job Millen. Lehman wasn't a bad pick, but I wanted Tatum Bell or Julius Jones. We needed a running back. James Stewart wasn't going to carry our team. I wanted an O-Lineman in the 3rd round, but I don't remember who it was. Keith Smith was a decent pick though.

2005 - "Mike Williams? MIKE WILLIAMS?! WTF ARE YOU THINKING?!" I think those were my exact words. Derrick Johnson, all the way! I wanted Josh Bullocks in the 2nd, but we got Cody so that's not too bad. Again, not a big fan of tweeners. If ever we'd needed a kicker, that would have been the year. I was a huge Mike Nugent fan, even if he was from OSU. I wanted Chris Henry in the 3rd, but we'd just drafted a reciever in the 1st, so we had 3 1st round recievers and it wasn't gonna happen. Instead we got Stanley Wilson. I wanted Marion Barber in the 4th, but we traded that pick to move up for Cody. In the 5th we took Orlovsky. I wanted Adrian McPherson first, and if he was off the board then I wanted Orlovsky (I watched him tear my Toledo Rockets apart in their bowl game). I almost walked away from the draft after we passed on McPherson, but Orlovsky was my second choice so I cooled off a bit.

2006 - I like the Sims pick but the head injuries worry me. I liked 3 guys in teh 2nd. Bullocks, Marcus McNeil, and Daniel Manning, we took Bullocks which is good, but I thought we needed O-Line help a bit more. I loved the Calhoun pick AFTER it happened and I read up on the guy, but at the time I wanted Anthony Schlegel. I wanted Gabe Watson in the 4th and he would have still been on the board for us, but we traded that pick for something and I don't remember what. If anyone does, please clue me in. I was fine with Jonathon Scott in the 5th. I wanted Bruce Gradkowksi in the 6th, but I go to Toledo so not many other people even knew who he was and he probably wouldn't have been as solid of a fill in for the Lions. Liked the Fred Matua pick in the 7th.

So yeah, things would have been a little bit different. Not a lot, just a couple different picks here and there can change a franchise though. And before anyone says I just went back and looked up big names, I did say I wanted McPherson and there were a few solid players taken in that same area. Whatever happened to McPherson anyway?

He plays for the Saints, but he couldnt play this year b/c the Titans mascot ran over him with a golfcart.

I've posted mine before but here were my picks on draft day:

2001 - Hutch until he was picked (Brees was second choice)
2002 - Roy Williams (Jammer was second choice)
2003 - C Rog (hate to say it, but I liked that pick)
2004 - Roy or Winslow (glad we got Roy)
2005 - Jammal Brown (Derrick was my second choice)
2006 - Liked Simms

Getting us back on track, here is some more senior bowl stuff:


Bob Gaunt, known to many Lions forum dwellers as Blackhat24, reports annually from Mobile, AL, the site of the Senior Bowl exclusively for MLive.com. Bob examines NFL prospects from Michigan, answers your questions in the forum, and talks to Lions reps on hand. This is his seventh report.
On another cold and breezy afternoon in Mobile, I scrutinized linebackers, looked over some DB's, talked with a well-known coach and spent time interviewing one of the rising stars in this week's Senior Bowl practice picture. It was an interesting afternoon, and the last of the sessions where contact will be taking place as things taper off leading up to Saturday's game.

The South's linebackers do not seem as talented a group as those playing for the North. The best of the group is Patrick Willis of the University of Mississippi. (6-1, 240) Willis was the smoothest in this afternoon's linebacker agility drills, and on the field he gets around very well and has an excellent range making plays from sideline to sideline. He seems to have excellent instincts, and he gets into pass coverage quite reliably. I'm told that he clocks around 4.62 which is quite acceptable for a MLB, but it should be added that he appeared to have some problems with shedding of blockers. He's good, and very possibly even round one good, but it would be a stretch to say that he's the second coming of Brian Urlacher.

Buster Davis is the kind of player that you like to pull for. He really hustles all over the place, and when he makes contact, the ball carrier knows that he's been hit. Even in the limited contact drills, Buster (perhaps instinctively) really laid the wood on a couple of ball carriers. He's very compactly built, with exceptionally well developed upper body and thighs. I'm not awfully enthused about Buster despite all of the good things that might be said about him. It is very difficult to ignore his diminutive size (5-9 3/8, 249) especially when he'd be in middle coverage, a role that he'd have to assume in the Cover 2 setup. Buster works very hard out there, and you really have to like the way that he chases plays all over the place. He'll probably find some place where he fits into the NFL.

Rufus Alexander, (Oklahoma, 6-0 7/8, 227) looks good enough to be considered as a first day selection. He was smooth in agility drills, and he does a nice job of coverage. He's a two-time All Big 12 OLB who is a bit undersized, but he is athletic and he's been very productive during his career as a Sooner. I also liked the looks of Alabama's Juwan Simpson (6-2 3/8, 223) who is a lot like Alexander, and is probably going to be drafted at about the same level. Each of those guys will appeal to teams that run defensive setups where undersized LB's can flourish, and it occurs that Cover 2 setup might be the best fit for both of them.

The South has some appealing DB's on the roster, and perhaps the best of them is Miami's Brandon Meriweather, (5-10 1/2, 190) who plays safety. Keep an eye on him on Saturday as he tends to be all over the place, and he'll be in on a lot of plays. One of the scouts told me that Meriweather has a chance to be a real impact player and that he has excellent leadership potential and a whole lot of ability. He's one of those "My gosh he's in on another play" types, and it looks like he'll be a very strong professional. I can easily see him going in the first round. A pair of Texas defenders, cornerbacks Michael Griffin (5-11 1/2, 195) and Aaron Ross (6-0 1/2, 192) have the size, speed and talent to be considered first day choices, and Auburn's David Irons (5-10 1/8, 188) looked good and made one exceptionally difficult interception. He's another keeper who is a likely first day prospect.

I have not paid a great deal of attention to the wideouts (I'm only one guy and I can only be in so many places at once) but LSU's Dwayne Bowe, (6-2 1/4, 222) kept coming up with receptions so frequently that I had to be impressed. Joe Newton, the big TE from Oregon State that I've been mentioning had one very big moment when he took a short pass in the flats then lowered his shoulder and proceeded to level two DB's before he was brought down. Exceptional hands for a TE.

I was leaning against the fence and watching the scrimmage session when I looked to my left and noticed that Larry Coker was standing beside me. I asked him if he wasn't feeling at least a bit more relaxed down here, and he replied "Are you kidding? If I was still on the job, we'd have signing day coming up, and that is really something to sweat out. Yes, I'm a whole lot more relaxed." I then asked if he's got anything cooking so far as a new assignment. "No, nothing right now. There just isn't much out there at the moment, but I am not worried, something will eventually work out." I was impressed with Larry who seemed like a pretty friendly and nice guy.

When the practice session ended, I sought out Joe Staley to catch his feelings about the three days of work that he's had this week. He responded, "I've felt very good about the week. Yesterday's practice was not as good as I would have liked, but today's was a whole lot better, at least so far as I was concerned." Has the week been a worthwhile learning experience? "It sure has," he says. "The position coaches here are really good, and I have been able to pick up a lot of little things that I'm incorporating into my game, and I've improved through the experience. Where do you go after the game? "I'll head back to my workouts, and we'll be going to Indianapolis for the combines next month," he said. What are your goals for the Combines? "I've already run a 4.68 40, and that's what I'll be shooting for in Indianapolis," he added. "I want to lead the offensive linemen in every category including agility drills, lifts and in the speed drills. I'm looking to do about 30 reps in the lift." I had to figure that the impression that such an all-around performance might make on the scouts, it might even move Staley into the first round. That idea does not seem far-fetched at all if he can reach his goals.

I asked Staley who the best DE that he'd faced this week in the practice sessions. Tim Crowder (Texas) he said without hesitation. I asked about LSU's Chase Pittman, and he acknowledged that Pittman was a challenge, "But not as good as Crowder." For those who will be watching the game on Saturday, it may be interesting to take special interest in Staley's confrontation with one of the Nebraska DE's that have been impressive in the North team's drills. It will probably be Adam Carriker, and that ought to be a very good matchup.

He plays for the Saints, but he couldnt play this year b/c the Titans mascot ran over him with a golfcart.
Are you serious?

Was it the titans mascot or the saints mascot?

its real in the preseason he filed charges and all that stuff

I'd be PISSED if I were him or the Saints, or even a Saints fan!