Andre Branch has over taken Williams as the Defensive End starter.
Andre Branch has not only rushed the passer, but been a run-stop upgrade.
Mike Tannenbaum has taken heat, and rightly so, but he may have hit a triple with Andre Branch.
A lot of fans were disgusted that Olivier Vernon was released, even though he commanded a mega $85 million dollar contract with $52.5 million guaranteed.
Branch was signed soon after for a 1 year 2.7 million dollar in comparison.
Vernon has compiled 15 hurries, 23 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in 8 starts; and Branch has had 9 hurries, 17 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 2 starts.
To be fair, this is a small sample size and is by no means indicative of each players production for the season or career arc: Vernon might very well outpace Branch by a great degree in one or both. But will Vernon outpace Branch by an extra 12 million dollars for this season? That isn’t likely to happen.
So it would seem that for a single season,from a Front Office stand point, Tannenbaum has won in the trade off and shocked many of the best pay per head fans.
Look at the other starters on the Dolphins roster, some of whom are stars and paid a premium: Wake 3 sacks & 10 hurries, Suh 3.5 sacks & 11 hurries, Williams 1 sack & 7 hurries, and Phillips .5 sacks and 10 hurries.
Branch fits right in statistically as a major contributor. And if you recall, it was as soon as Wake and Branch were inserted as starters that their edge presence was felt, and the run defense as a whole seemed to flip a switch.
Branch has only started 2 games but has had excellent production.
If Branch continues to shine like this it will be a major cog to the Dolphins success in 2016, and just maybe, a factor to the success of future seasons.
Tannenbaum has missed in F.A. to a degree with Williams, Foster, and Jones, so this isn’t a love feast piece. Although, some of his ‘seeming misses’ are picking up their game and might redeem themselves: Maxwell, Alonso, and Quddas. But, if you add them to Gray, Steen, Urbik, Butler — all of which were acquired reasonably — you have a nice F.A group for 2016.
Yes, his 2016 Draft is still a question mark and it will take time to figure out it’s grade. But as far as F.A. goes you can’t complain much. And if the Dolphins continue to rise and both the draft picks and the free agents bloom, Tannenbaum might just have the last laugh after all. Time will tell. Go Fins!!!