'25 USC Transfer S Zion Branch (Georgia 🤮)

#76
#76
Vol423 said:
🤔...and that's problematic because we're getting family discounts from non-package deal players?
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No I mean blowing out the bank for 2 guys likely to be backups is not a great idea. They are using the fact they are a package to leverage more money not less. Zach Branch in 2 years combined as (5 star has) totals equivalent to what Squirrel (3 star not even in rivals 250) put up in 2023 alone. Zion has in 2 years 41 tackles 3 pd 1 sack 1 FF. Slightly better than Christian Charles.

If you have zero faith in Staley it makes some sense. But with Staley and supposedly Boo taking snaps at slot and a freshman coming in that can play slot we need OUTSIDE WR's. Our safety room is fine. We don't really have to replace Will Brooks Perse as Jourdan Thomas returns and we have some redshirt freshmen to take a look at.

Slot WR and Safety are not anywhere near the top of our list of needs.

Outside WR
OL depth/competition
Dline
RB depth

All of those are higher priorities. And we have very limited slots to do that right now I think the number is something like 4 or 5? Brooks was a walkon so him leaving does not open a scholly. People are going all nuts on this guys potential... Zach is a true junior Zion is a RS Junior. If we can get them cheap I'm all in but it just feels like a lot of crap for some likely rotational players.
 
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#77
#77
pimo1 said:
No I mean blowing out the bank for 2 guys likely to be backups is not a great idea. They are using the fact they are a package to leverage more money not less. Zach Branch in 2 years combined as (5 star has) totals equivalent to what Squirrel (3 star not even in rivals 250) put up in 2023 alone. Zion has in 2 years 41 tackles 3 pd 1 sack 1 FF. Slightly better than Christian Charles.

If you have zero faith in Staley it makes some sense. But with Staley and supposedly Boo taking snaps at slot and a freshman coming in that can play slot we need OUTSIDE WR's. Our safety room is fine. We don't really have to replace Will Brooks Perse as Jourdan Thomas returns and we have some redshirt freshmen to take a look at.

Slot WR and Safety are not anywhere near the top of our list of needs.

Outside WR
OL depth/competition
Dline
RB depth

All of those are higher priorities. And we have very limited slots to do that right now I think the number is something like 4 or 5? Brooks was a walkon so him leaving does not open a scholly. People are going all nuts on this guys potential... Zach is a true junior Zion is a RS Junior. If we can get them cheap I'm all in but it just feels like a lot of crap for some likely rotational players.
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The arrogance a lot you guys show is astounding. You complain that we need players through the portal. Then when the coaching staff pursues players that aren't at the top of your irrelevant personal list, you assume they'll just be backups. The coaching staff doesn't give a damn what you think they need. They're going to target players that they like.
 
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#78
#78
Vol423 said:
The arrogance a lot you guys show is astounding. You complain that we need players through the portal. Then when the coaching staff pursues players that aren't at the top of your irrelevant personal list, you assume they'll just be backups. The coaching staff doesn't give a damn what you think they need. They're going to target players that they like.
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I want to know what wrs he thinks would start over Zachariah Branch right now. He's exactly what need on offense. He makes explosive plays in the open field with the ball in his hands. Would also be the Kick/Punt Returner for the team.
 
#79
#79
ForMyLosses said:
I want to know what wrs he thinks would start over Zachariah Branch right now. He's exactly what need on offense. He makes explosive plays in the open field with the ball in his hands. Would also be the Kick/Punt Returner for the team.
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Maybe K returner. Why would you not continue to have Boo return punts?
 
#80
#80
Vol423 said:
The arrogance a lot you guys show is astounding. You complain that we need players through the portal. Then when the coaching staff pursues players that aren't at the top of your irrelevant personal list, you assume they'll just be backups. The coaching staff doesn't give a damn what you think they need. They're going to target players that they like.
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Thought this was Common Knowledge...
 
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#82
#82
Vol423 said:
The arrogance a lot you guys show is astounding. You complain that we need players through the portal. Then when the coaching staff pursues players that aren't at the top of your irrelevant personal list, you assume they'll just be backups. The coaching staff doesn't give a damn what you think they need. They're going to target players that they like.
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Your point is valid. I feel it is misplaced in my case. It is not something I should expect but I am what most would call a sunshine pumper. In general I try not to put bad vibes out against players or coaches because I don't find it constructive. I try to look at things from a realistic perspective. This gut was a 5 star coming out of HS. We lost of bunch of outside WR's through graduation and portal. Every WR on our current roster including the incoming freshman has a skillset that can play the slot and well.

My argument is not we shouldn't go after the Branch brothers at all. My argument is 'ALL IN'? Break the bank? Hell no. Zach is looking like a maybe good wr in the right system, he has the talent level and skill set. But he has had opportunity and time at USC and has put up ok numbers. The hype around him does not match the number hs produced. He is supposed to be a slot , open space jitterbug YAC guy. He was basically the second leading WR on USC last year and had the lowest AVG per catch on the roster.. he had TE numbers. his brother redshirted then has played 2 years. Neither of them are scrubs they got PT at USC and some of the guys in front of them will probably see the NFL. The argument is if we get them for a deal take em. If not why cause drama? We already had to promise Boo snaps to bring him back.. those would directly conflict with Branch. To me we already have Boo who is proven better on defense than zion. He is also at east better or equal to zach on returns. Whatever we get from him at Slot is a bonus and makes him happy. I have 0 worry we can find a slot WR on our roster. We need outside WR's and some depth at DL and OL and maybe RB. those are our biggest holes right now. Our projected starters at OL and DL are fine we need someone behind them. Our situation at RB is kinda scary because we have a lot of potential but we need someone that is a proven workhorse to at least be RB1b. Talent wise I'm good with Bishop and Lewis... but neither is proven. They combined have half the carries as Sampson had in 2024. Truth be told they combined about what Sampson did alone in 2023 as the third rb. Throw in injuries? I need another guy that I can count on worst case to be my lead back.

So TLDR I think the branch brothers are a low priority luxury moreso than something we have to have and should be putting a ton of offer into. the fact we still haven't gotten a visit is also problematic. We need players that want us not the other way around. If you have that it gives you a ton more leverage in this NIL world. If a guy is just here for he Money and PT He is gonna be quick to leave once someone else offers more of either. If he wants to be here he is more likely to deal with adversity.
 
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#83
#83
Ned Ray McWorkher said:
Oh my. That sums up our present options at safety as well. Yikes.
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nice way to just snip and remove context.

I feel fine with our options at safety. Our safety play this year was fine could have been better but seeing we return most of the same guys its likely to get better. They played well enough for us to be able to redshirt almost all our freshman safety prospects which is huge. Name one game outside of OSU we played this year where secondary play can even slightly be blamed as the reason we failed? I'll wait, we only lost 2... DId we lose to Arkanas because the secondary/safties blew it? nope.... Did we lose to UGA for that reason? nope. OSU toasted us with 3-4 guys that will play in the NFL one is a generational talent. They also had 2 NFL RB's... so the defense failing there is less scary... Our defense shat the bed against OSU....it was not par for the course though it was an aberration and what OSU did to Oregon showed the aberration was them not us. If All of this (worrying about the defense) really is a freakout because we lost to them to be honest anyway. They smack down Texas as well whats the narrative?
 
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#84
#84
I'd say if you look back @ the long passes Beck hit on us in Athens you'd see the deep safety terribly misplay the ball. Actually it wasn't even a misplay, he actually wasn't capable of making the play. But the play was there to be made. We need some safeties who can read a play and then break on the ball in the air. Either knock it down or pick it. But don't watch completed passes all game.
 
#85
#85
The real issue is to win what we want to win we will need upper level talent all across the secondary. Multiple dratfable players. Just like the teams we are going to have to beat have. Particularly UGA & OSU.
The Arkansas game was lost on offense. 19 points isn't a lot to give up for a road game. We should have been able to get 20.
But giving up 31 or 42 points is a defensive loss. Which of course can't all be blamed on the terrible safety play. But you can say it's hard to win with bad safeties. That's not a stretch at all...
 
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#87
#87
ForMyLosses said:
I want to know what wrs he thinks would start over Zachariah Branch right now. He's exactly what need on offense. He makes explosive plays in the open field with the ball in his hands. Would also be the Kick/Punt Returner for the team.
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Just so I can keep up, do you happen to have any film of Branch making explosive plays at the college level? Or any justification of why he would automatically be the punt returner ahead of Boo Carter?
 
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#88
#88
deatojl said:
Just so I can keep up, do you happen to have any film of Branch making explosive plays at the college level? Or any justification of why he would automatically be the punt returner ahead of Boo Carter?
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Check YouTube. He's a dynamic returner and one of the fastest players in CFB.
 
#89
#89
deatojl said:
Just so I can keep up, do you happen to have any film of Branch making explosive plays at the college level? Or any justification of why he would automatically be the punt returner ahead of Boo Carter?
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He’s committed to Georgia now so it’s already too late… but if boo Carter is playing both ways then he might need a break from special teams.
 
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#94
#94
SoilVol said:
Oh they went to Georgia? Weren't a take for us clearly. Staff didn't think they were explosive enough and the brothers' lack of production was a red flag.
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I know this is blue font but it’s crazy they wouldn’t even hear an offer from us lol. That’s like a girl at the bar not even accepting a free drink from you
 
#95
#95
Christian Lowe said:
I know this is blue font but it’s crazy they wouldn’t even hear an offer from us lol. That’s like a girl at the bar not even accepting a free drink from you
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Well... I mean... I think there could be a few different reasons why a girl wouldn't accept a free drink from a guy...

Like if she thinks that guy drugged the drink lol

The Branch's probably already knew they were going to Georgia through backchannels and tampering. That's why they didn't listen.
 
#97
#97
Hopefully this staff picks it up in the spring cycle. Glad we don’t play till September. If the roster doesn’t improve a lick I have us 8-4 next season.
Which is was better that 4-8 or 6-6 so no complaints. CJH is going to be Mike Tomlin like I see
 
#99
#99
deatojl said:
Just so I can keep up, do you happen to have any film of Branch making explosive plays at the college level? Or any justification of why he would automatically be the punt returner ahead of Boo Carter?
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Your point is exactly what I have been saying...people keep referring to his star ranking and not noticing his actual college stats are okish. He projects as a slightly bigger Squirrel. I have no doubt he will be a good player but not one you push all the chips in on. Best of luck to them at UGA.
 
#100
#100
ForMyLosses said:


He’s committed to Georgia now so it’s already too late… but if boo Carter is playing both ways then he might need a break from special teams.
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Couple things here.. those were nice plays but nothing to get all excited about...Second look at the teams they were against lol. Those highlights all came in his freshman year against 2 really bad teams. They are also the sum total of his career highlights because he's only scored 6 career TD's 5 his freshman year when no one knew who he was. 1 as a sophomore. As a big play WR he averages 10 yards a catch... for comparison Squirell averaged 11....

Maybe USC with lincoln Riley and one of the best WR coaches in the nation does not know how to use WR's... even though they pretty much have one drafted every year in the first 2 rounds. Maybe he didn't get enough targets.. oops he got the second most targets on the freaking team and was still LAST among USC WR's in YPC by a long shot.
 
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