[CBFF] ESPNi: Branch, Olsen have plenty to prove

[Victor Waldron (CBFF)]

Branch, Olsen have plenty to prove
By Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.

For every prospect that shoots up the draft board in the days leading up 
to the draft, another prospect must fall. It's just the nature of the 
business, and this year's most notable victim was, of course, Notre Dame 
quarterback Brady Quinn, who some felt could be the first pick overall.

Here is a list of the top 10 prospects who slipped this weekend:

Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
Browns, second pick (No. 22 overall), first round
Concerns about Quinn's accuracy, mechanics and ability to win big games 
separated him from LSU QB JaMarcus Russell. However, he still has the 
poise, arm strength and intelligence to emerge as Cleveland's franchise 
quarterback, so he shouldn't have dropped so far. The biggest reason he 
did fall was a poor decision by Miami's front office. Once the Dolphins 
stunningly passed on Quinn to take Ohio State WR/RS Ted Ginn, the 
writing was on the wall, as the next 12 teams didn't have a substantial 
need at quarterback.

The Browns took advantage. Once Quinn got past the Dolphins, they 
pursued trades with every team until reaching a deal with Dallas. Now 
they have a franchise quarterback, and a franchise left tackle in 
Wisconsin's Joe Thomas (the No. 3 overall pick) to protect him.

Greg Olsen, TE, Miami
Bears, first pick (No. 31 overall), first round
Olsen's stock had dropped leading up to the draft because he is a fairly 
one-dimensional receiver who lacks the strength to drive defenders off 
the ball. However, few thought he would be on the board when the Bears' 
pick came up. After all, he has the speed to develop into a legitimate 
deep threat, and the quickness to get open underneath. His presence in 
the lineup should make teams more hesitant to walk their safeties up to 
slow the ground game.

Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
Cardinals, second pick (No. 33 overall), second round
There were plenty of red flags raised about Branch in the weeks leading 
up to the draft. He didn't have a great junior season in terms of 
production, he may have shin splints or stress fractures in both legs, 
and he's had problems keeping his weight down. That said, he possessed 
the size and athletic ability to come off the board during the first 
half of the first round. If he can stay healthy and in shape, he should 
control the middle of the line of scrimmage, keeping blockers off 
Arizona's linebackers.

Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
Falcons, third pick (No. 41 overall), second round
The biggest knocks on Houston are his ability to play the run and his 
problems tracking the ball when it's in the air, but those two flaws 
shouldn't have dropped him into the second round. Few corners have the 
ability to hold their own on an island, and he shut down some of the 
best receivers in the nation. Don't be surprised to see the Falcons 
start him opposite DeAngelo Hall, moving the versatile Jimmy Williams to 
safety.

    Ryan Kalil
Ryan Kalil's position was simply not in demand.
Ryan Kalil, C, USC
Panthers, third pick (No. 59 overall), second round
Kalil's downfall can only be attributed to most teams not needing a 
center. There is no other reason a player with his skill set could fall 
out of the first round. He is a smart technician with the quickness to 
get into excellent position, and the power to finish the block once 
locked onto the defender. Expect him to replace Justin Hartwig and 
emerge as an exceptional starter, much like Nick Mangold did with the 
Jets last year.

Tanard Jackson, CB/S, Syracuse
Buccaneers, fifth pick (No. 106 overall), fourth round
The league's recent crackdown on players with off-the-field incidents 
could have caused Jackson's value to dip, as Syracuse suspended him for 
conduct detrimental to the team prior to the 2006 season. Jackson's lack 
of ideal speed didn't help his cause, either, but his size, quickness 
and instincts should have made him a second-round pick.

While he could line up at safety, chances are he plays corner because 
Tampa Bay's Cover 2 scheme will protect him with safety help over the 
top. In fact, he could emerge as a starter when it comes time for one of 
the aging starting corners to step down.

Josh Gattis, S, Wake Forest
Jaguars, seventh pick (No. 150 overall) fifth round
While Gattis is an inconsistent tackler who needs to work on his ability 
to shed blocks, and gets caught out of position at times, his upside is 
tough to ignore. He has the frame to bulk up into an in-the-box safety, 
and is fast enough to cover the deep half of the field. He also plays 
the ball well. Jacksonville is a perfect fit for him because playing 
behind Donovin Darius will give him time to work on his weaknesses, 
before taking over as the starter.

David Clowney, WR, Virginia Tech
Packers, fifth pick (No. 157 overall), fifth round
It's tough for a receiver to get recognized when playing in a run-heavy 
scheme and dealing with erratic quarterback play, like Clowney did at 
Virginia Tech. The fact that he is also a former track start who gets 
pushed around at times also hurt him in the eyes of scouts.

Nevertheless, Clowney should have gone long before the fifth round. He 
can stretch the field, separate from man coverage when running routes 
underneath and create after the catch. QB Bret Favre should be pleased 
to have him in the fold, as he should compete for the No. 3 role this 
year and could develop into an above-average No. 2 receiver.

Ben Patrick, TE, Delaware
Cardinals, fifth pick (No. 215 overall), seventh round
Small-school prospects fight an uphill battle because they faced a lower 
level of competition. That shouldn't have been much of an issue for 
Patrick, who played at Duke before transferring to Delaware his senior year.

Even if scouts didn't like his lack of a second gear when tracking the 
ball downfield, his athletic ability, size and strong hands should have 
made him a middle-round pick. Patrick should develop into a quality 
backup to Leonard Pope for Arizona.

Brandon Siler, ILB, Florida
Chargers, sixth pick (No. 240 overall), seventh round
Siler's stock had been inflated heading into the 2006 season, and it 
became clear he didn't project as a first- or second-round pick. He 
appeared stiff in coverage and got caught out of position far too much. 
However, there is no reason he should have fallen as far as he did, 
unless NFL teams are aware of an injury or character issue we never 
learned about.

Siler is a reliable open-field tackler who fills hard when he reads run, 
and he has the upper-body strength to shed blocks quickly. He gives San 
Diego much-needed help at inside linebacker and could quickly develop 
into a two-down starter.