Brian Branch played a little bit of safety as a rookie early and late in the year, but he spent the majority of his first season in the NFL as a slot cornerback and was terrific there. He totaled 74 tackles (50 solo), 13 passes defended and seven tackles for loss. He also ranked second among all rookies with three interceptions, one of which he returned for a 50-yard touchdown in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs in his NFL debut.
Branch is still working his way back from offseason ankle surgery and has been limited to begin camp, but every rep he's taken so far in the walkthrough portion of practice and individuals has been at safety.
"Certainly, we know he can play the nickel position, but just safety, you got a lot of freedom within the structure, within the system," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "I mean you talk about making plays, you can make some plays there. We just feel like Branch, it can suit him well and give him a chance to see where he can go with it."
Branch said after practice Saturday he hopes to be a full participant by the end of next week and is loving the move to safety, where he thinks he can be even more productive than he was as a rookie.
"AG (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) makes his defense so that safeties can make a lot of plays in this defense," he said. "You're farther back from the line of scrimmage, so that means you can move anywhere and make a lot more plays on the ball (than you can) at the nickel. I'm looking forward to it, I just have to go get it."
Branch's move gives the Lions options and versatility with Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu also at safety. Joseph has eight interceptions over his first two seasons and Melifonwu produced three sacks and two interceptions down the stretch from the safety spot last year. What can a player as instinctive as Branch do from the position?
"I feel like he'll add a lot," Joseph said of Branch playing next to him at safety. "In the DB room we are all versatile so just having (Branch) back there he's a playmaker and a dog."
LITTLE THINGS MATTER
Sam LaPorta had one of the best seasons from a rookie tight end in league history last year, recording the most catches (86) by a rookie tight end and finishing first among all tight ends with 10 touchdowns and fifth in receiving yards (889).
After so much success in Year 1, how does he go about trying to top it in Year 2? He believes it's focusing on and improving the little things.
"There's exciting expectations surrounding the team, of course, and also a lot of individuals on the team," LaPorta said after practice Saturday. "There's a bunch of guys coming off All-Pro seasons. Top 100 list is coming out and it's awesome to see so many of our guys on it.
"Just like everyone else, I'm going to take small steps forward and just a bunch of little aspects of my game. That's really what separates the good players from the great players in this league. Just small increments getting better."
Some of those little things LaPorta is focusing on is improving the blocking portion of his game, throwing his hands and playing lower in the run game. He's also worked on eliminating route tells and using late hands to catch the football. As expected, he's been productive and reliable these first four practices of camp.
View photos from Day 3 of Detroit Lions training camp on Friday July 26, 2024.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Kingsley Eguakun (65) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (59) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Josh Schuler during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Daurice Fountain (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) and Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Steven Gilmore (24) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
PADS ON MONDAY
Training camp really begins on Monday when the pads come on and the competition level and physicality ramps up significantly.
Monday is when we really start to get an idea of who can be counted on. The best parts of padded practices are the one-on-one pass-rush drills between the offensive and defensive lines. That's where games are won and lost. Who can consistently get to the passer in one-on-one drills? And then the one-on-one drills between the receivers and cornerbacks will be particularly fun to watch this camp with all the new additions at cornerback. Stay tuned.
