Branson means business after earning promotion
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_15122019
Branson means business after earning promotion
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 05/20/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Tony Scheffler is gone.
And then came Branson.
"I'm pretty sure I can handle it," said Marquez Branson, an undrafted rookie in 2009 who has been promoted to be Scheffler's heir apparent as the Broncos' "receiving" tight end for 2010. "If I couldn't, I don't think I would be here getting the opportunity. I'm going to keep working my hardest and see what happens."
Lost amid the numerous headline-making moves by the Broncos in recent months was an acquisition they didn't make.
They moved to essentially replace top wide receiver Brandon Marshall by drafting Demaryius Thomas in the first round. They took a year, but the Broncos essentially replaced "franchise" quarterback Jay Cutler by drafting Tim Tebow, also in the first round.
But to replace Scheffler, one of the NFL's top threats at tight end? The Broncos did nothing other than promote Branson from their practice squad.
"You didn't see him last year, but we have very high expectations and high hopes for him," coach Josh McDaniels said of Branson last month.
Nineteen tight ends were drafted in 2009 — including Richard Quinn Jr., whom Denver picked in the second round. Branson was not among the selected, primarily because he's undersized — at 6-feet-2 and 241 pounds, he's 3 inches shorter and nearly 15 pounds lighter than Scheffler — and played against small-college competition at Central Arkansas.
Branson came to the Broncos' training camp last year along with a large group of undrafted free agents that included Stanley Bryant, Marcus Gordon, David Grimes, D.J. Johnson, Travis Shelton, Lucas Taylor and Kestahn Moore.
If those names don't sound familiar, it's probably because all were cut before the regular season began. Including Branson.
But after he was signed back to the Broncos' practice squad, Branson showed Wednesday through Friday he has the want-to, if not the size, to become a willing blocker. He also did a fair job imitating the likes of Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Dallas Clark and Brent Celek while playing on the Broncos' in-week scout team.
"I worked my tail off last year, and all that hard work is paying off," Branson said. "I'm very appreciative."
This season, Branson will likely play an H-back role similar to what Clark and Chris Cooley play.
"He's more of a pass catcher — maybe spread him away from the formation some," McDaniels said. "We were fortunate to get him after the draft last year. There were some teams that were even interested in getting him off our practice squad as the season went on."
Branson is off the practice squad now, and on the real squad.
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Branson file
Player: Marquez Branson
Position: "Receiving" tight end
Born: Feb. 14, 1987
Height, weight: 6-feet-2, 241 pounds
Hometown: Starkville, Miss.
Colleges: Central Arkansas and East Mississippi Community College
Acquired: Undrafted rookie in 2009; signed as a college free agent along with nose tackle Chris Baker and punter Britton Colquitt.
Scouting report: Branson will be a little tougher for Denver quarterbacks to find; he is 3 inches smaller than Tony Scheffler. He caught 18 touchdown passes and averaged 15.1 yards per catch in two seasons at Central Arkansas.
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