The Lions moved Brian Branch from nickel cornerback to safety this year because they knew the second-year defensive back would have an opportunity to roam around, freelance a little bit and make more plays. Playmaking was a big part of Branch's rookie story last year, finishing with 74 tackles, 13 passes defended, seven tackles for loss, three interceptions and a sack. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is expecting even more from Branch playing safety.
That certainly was the case last week as Branch produced seven tackles, a tackle for loss and three passes defended, becoming the first safety in team history to defend three passes and record a tackle for loss in the same game.
"I like it better," Branch said Thursday of playing safety. "It gives me a chance to really like go make more plays on the ball in the deep part of the field. I just have to get used to tackling in open space. I feel like that's one of my things I need to work on back there. But overall, I like it back there."
Branch missed a couple open-field tackles vs. the Rams, something Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Branch apologized to him for after the game. He also dropped an interception, something he was still stewing about Thursday afternoon.
"It's only up from here," said Branch, who is tied with Cleveland's Denzel Ward for the most passes defended among safeties after Week 1. "It's only up from here."
Branch also joked Thursday he's got to get used to playing every snap on defense. He and Alex Anzalone were the lone Detroit defenders to play every snap on defense last week. That's one of the reasons the Lions moved Branch to safety. He's such a playmaker for them they didn't want to take him off the field if they didn't have to.
"Playing all those snaps is no joke," Branch said with a smile.
If Week 1 is any indication of what we can expect from Branch at safety this year, he has a chance to be one of Detroit's top playmakers all year long.
GOOD VS. GREAT
Hard work and time on task. That's what Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson attributed to the success we saw Week 1 from wide receiver Jameson Williams, who caught five passes for 112 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown grab down the left sideline.
"That's the name of the game for, I think, all these guys is getting practice reps, time in the building, time with Jared (Goff), routes on air, routes against the defense, the connection has started to pay off," Johnson said Thursday. "We've been talking about it since the springtime, he's looked like a different guy in his approach and it's good to see the production follow up."
But will it follow up again this week?
"Now, the difference between a good player and a great player is the consistency portion of that," Johnson said. "So, great Game 1, let's see how Game 2 goes and so on and so forth."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34), Detroit Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin Sheppard during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43), Detroit Lions tight end James Mitchell (82) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
ALL ABOUT THE WIN
It's not often we see Amon-Ra St. Brown record just three receptions and 13 receiving yards. Odds are that's not going to be a normal occurrence for him, but if it comes with a win on the scoreboard, St. Brown doesn't care what his stats say.
"A win is a win and a win is the most important thing for us to get to where we want to go one week at a time," St. Brown said Thursday after practice. "Obviously, you'd love to have catches and yards, but we found a way to win, obviously, and as a offense we have a bunch of errors to improve everywhere."
St. Brown said he was happy for the breakout game by Williams and it's something that's going to help this offense in the long run. Williams having the game he did Week 1 might make opponents second guess playing some cloud coverage towards St. Brown like the Rams did last week.
"Yeah, he's a leader, he's a captain. He's got the C on his chest for a reason," Lions quarterback Jared Goff said of St. Brown this week. "I know he still wants the ball, of course he does, all those receivers want the ball, but I think he understands, when we're able to win a game and he doesn't get as involved as maybe he'd like, he's good with it. We're winning the game and we're trying to win a Super Bowl this year. It's one week at a time and he knows that and, like I said, he'll get his and he also knows that."
